Vagabond Editorials

(Continued from Page 6) because of their fortunate climatic situation. No reason why this building program cannot be in full swing by the first of the year. No reason why territories with open winters conducive to building, cannot take this opportunity in full stride. The entire South from the Atlantic to the Pacific, may be going like a race horse with this building program in a few weeks. ***

When I have rernarked of late that this building program is all ready to bust loose, I have many specific situations in my mind, and not glittering generalities. To show you how strange are building conditiens-fieq7 3!ttelmal-lgt me mention the city of l{ouston, Texas. Statistics show that Houston residential districts are 98f per cent occupied; desirable houses are at a premium; apartments even rnore so; rents have been steadily rising; there is a tremendous demand for desirable habitations, and practically no supply; the city has much of the appearance of a boom town, in the midst of depression. All those things on the credit side of the building situation. And on the other hand only the smallest possible amount of building being done to meet the situation, and only the most meagre supply of money available at reasonable rate to finance sorely needed home building. No one ever heard of such a situation before, but it is a fine illustration of the frightened and static condition of money. For the Houston banks are piled high with cash. Think what a wonderful building campaign there would be right there if frightened money owners would take advantage of their wonderful local situation to finance home building.

Other things have added to my recent optimism, none of them so definitely as the recent utterance of Donald Richberg on the subject of the "majority rule" decision of the National Labor Board with regard to Section 7a. Hiding behind subterfuges won't cure the depression, and put millions to work. And all reasonable men know that the "majority rule" decision as recently interpreted to mean that any union that secured a majority of employees in its membership has the right to do the collective bargaining for ALL the employees of that concern, has done more to scare employers, frighten money owners, and continue unemployment, than anything else imaginable. With such a decision hanging over him, the average employer who is IN business wants to get out, and those who are out want to stay that way.

But Mr. Richberg says it doesn't mean that, at all. He says that only after a worker has voluntarily associated himself with an organization can he be bound by the will of that organization, but that an organization, or union, or group, can only speak for its own members, and not for those outside its ranks, and that every man has a right to choose what other men he shall group himself with, and with whom he shall join in collective bargaining. "f submit," said he, "that there would be serious question of the constitutionality of any law which sought to unite men for the protection of their private interest with those with whom they were unwilling to associate."

***

At about the same time we find a Federal Judge, hearing a Code injunction trial, bringing up what seems to me to be almost that same point with regard to grouping industry in codes. He asked the Government attorneys: "Where do you get the authority to say that a majority of an industry shall confine a minority to any particular method of selling?" When the Government explained how codes , are made, the judge asked: "Can Congress delegate to private individuals the right to legislate? And isn't Congress (in NRA) turning over to individuals this right?" This judge said another interesting thing. With regard to voluntary agreements between individuals to do certain things to promote recovery he said: "f think all men ought to waive their rights if it will promote recovery; but as long as they don't I don't think the federal government can make them." {<**

And then he uttered a truth that I myself have never been able to get out of my mind as I watch the recent progress of things. "f don't want to do anything," he said, "that will hinder recovery, but I think the liberties of the people are more important than temporary safety or e;<pediency. I think any people who sacrifice any essential liberty for safety, are entitled to neither liberty nor safety."

Joins Redwood Assn, Staff

L. B. Ashbaugh, who has had extensive experience in all branches of the roofing industry, recently became a member of the staff of the California Redwood Association. He will devote all his time to the promotion of Redwood shingles.