In his July 24, 1933 radio address, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt discussed the National Industrial Recovery Act, which Congress had recently passed. The act, among other things, established higher wages and a shorter work week, but it was left to individual industries to self-govern. Otherwise, the government would step in.
In its August 1933 edition, ST quoted from FDR’s address: “The richest field for results is among the small employers, those whose new contribution will give new work to one to ten people. These smaller employers are indeed a vital part of the backbone of the country, and the success of our plans lies largely in their hands.”
At the August 14-16 convention of the Associated Sign Contractors of North America, its 15th annual convention, the sign industry established a code of fair competition with a maximum work week of 40 hours and a minimum weekly wage of $14. This code was then submitted to the federal National Recovery Administration for approval.
In a September 1933 editorial, ST wrote: “The time of waiting for prices to go lower before investing in necessary supplies and equipment has passed. Investments made now in supplies and equipment will directly aid industrial recovery in addition to benefitting the buyer. Our recent economic condition was brought about by retarded buying until the entire business structure became stagnant. Improved business conditions for everyone will result from immediate investment in necessary supplies and equipment."