President Roosevelt speaks about industry and General Hugh Johnson discusses unemployment

The transcript discusses the persistent issue of unemployment and the lack of current efforts to address it. The speaker expresses hope that private industry will increase employment, thereby reducing the burden on government relief efforts. There is confidence that private industry is beginning to meet these expectations, indicating progress in addressing unemployment.

What confidence does the speaker have about private industry?

What does the phrase 'taking up the slack' refer to in the context of the text?