Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-19
BY WILLIAM HARD.

The leading authorities of the Fed
eral Government have abandoned hope
Of suflcient business revival TO bring
unemployment to an end during the
coming Winter and they are preparing
to cooperate as vigorously as possible
with local authorities throughout the
country in emergency work relief meas
ures. It Is expected that State COM
mittees and county committees and city
committees will be summoned on o Ma
tion-wide scale to combat local unena-
ployment with all possible local re-
sources, not only public. but also pri-
vate.
In fact, the whole course Of events
since the beginning Of the present buSi-
ness depression has been gradually
more and more toward reliance upon
private rather than public solutions Of
unemployment, until at this week end
1t seems fairly apparent here that in
order to get through the approaching
Winter without undue social trouble the
governmental authorities Of the coun-
try, both Federal and local, will find
themselves depending largely upon
emergency organizations of private bus
mess men and private labor leaders.
The gravity of the immediate Win
ter prospects Ia the United States as a
whole has been frankly expressed by
JAMES L. Fieser, who has been asso-
ciated with the National Red Cross for
13 years and who since 1922 has been
its vice chairman In charge Of domestic
operations His view is:
THE drought has added to the din-
culties Of the general business depres-
sion. This year will be the most difn-
cult that has confronted the Red Cross
since the war;"
The Red Gross has now some 1000, 900
members from whom II derives its cur
rent income for relief expenses. In its
annual drive" this FAN 1t win attempt
to raise itg membership to 100000. In
the six States Of Kentucky, Mississippi.
Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Okla
hona the Red Cross has recently found
Of support and Of all collateral for loans
that It freely and without obligation
provided them with seeds for S acres
apiece of new pasturage or new garden
truck. In many rural regions, after all
governmental assistance Through loans
to families with credit collateral and
through the Fastening Of public works
of various descriptions for the broaden
ing Of enployment) has reached its full
possible scope, there will still remain,
1t is now seen, large amount OF dis
private efforts such as those of the Red
Gross and Of other private voluntary
groups.
In some urban regions the distress Is
even more acute, according to most
accounts brought here, than In the
average drought-Stricken agricultural
district. Republican candidates report
that they md more political discomfort
and revolt among worthless city working
men than among farmers. Numerous
wet Democratic candidates see them
selves waited toward victory, as they
believe, by q conjunction of the ques-
tons When do we eat?" and when do
we drink" Reports received here from
economic students indicate that Repub-
lican political apprehension and Demo-
cratic political satisfaction are being
exhibited in exaggerated form, but that
substantial suffering from unemploy-
ment not only exists but during the
Winter months viii continue to exist and
will Increasingly require civic attention.
The outstanding organized result an
ticipated here Is the entrance into the
problem Of civic committees such as the
one, for instance, which this last week
was formed In New York City under the
management of some 20 local dtStin-
guished business men for the raising Of
$3.50, 900 weekly during the Winter to
be pay roll for some 10000 heads Of
families who otherwise would be un-
employed. Such committees are an
extension Of the movement long ago
initiated under suggestion from Prest"
dent Hoover.
The President at that time requested
the Governors Of States to appoint State
committees to mobilize and to stimulate
the enployment-giving facilities OF both
public enterprises and private enter
prises within their State boundaries.
Some 40 Governors responded to this
appeal. Others adopted the idea later.
| Still others are beginning to adopt 1t
now. It Is an idea which emphasizes
the proposition that unemployment Is
business phenomenon and that the cur cur.
ing OF 1t in this emergency and also
ultimately Is q burden that viii have
to rest principally upon business
The Government and the American
Federation Of Labor are on this point
| in firm accord. The administration has
continuously pointed out that In the
direct furnishing Of employment the
public works of the country, Federal
and local, could never be more than Q
small fraction Of the total bulk Of the
private UNDERTAKINGS through which
| employment could be secured and en-
larged. The administration has SINH.
larry refrained from committing Itself
to any support Of any schemes for I'M
| EMPLOYMENT insurance funds to which
| there would be contributions from gov
ornamental treasures. The American
Federation of Labor, in condemntne
such schemes at It's national convention
| In Boston, has meant to lay stress upon
the principle that business should find
the remedies itself for Its own defects
and failures. This principle in its
essence has the complete appreciation Of
the White House.
We would seem today to be headed
IN this country. toward unemployment
solution programs distinctively and