Evening star., 1930-12-03
PROBLEM OF idle
BEFORE CHURCHES
Protestant Council to Co.
operate in Federal and
Other Moves.

Unemployment problems occupied the
major attention today of the Executive
Committee of the Federal Council OF
Churches of Christ in America as dele
gates of some 80 Protestant denomlna-
tions considered a set OF resolutions
pledging church cooperation with Fed
eral and State authorities in relief pro-
grams and permanent preventive meas
ures.
Action was deferred to later today
until the business committee reports
back the resolutions in proper form, but
the unanimity of opinion expressed at
today's executive session showed that
the Protestant churches are one in their
desire to cooperate to the fullest extent
with Catholic and Jewish bodies in at
tacking the problems of unemployment.
Discussion followed an outline CT the
national program by Porter Lee, repre-
sentative of Col. Arthur Wood, chairman
of the Presidents Emergency Committee
en- Unemployment, and James Myers,
industrial secretary of the Social Service
Commission of the council.
Conference to Be Held.
Announcement was made that con-
ference would be held in Washington,
January 26-27, for the purpose of focus
ing the conscience of the Nation on
permanent preventives OF unemploy-
ment. This conference, it was said,
is sponsored by the Federal Council Of
Churches. the National Catholic We'll
fare Conference and the Central Con-
ference of American Rabbis.
The resolutions which the Executive
Committee will adopt later today pro-
vide, among other things for contin-
uance of church relief work for the un-
employed already undertaken. passage
OF pending national and State legiSla-
ton and the setting aside OF special
day for a nationwide church appeal.
The need of speeding up the Govern
ment building programs and other Fed
eral and State public works as means
of relieving the unemployment situation
also will be urged. On only one ques-
ton did there appear to be some doubt
as to the action that the Executive Com
mittee should take, and that was on the
matter of unemployment insurance.
Secretary Myer explained that his
commission already is cooperating with
the Hoover Unemployment Committee
and has taken up the matter of CO.
operation with the social service Sec
retaries of 81 denominations. He pre-
sented the resolutions on behalf Of the
Social Service Committee Of the
council.
A plea for the so-calledS S"white col
Jared" workers was made by Mr.. Lee,
who urged the council to assume some
special responsibility for this class. He
explained that he was not asking that
distinction be drawn between indus
trial and white collar" workers, but
insisted that the needs of the latter
class required more assistance than is
generally known. Their needs, he said,
don't easily come to the surface, but
were quite as acute as those of any
other workers.
Liquor Problem Attacked.
Attacking the liquor problem pri-
marily frcm the standpoint of the
education of the individual, the Execu-
tive Committee today adopted resolu-
tions urging local churches "to provide
for study of the liquor problem by
young people and adults in discussion
groups. forums and church assemblies"
1t was further recommended that
boards of education of the churches be
urged to provide and promote systematic
graded instruction concerning the
nature and effects of alcohol for all
ages in SUNDAY = schoo'Sg. weekday
classes and vacation school,"
DR.. Benjamin s. WlnLnsS.er CT New
York City, educational secretary Of the
Federal Council. said a discussion out
line was now being prepared for use
among young people in which 1t Is sug-
gested that the study of the liquor
problem be conducted upon a non
partisan basis in the hope of contrcll-
ing conduct in the direction of Chris
tian social order.
Turning its attention yesterday to
world problems, the Executive Commit
tee TOOK note of the fact that President
Hoover in his message to Cong;e ess
stated that he proposed to submit the
World Court protocols to the Senate
and adopted, by standing vote, reso-
luton calling upon the Senate to act
with dispatch in bringing the United
States into the Permanent Court of
International Justice.
Other resolutions approved urged
ratification of the Pan American arbi-
tration treaty, removal cf the economic
causes of war, support of the Presidents
program for the reduction of arma-
ments and the ratification of a multi
lateral consultative treaty, similar to
the four-power pact CT the Pacific. ito
make it possible to mobilize public opin-
ion of the world in support of peace
whenever a violation of the Kellogg
peace pact might be threatened"