The Washington times., 1931-03-12
FRUSTRATED
RELIEF HE
DECLARES
ProgreSsiVes Lay Plans That
Legislative Program Can Be
Presented to Next Congress
(continued From Page -


Continued From Page -
the Administration opposition to
Federal funds for relieving dis
tress.
La Toilette blamed the depres-
sion on the public's losses in pur'
chasing power. He said the Ad-
ninistration sat idle while this
happened and that neither indus
trial nor financial leadership
could solve the problem.
25,OOO,OOO Suffer
He said:
There Is overwhelming cvi-
dence Of desperate human suf-
fering on the part Of millions
Of our fellow citizens. Between
100000 and 100000 have
been totally unemployed. At
least another 100000 have
been on such short time :ched-
uIes that they have been un-
able to properly support their
dependents. Not less than 25,-
100000 people in the United
States have suffered hardship,
privatiOn and want in the midst
Of plenty"
La Toilette continued:
"The Administration lacked
either the win or the courage
to meet this crisis. At first,
President Hoover minimized the
problem, and then when the
facts could no longer be denied,
he used the influence of his
great office to, block the relief
measures proposed in Congress
and insisted that relief be left
entirely to voluntary assist
ance."
Hold Power Balance
La Toilette blames the "leader-
ship Of both parties" for post
poning effective relief legislation
o until next December. He like
wise charged industrial and finan-
cial leaders with failing to meet
the crisis. He said:
''It is not enough to criticize.
We must find effective solutions
for this tremendous problem.
Its magnitude, the human val
ues involved, present q chal-
lenge to the economic, political
and, industrial leadership of the
nation"
La Toilette declared the Pro
gresSives would hold a balance
Of power in the next Congress
and admitted this gave them IAN
added responsibility to press for
sound legislation upon the great
issues confronting the nation"
He added:
eve believe our government
can be made to function in re-
lieving the appalling suffering
that exists and in prevention
Of the recurrence of the dis
aSter Of widespread unemplOy-
ment. Armed with q funda-
mentally sound program, sup
ported by an aroused and en-
Nghtened public opinion, we
believe the PrOgresSives can
exercise their balance Of power
i'm the next and succeeding
Congresses for the public wei
fare, independent Of party
aTignments."
When LaFollette called for sug-
geStions from other ProgressiveS,
g flood Of recommendations were
submitted.
WOlman'S Proposal
Leo Wolman, New York econo-
mist, proposed unemployment in
Surance, government cooperation
with industry in stabilizing con-
ditions, and Federal planning to
meet depression by increased
governmental works. He said:
'It is now possible to con-
Ceive . universal unempIOy-
ment reserve fund set up by
Industries and managed for the
most part by machinery of their
own making. That the estab-
Iishment Of the reserve funds
must be made, compulsory by
legislation is 'clear not only
from our experince with unem-
pIoyment insurance but with
all types Of social legislation.
Left to voluntary effort, there
are less than q quarter Of S
million workers I'm this cOun.
try at the present time insured
against the risks Of Hnen1pIOy.
ment with more than 10000, 900
without any protection at all"
George e. Soule, Of the New
York Labor Bureau, blamed
political, industrial, and financial
leaders for. the business collapse.
He proposed a national economic
council to aid the Federal Govern
ment In planning measures to
prevent periodical depreSsionS.
DR.. Leo WOIman, New York
labor economist, predicted that
conditions would become worse
during the summer months, and
even asserted that q permanent
base Of unemployment" would be
created I'm the nation unless
drastic reforms were undertaken.
Fasteners in Majority
It became apparent today that
the Eastern wing" Of the Pro
gressive bloc was in the majority
In the parley, although it is under
the leadership Of three Western
SenatorS-Norris, La Toilette and
Rorah. all stalWarts in the cause