The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-10
Feed the Hungry

federal grant to the Red Gross for unempoy-
ment relief is needed urgently. This is clear from
the figures unemployment and distress gathered
by the Hoover emergency committee and by the re-
plies of 303 mayors in forty states to ques-
onnares sent out by Senators La Toilette and Walsh
Colonel Arthur Woods head of the Hoover COM
mittee has told the senate that there are upward
of 100000 totally unemployed, about twice the
number when the census was taken last April. The
number of men laid off generally is estimated as
equal to- or larger than the so-caled totally unem-
ployed making total of unemployed of all kinds
upward of 00OOoO-exclusive of part-tme workers.
That is about 10 or 20 per cent of the employable
population figure which checks with the careful
A. F. of L. unemployment figures for union labor.
This figure also checks with the reports of the 303
mayors made to Senators La Toilette and Walsh.
These reports, covering population of l6,o24oOo,
show an average unemployment of about Is per cent
of the employabe population.
Since most of the cities and towns represented
we're under $4,000 population, and since several OF
the largest cities of the country where unemploy-
ment is greatest were not included it is evident that
this Is per cent unemployment is lower than the
average for the nation as whole.
Even these figures, given by Colonel Woods and
the mayors do not the full extent of suffering
They do not cover the millions of men on part-time,
families.
One other thing is emphasized by most of the
MAYORS They point out that the so-caled middle
class which In former emergencies has furnished
most of the private relief funds, is so hard hit by
the stock dehaton and general depression that many
private charitable funds smaller this year. when
the need is tripled.
Inadeuuacy of private relief funds is demonstrated
by the New York City private relief committee, which
has raised 100000 and now reports that it needs
s1oooOOOo more which it not raise from private
sources.
That is in the largest center of wealth in all the
world But the problem in New York and other
large cities where private fortunes are concentrated
is easy compared with smaller and poorer communi-
ties.
In small towns and in one-industry cities, the
priyate relief agencies are at the end of their rope;
there is no more money to be had. In many cases
there is no chance of getting the necessary relief
funds from city treasures which are empty because
of slow tax payments.
All this is stressed by the mayors. Of the $685.
some form of federal relief requested definitely
by 216.
This widespread appeal for federal aid from re-
sponsibe town and city officials will as a sur
prise to persons with the mistaken notion that the
Hoover committee or the Red Cross already is fur
nishing relief Colonel Woods just has testified that
the Hoover committee merely is helping to organize
local committees and not supplying any relief funds
directly or indirectly.
Both Colonel Woods and John Barton Payne head
OF the Red Cross testified that the Red Gross is help
ING only in rural districts is not distributing relief
in cties The total Red Cross emergency fund is
only $4oUOOOO according to Payne. That not enough
to care for 2500O which the Red Cross expects to
help this winter in the state Of Arkansas alone
The dire need for federal help can not be denied
in the OF these facts And there be no legiti
mate objection to sued federal aid country whose
government has long and honorable record Of fur
nishing direct food and clothing relief in scores of
emergencies in the United States and abroad
OF course, such federal help is solution for the
Unemployment problem any more than food for food
victims was solution for flood control The govern
ment must go with its construction program and
syery ether possible method TO provide employment,