Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-31
Personnel of Relief Board
Wins Country's Confidence

Selection Of Walter 8. Clifford, head
of the American Telephone L. Tele-
graph Co, as head of the commission
to meet the problems of distress in the
country during the coming season is
widely commended. Other names on
the commission represent IN the iuds-
ment OF the press. leadership in admin
istra:ive work. There is much interest
in the details of the methods 10 be
employed. although President Hoover's
statement is assumed TO mean that the
board will solve the larger problems,
while leaving the actual task of relief
to local organi2a tons.
Mr.. Gifford's qualifications are strong
~ commended by the New York Sun,
the ST. LOUIS Times, the Philadelphia
Inquirer. the Davenport Democrat. the
Roanoke World-News and the LeXing-
ton Leader. among the terms employed
being that he is an industrial giant
"a business genius" and that he has
one OF the most acute business minds
in the country" The list OF aids. ac-
cording to the Philadelphia Evening
Bulletin. lis long and its array of per-
sonal ability and resources is imposing"
Funds for relief says the New
York Sun. must he raised in the
States and their local communities.
and those funds must be administered
aStutely, perhaps in manv cases speed
lily. but in every case without waste or
red tape. Work must be found for mil
ions If that is humanity possible. and
this. too. must be done with oispa tch.
II any State or community is appalled,
| by tie magnitude Of these problems
the Clifford commission should be at its
service with expert assistance and wise
counsel
THE prompt ard ample preparation
against conditions that may become
worse when Winter comes" according
to the Cleveland News. sets splendid
example. but should not be regarded as
rendering other efforts superfiuous.
State. county. municipal and other
public administrations should lose no
! time In doing likewise. The full CO.
operation OF every public agency will be
needed If the crisis really proves serious
and citizers will judge their governing
bodies according to the practical help
they are able to give in time Of need"
We even dare the confident hope that
Mr.. Clifford will be so competent that
he will be unperturbed by criticism and
unmirdful of obstructive agitation" de-
clares the St Louis Times, with the
added comment: We hope and believe
hat next Winter will find small occasion
for his services. Indeed. the fact that
Mr.. Clifford is on the job may have a
salutary effect in heading oil what
might ccnceivably have been the final
CONFUSION of our subsiding hysteria."
President Hoover" interprets the
Philadelphia Inquirer considers that
the primary responsibility for relief lies
with the State, county and community,
and he feels that the Federal Govern
mert should act only in an advisory
IS 7ity. That is why he has refused
IA 1. i an extra session of Congress.
Many of those who want the national
! legislators to meet in advance OF the
regular time seem to think this would
be cure for all our troubles. Bitter
experience teaches us otherwise. Again.
! others clamoring fer the extra session
are passing the buck in order to avoid
local and State responsibility"
| = 4
THE unemployment problem" says
| the Roanoke World-News. takes on q
different aspect from that OF last Win
, ter" and that paper points to two
phases of the changed conditions with
the statement. THE farmer generally
has had bumper crops. Gardens were
never more hourish.ng. Vegetables are
! in the greatest abundance. The peach
crop cannot be sold at any price. With
cheap sugar, the opportunities for can
ming ana preserving were never better
The farmer still has his phase OF the
depression. He may not get the cost
of production out of his money crops.
| Because what he has to sell brings so
inadequate a price. his purchasing pow
, err is again at minimum. But this
year tn. farmer has no threat of star