Evening star., 1931-12-30
Representative Tells Senate
Group U. S. Cannot "Shirk
Its Responsibility"
DEMANDS TOO GREAT
FOR CITIES AND STATES
Declares Mining Section Of Penn
sylvania Needs $15,0O0,000
for Winter Relief.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The American Federation of Labor
today threw the full force Of its in
fluence squarely behind the drive for
direct Federal appropriations for un-
employment relief.
Edward F. McGrady, legislative rep
resentative of the federation, told a
Senate manufactures subcommittee a
national emergency exists which can be
met only by the Federal Government
He estimated 100000 will be out of
work next year.
1t was the first time the federation
has taken a stand on the issue of
Federal relief, to which President
Hoover is opposed.
The only Senators who heard Nc
Grady's testimony were La Toilette,
Republican, of Wisconsin, and Costigan,
Democrat, of Colorado. They are
sponsoring bills for Federal appropria-
tionS of $25o,OOO,oOO and 1915 1000, 900,
respectively.
Federal aid also was asked by other
witnesses.
Benjamin Demands Hearing.
This afternoons hearing was inter-
rupted by Herbert Benjamin, leader of
the recent unemployment marchers,
who demanded to be heard as a repre-
sentative of the unemployed.
Chairman La Toilette told him he
would be heard If the committee had
time after scheduled witnesses had tes-
titled.
I'VE insist upon being heard" Benia-
min said 1T appears this committee
does not desire to hear us"
You viii be in order" La Toilette
said.
Il will be in order when we are per-
mitted to testify" Benjamin replied.
I'VE we're gagged on December 7 and
we don't intend to be gagged again"
You will not get far with threats"
La Toilette said.
we are not making threats" Ben
jamin replied, as he finally took his seat
again.
Unable to Meet Demands.
Many States, cities and Isolated dis
tricts frankly admit they are unable
to meet the demands that are being
made upon them for relief for the
needy" McGrady told the subcom-
mittee.
us our Federal Government going to
allow untold numbers of our American
citizens to suffer, If indeed they do not
die, from cold and hunger in the COM
ing months, which will undoubtedly be
the worst period of hardships that this
Nation has ever witnessed?
"Or will the Federal Government pro-
tect the health and lives OF our men,
women and children by literally as
sisting the States, cities and isolated
districts that are unable to help them
selves?
Opportunity to Renew Faith.
"It is the belief of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor that the national law
makers should not shirk this reSpon-
sibility. Indeed, it is a great oppor-
tunity for the Federal Government to
renew the faith of the people in their
Government, a faith that has been
badly shattered in the last three years.
McGrady said the federation has con-
tributed S52,o00,Oo0 in the past two
years to its needy membership.
I'VE are going to try to assist our
members as much as possible" he said,
but with unemployment increasing, we
very much fear that we will have to call
upon the public authorities TO assist us
in carrying this load
Government Only Agency.
"-rbe American Federation of Labor
has always felt that the problem of
caring for the unemployed and the
destitute is first local problem to
be solved by the community, but when
it is impossible for the community to
do so, the country or State should lend
assistance" the witness explained
IF the States and communities admit
that it is absolutely impossible for them
To aid in this relief then the only
agency that can be looked to is the
Federal government, and we are in
favor of liberal appropriations in order
that human lives might be saved and
hunger. misery and want alleviated."
In December the federationS figures
showed 5000, 900 were getting three
DAYS or less work week.
"Of this number" McGrady warned,
'there is a large percentage VINO nave
been out of work for very long period
of time and whose resources are en-
tirely exhausted"
Citing conditions among miners in
Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Ohio, Ken
lucky and Pennsylvania, he said more
than 1000 have been out Of work for
q year or more.
I'm the mining sections Of PennSyl-
vania they need OF once not less than
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