Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11
GREEN DEPLORES
LATE AID TO NEEDY
Unfortunate That Public Acts
Slowly in Crises, Says
Labor Head, on Air.

The American people, seemingly re-
parding such crises as the current un-
employment situation as more or less
inevitable, fail to become interested or
aroused until the cry of human dis
tress" makes them realize the serious
ness Of conditions, William Green,
president Of the American Federation
Of Labor, declared last night.
Green, who was speaking over the
Columbia Broadcasting System from
Station WMAI4, termed this attitude
unfortunate" after pointing out that
sin every national emergency 1t be-
comes the duty of all classes of people
to make such contributions as lie with
in their power toward the needs and
demands of the occasion" He said:
Now, after more than a year of
continuous economic distress, the Ma
ton is aroused. Congress is responding,
community and civic groups are in
action, and 1t seems that all the forces
of society are cooperating in con-
certed effort to overcome and master
the forces which have operated so
diSastrously in our economic, social and
industrial life"
Service TO the Nation.
Although millions of men and women
have been affected by the current der
preston, Green continued, they have,
through their trade-unions and other
organizations, rendered service to the
Nation, to industry and to the COM
munity in the development of relief
measures"
: At the request of President Hoover,
organized labor has made its contri-
button to the establishment and main
tenance Of industrial peace in this
crisis" Green asserted.
Because labor is conscious of the
seriousness of the situation he con-
tinued, lit has sought, through its rep
reSentativeS, to be represented on all
unemployment boards and committees.
The membership of organized labor
through its unions, has been tnstru-
mental in the development Of public
works programs and has offered very
valuable suggestions and recommended
lions regarding plans and policies
which should be pursued"
These men and women, Green
pointed out, have sacrificed part of
their employment IN order to help
Others" have endeavored by using their
trade union facilities to obtain en-
ployment for others, and in various
other ways have rendered service of
tnestimable value to the community"
AS for the tEade-unions, they have
fused their funds to relieve distress, to
supply food, clothing and the neceS-
stiles Of life to unfortunate unemployed
persons" Green declared. Many union
members, he said, have contributed to
funds created to relieve unemployment.
Service Freely Given.
This service" Green went on, has
been freely given in an effort to meet
the need of this acute situation. While
engaged in this great humane under
taking, labor has been thinking about
constructive means and methods which
should be applied In order to prevent
the destructive and devastating effects
which come from these periodical un-
employment experiences. Labor Is
firmly convinced that the problem of
unemployment must be dealt with in
constructive. scientific and practical
way 1t firmly believes that industry
can be regulated so as to furnish rea-
sonably steady employment to all
working men and women"
Advocating flve-day week, with re-
duced daily working hours, Green as
serted that Government employees, as
well as those engaged in private bust
ness and industry should be placed
on the reduced time basis. This, he
pointed. would permit the employment
of more persons. and "all the slack Of
present-day employment could be taken
up quickly and expeditiously."
Green concluded his address with the
statement that now that the serious
ness OF the unemployment crisis has
become generally known, I'VE will ulti-
mately master it and overcome 1t"