Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-10
Real Leadership.

Senator Robinson of Arkansas has laid
before that body convincing reasons
for the adoption of the compromise
agreement, so-called, on relief for the
drought-Stricken area. Confronted with
q situation which endangered the very
relief measure, which is held to be so
necessary to the people In the drought
stricken States, the Arkansas Senator
had the wisdom to agree to the COM
promise. Other members of the Sen
ate, perhaps not so thoroughly imbued
with the necessity of bringing relief
without further delay, have raised carp
ing criticism of the compromise.
The situation in which the proponents
Of further relief measures for the
drought-stricken States found them
selves was clear enough. The Senate
had adopted the Robinson amendment
appropriating So, 100000 to be used to
relieve the destitute in all parts of the
country. The Red Cross, specified In the
amendment as the agency to handle the
relief fund, had declined to accept its
administration. The House by a large
vote had rejected the amendment. The
President had let it become known that
he would not approve such q measure
Mr.. Hoover stood out against Federal
dole to the drought stricken and the
unemployed, holding that the charities
Of the country, buttreSsed by local and
State governments, could and would
deal adequately with the need of such
relief.
The alternatives which presented
themselves TO Senator Robinson, his
colleague. Senator Caraway, and other
Senators representing States in the
drought-stricken area, were to deadlock
the Congress on appropriation bills and
force q special session of the Congress
after March 4, or to bring about q COM
promise which would give credit facili-
ties to the people in the drought-strick-
en- States, enabling them to make theil
crops this year and once again get or
their feet. It was clear to those who
know conditions in the Southwest that
the relief, the addition of credit facili-
ties 50 much needed, must come soon
far sooner than a special session OF
Congress could provide, or the oppor-
tunity for making crops and regainine
lost ground would be missed this year.
Senator Robinson adopted the wiser
course. He chose to compromise. And
In 80 doing he obtained what he has
demanded from the first-greater facili-
ties for the people he represents, where
banks and credit facilities have been
wiped out to q very large extent.
Critics Of the course pursued by the
Democratic leader harp upon the failure
Of the compromise agreement to use
the word food" As Senator Robinson
has pointed out, the language Is in
elusive, covering food and other neces-
saries Of life, such as clothing and
medicine. Furthermore, Senator Rob-
inson has the pledge of the President
Of the United States that the proposed
relief measure will be administered fair
ly and sympathetically--a pledge made
openly by the Chief Executive.
Those Senators who have insisted
that the Federal Government shall
provide q dole for the unemployed in
the cities will not be satisfied with the
compromise agreement. 1t does not
provide for relief in the cities. 1t is a
measure intended to give credit IA
cilities TO an area which has been
visited by q drought which has taken
from the people all possibility of max
ing q living; TO an area where credit
facilities have been wiped out in large
measure due to the same drought. In
the cities, it Is true, unemployment has
been great and the need Of charity has
been equally great. But in the cities
the blight OF business depression has
not been so all-inclusive as in the
drought area. The problem of relief is
vastly different. In New York City,
for example, where more unemploy-
ment Is found than in any other city,
the people as q whole still have great
wealth and resources. They are able
TO come to the aid of the distressed
without dipping into the Federal
Treasury. They are doing the job, as
the President has said. To depart from
the principle of voluntary charity and
turn to socialism in this matter would
be an error, far reaching in extent.
The Democratic leader of the SEN
ate has shown himself, in the crisis
which he faced, capable of real leader
ship.