Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-08
Coolidge Urges Relief


Calvin Coolidge has informed Owen
d. Young, Mobilization Commic re
chairman of the Presidents Organza-
ton on Unemployment Relief, that all
that is needed to provide relief for the
UNEMPLOYED in the United States SIS
for us to give what we think America
is worth to u.s."
A. COPY of the former Presidents
statement was received here yesterday
by Zoil1 Poole, president of the Wash
ingto1 Community Chest, and was re-
leased for publication by him.
Full text of the statement follows:
THE people of the United States are
going through an experience that Is
unusual for them.
Situation Is Novel.
MANY of our inhabitants are suffer-
ing from unemployment. This is
situation so novel that 1t is difficult for
us fully to realize it. Our normal con-
dition has been such that 1t has been
easy for men and women OF good health
and an industrious disposition to find
plenty of work to afford them a good
living. That is no longer the case.
However, much we may be ignorant
of the reason no one disputes the TACT
that several millions of our people are
out of work Many of these had no
sufficient savings to meet such con-
tingency and are now in want. Others
have already exhausted their savings.
Williams remarked after defendant
by all the dictates of humanity
these people must have help. They are
in sore need for shelter, clothing and
food. The number involved and the
urgency of their wants are unpre-
cedented in this country.
Need Is Nation Wide.
"A situation as big as this has to
be met in big way. Heretofore we
have seen people in want from local
conditions of fire, food storm, earth
quake and drouth. Now our needs are
Nation wide.
ITO help meet these conditions the
President has set up an Organization
on Unemployment Relief. There has
also been formed a Committee on Mo-
bilization Of Relief Resources. These
are neither collecting nor disbursing
agencies, but act in co-ordinating and
supervising capacity. Their work IS
being accomplished with a system and
thoroughness never before equaled in
this country.
Perhaps the most satisfying aspect
Of what is being done is its simplicity.
Our Nation is organized on the theory
of local government. Charitable
relief associations, both public and pri-
vate, exist in nearly every community.
The machinery to meet the situation
long has been installed All that is
needed is to turn on the power.
Always Meets Situations.
"These are the facts. Sometimes it
requires considerable effort to get the
people of the United States to realize
the facts, but when that is done, no
duty has ever been too difficult for
them to perform. When they really
comprehend a situation, the harder 1t
is the more eager they are to meet it.
THE question remains as tc what the
ordinary individual can do to help. The
final solution for unemployment is
work. Al those who have any kind of
work that needs doing should start 1t
at once.
There are many who cannot give
work who can give money. Such con-
tributions should be made to the local
relief organizations.
Test OF Local Government.
I've are in position where we shall
test the efficiency of local self-govern-
ment. 1t has always proved to be ade-
quate and is certainly the safest way to
administer relief. The amount given is
more likely to be enough and is less
likely to be too much When relief
comes from far away and from an I'M
known source abuses are in danger of
developing because the personal con-
tact so necessary In such cases is en-
tirely lost.
Besides that, the whole Is no greater
than the sum Of all the parts. If the
local authorities do not have the means
to give relief, a national authority would
be found in the same condition. Every
community will avoid loss and waste by
taking charge of its own business. This