The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-19
P|NCHOT CALLS
ON HOOVER TO
HELP JOBLESS
President Urged to Summon
Congress, in Governors
Open Letter.
DIRE NEED is CITED
Europe Aided, Now Assist
America, Plea Made by
Pennsylvania.
By United Press

By United Press
HARRISBURG, Pa, Aug. 10
Governor Clifford Pinchot of Penn
sylvania today sent a letter to
President Hoover urging that an
extra session of congress be called
Immediately to provide relief for the
unemployed.
Pinchot urged that the extra Ses-
sion be called to meet "the national
emergency" He said the total num-
Der of unemployed in Pennsylvania
is more than 100000.
Pinchot's letter to the President
followed closely authoritative United
Press dispatches from Washington
that Mr.. Hoover did not intend to
summon congress for a special seS-
sion this fall
Cites Detroit Speech
I'm a recent speech at Detroit,
copy of which 1 inclose, I called
attention to what I believe to be
the unacceptable fact that the hun
cry can not be fed during the COM
ing winter without federal assist
ance.
I'm support of my belief, I beg
to transmit herewith a report upon
the actual situation in Pennsyl-
vania, which is widely regarded as
more fortunate in this emergency
than some of the other states.
This report, prepared by a COM
mittee of experts, and based upon
federal and state official figures,
presents conclusions which 1 have
no doubt are substantially correct.
Briefly, some of these conclusions,
as of June, 1881, are as follows:
Total number of unemployed in
Pennsylvania is more than 100000,
or nearly one-quarter of the whole
working population, distress in
many counties is acute, many chill
dren are suffering from partial
starvation; because of unemploy-
ment the hospitals are over
burdened, and the demand for
charity shows no decrease this sum-
mer over the high record of last
winter"
Urges Congress Call
He described the economic situa-
ton in Pennsylvania and continued:
"A situation like this, in a state
like Pennsylvania, leads many to
believe that the present emergency
is as vital to the people as the great
war. Local private charity can not
meet the need. Local public relief.
which should carry the bulk of the
load, is hampered Or hamstrung.
Under these conditions 1 am
compelled by the necessities of nv
people to urge that you call an ex-
ira session of congress.
THE regular session does not open
until December. After the two
houses have organized, many SUBJ
jects of grave and pressing impor-
lance, including relief for people
across the sea, will demand imme-
date attention.
Action Must Be Rapid
Because of them, congress NAV
not be able to consider with prompt
ness, much less act quickly upon.
the question of federal help. But
even If appropriations for relief at
nome could be debated, passed and
approved by Christmas, they still
would be too late for the machinery
of distribution to be ORGANIZED
throughout the nation in time TO
prevent widespread suffering and
the probability of serious disorder.
For these reasons, I urge upon
you, with all the emphasis of which
l am capable, not only the calling
OF an extra session of congress for
the purpose of meeting this national
emergency, but the calling of it at
the earliest possible date. Already
the time is very short.
Need Is at Home
Calling of an extra session will
be opposed by politicians as inex-
pedlent. 1t will be condemned by
large taxpayers as likely to cost
tnem money. 1t will be deplored by
those who refuse to admit the obvi-
Gus facts Of the present situation.
But every such consideration is
swept aside by the urgent need of
our people.
You yourself have asked for ap-
preparations by congress for relief
OF the needy in distant parts of the
world, and, having obtained them.
nave supervised their expenditure.
III would seem to be most appro-
pirate that you should do no less for
our own needy here at home. Onlv
an extra session can empower YOU
to do so in time.
because this question is of grave
consequence to millions of our neo-
pie. 1 have taken the liberty of
making this letter public"