Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-17
BY BISHOP F. J. MCCONNELL.

Some who are interested in labor leg
islation and in other large-scale meth
DDS Of improving the conditions Of the
workers are apt to be impatient with
charity. Some declare outright that 1t
Is only sop thrown to the poor to keep
them from thinking too much about the
essential injustice of their condition
Others, while they admit that there are
emergencies which only voluntary re-
lief can meet with sufficient dispatch,
nevertheless feel that big campaigns for
charitable purposes draw attention
away from possible methods Of prevent
ing the needs which they are proposed
to meet.
In the present unemployment situa-
ton, however, thoughtful people admit
that both public measures and volun-
tary relief have proved altogether In
adequate Even where we had laws
and administrative machinery to make
and md work, 1t was found in practice
that the worst cases of distress often
did not come within the scope Of their
operation. And the fact that nearly
all the special funds that have been
collected to provide relief are now ex-
hausted clearly shows that we cannot
rely on private generosity when a really
serious and widespread emergency con-
fronts us as Nation.
Red Tape Partly Overcome.
There is, however, one encouraging
factor; and In it lies, / think, the an
swer to those critics who would alto
gether do away with private charity.
And that Is that the old contrast be-
tween public and private methods OF
aiding those who need help is gradu-
ally disappearing. On the one hand,
State and municipal authorities have
shown In recent months that it Is pos
sible, TO some extent, to overcome red
tape and that it is possible by admins
trative means to provide work and live
lthood for many thousands who in the
past would have been forced to seek
charity. On the other hand, our vel
fare agencies everywhere have come to
recognize that their efforts, however
well supported, do not suffice, and they
are now among the warmest advocates
Of sound legislative and administrative
proposals for dealing with the difflculty
at its source.
For example, largely at the behest of
such agencies, the Governor of New
York recently vetoed a bill passed by
the Legislature which would have side
tracked a thorough study OF q State
scheme OF unemployment insurance by
giving insurance companies the right to
sell unemployment insurance, and thus
a vested interest In defeating a larger
measure. Another indication I find In
the appeal issued by the Mothers Fund
Committee Of the Golden Rule Founda-
ton with which am associated) for
a socially useful observance Of that day.
Welfare Agencies Needed.
In this appeal find it stated that
we need more and better widows pen
sion laws; that we need a more rapid
extension Of those old-age pension laws
which so far only one third of our
States have adopted; that minimum
wage laws and other protective legisla-
ton should be applied more equitably
to women of all races that our whole
machinery OF preventive medicin, needs
strengthening Including the Federal
provision for maternal care and educa-
ton which Congress has allowed TO
lapsel; that young children should not
be allowed to compete for Jobs with
unemployed adult workers, and more
to the same effect
But this committee also realizes that
the work OF our private welfare aqen-
cieS Is indispensable and invites every
one 10 honor his own mother by con-
tributing to their funds-mucn de-
pleted, alas, by the recent heavy drain
upon them.
hope the appeal Of the committee