Evening star., 1932-10-14
R00SEVELI:bACKS
j. S. AID. TO NEEDY
Declares Government Should
Help When States and
Communities Fail.
Nv the Associated Press,

ALBANY, N. Y, october 14.-Gov.
Roosevelt had added today to his views
on the obligations of Federal Govern
ment the declaration that when COM
munities and States are unable to meet
the unemployment relief needs 1T be-
comes the positive duty of the Federal
Government to step in to help"
Answering In radio address last
night a qusstienapropcunded. bY. vel
fare workers, do you favor substan-
tial increase in Federal relief outlays
during the economic emergency" the
Democratic candidate for the presi-
dency said:
It am very certain that the obliga-
ton extends beyond the States and to
the Federal Government itself. if and
when it becomes apparent that the
States and communities are unable to
take care of the necessary relief work"
ReafIirms Principle.
Comparing the action he sponsored
to provide unemployment relief in New
York with the record of President Hoo
ver's administration, Mr.. Roosevelt re-
iterated a passage in his message to
the State Legislature in 1881, which
read:
In broad terms, I assert that mod
ern society acting through its Govern
ment owes the definite obligation to
prevent the starvation or the dire want
of any of its fellow men and women
who try to maintain themselves. but
cannot. To these unfortunate citizens
aid must be extended by the Govern
ment; not as matter Of charity. but
as matter OF social duty
Continuing. Mr.. Roosevelt said:
That principle which I laid down
In 1881, 1 reaffrm. not only reaffirm
it: I go a step further and say that
where the State itself is unable sue
cessfully to fulfill this obligation which
lies upon it. it then becomes the posi-
tive duty of the Federal Government
to step in to help"
Compares Programs.
Mr.. Roosevelt asserted he thought
1t fair to point out that complete
program of unemployment relief was
on my recommendation actually under
way in New York over a year ago. and
that in Washington relief funds in any
large volume were not provided until
this Summer. and at that they were
pushed through at the demand of Con-
gress rather than through the leader
ship of the President"
Taking up another question which
asked if he favored substantially in
creased public works appropriations to
aid unemployment" Mr.. Roosevelt said:
There are two ways of paying for
public works One is by the sale Of
bonds. In principle such bonds should
be issued only to pay for self-sustaining
projects or for structures which will
without question have. useful life over
a period of years. The other method
of payment is from current revenues,
which in most cases means added taxes.
And we all know that there is a very
definite limit to the increase Of taxes
above the present limit.
II am confident that the Federal Gov
ernment working in cooperation with
States and cities can do much to carry
on increased public works and along
lines which are osund from the eco
nomic and financial point Of view."
Backs Jobless Insurance.
A quesAion regarding compulsory un-
employr*cnt insurance brought from
him
This is no new policy for me. have
advocated unemployment insurance in
my own State for some time. and indeed
last year six Eastern Governors were my
guests at a conference which resulted
in the drawing up of what might be
called an ideal plan Of unemployment
insurance"
Mr.. Roosevelt said he favored con-
tinuing the fine work" of the Chill
dren's Bureau of the Labor Department.
Attempts have been made to cut the
appropriations for child welfare work, -
he continued. 1T seems to me this is
the last place in which we should seek
to economic"
Appeals for Charity.
He declared he favored keeping chill
dren in school until they were 16
In closing, Roosevelt made a plea for
charity. He said
Let us who have jobs or money or
shelter for ourselves and our families
share with the less fortunate If we do
this in every community throughout the
land Thanksgiving day and Christmas
will take on an added significance
the significance of a higher American
ideal CT social justice"
The Governor will go down to his
Hyde Park home tonight to spend the
week end. Next Tuesday morning he
will leave on an eight-day campaign
trip through. the Middle West, the
border States and the South. His first
address will be Wednesday at Pitts
burgh.
c----rr mn mr. nnoAnracr