Evening star., 1932-02-10
FESS LEADS FIGHT
:. ON DIRECT RELIEF
Voices Republican Opposition
! TO Federal Aid as matter
e.
of Principle"
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Continued From First Page)
situation, "sMr. Curtis replied i hope
action will be taken to relieve the awful
situation that exists throughout the
country
Speaker Garner read from the petit
ton: Surely Congress cannot afford to
subject itself to the charge that 1t
speedily appropriated billions for capi-
tai and nothing fer the hungry. The
destructive consequence of Widespread
continuous. distressing unemployment
have reached an acute stage"
Garner Is Sympathetic.
Mr.. Garner said the groups plea
appeals to very human heart" adding:
Il am sure / speak for the members
of the House when I say we don't want
to see anybody starve CT freeze in this
country. The best way to approach it
is the question"
House the delegates were in session for
hours with the Executive Council of the
Federation cf Labor. They discussed
the plight of labor and the increase in
crime throughout the country.
They were unanimous in this thought:
mo explanation can be made to hungry
people and their sympathetic frienGs
which would satisfy them as to why
Congress voted billions to aid banks
and corporations and would refuse to
appropriate even moderate sum to be
used for the purpose of assisting the
States and communities in supplying
food. shelter and clothing to patriotic.
local citizens who are suffering from
unemployment.
We do not consider the appropr:a-
tion of Federal relief to supply food,
clothing and shelter in this great emer-
gency to millions of starving mer,
women and children as a dole"
Decline to Name Committee.
With shouts of "a rea1 National emer-
gency has been reached the delegates
listened to proposal by members OF
the Executive Council to appoint
committee to lay their appeal directly
into the hands Of President Hoover
But the delegation would not have it
that way. The whole body decided to
go. for the delegates claimed no mere
committee could adequately represent
the great mass of people who had sent
them to Washington.
President Green was sent to the
White House to arrange details and
the l25 dignified men began marching
IN columns of twos from the Federation
Building to the Executive Mansion,
mile away
There was short wait outside the
Executive Offices. then the entire dele
CATION marched in. There was no
speech-making as the men filed by and
shook hands with the President After
ward. Frank Morrison. secretary Of the
federation presented the appeal
1t asserted that 5000 900 workingmen
are idle, that men, women and chill
dren are hungry, cold and under
nourished" and that countless children
are unable to attend school because
Of lack of food clothing and shoes"
Developments Outlined.
"A significant development of the
very serious situation which exists" the
petition said, lis clearly evident in the
larger cities where large crowds of un-
employed accumulate, where protest
meetings are held, in the hunger
marches which have been and are TAX
ing place, in the violence which occurs
in crime and in the accumulating wave
of discomfort and social unrest which
is sweeping over the country"
The labor men outlined four con
structive work remedies and policies in
order to extend and broaden work op-
portunities," as follows:
The immediate establishment of the
fve-day work week in both private and
public industry.
"A cessation of the wage-cutting
policy which was relentlessly pursued
during the year 1881 and which has re-
suited in a destruction of mass buying
power and the creation of fear and dis
trust in the minds of millions Of work.
ing men and women. The soundness
Of this position is quick recognized
when we consider the fac that the
wage losses of wage-earners, with a
corresponding reduction in buying pow
er, amounted to $l1 ,000,O 900 900 for 1881
as compared with 1929.
To create work opportunities by
every business executive employing at
least one more employe and by indus
trial enterprises adding to their work
ing force in proportion to the number
now employed. Every professional per
son and heads of households extending
employment or part-time employment
to as many people as possible. Every
community to undertake to develop
and carry on additional work.
"All efforts possible be made to keep
boys and girls in school and that local
postgraduate opportunities be provided
for those finishing school"