Evening star., 1932-09-16
Welfare and Relief Mobilization.

In his address welcoming the Welfare
and Relief Mobilization Conference at
the White House yesterday the Presi-
dent outlined the four major obJectives
which constitute Americas task In this
field next Winter.
The first of these, he said IS ito see
that no man, woman or child shall go
hungry or unsheltered" The second is
the maintenance at full strength Of the
Nations benevolent agencies for char
acter building, disqualification, care OF
children, etc. The third Is retention
Of "the bedrock principle of our
liberties" by mobilizing individual and
local resources and responsibilities, and
the fourth Is to maintain the spiritual
impulses for generous giving and service
against encroachment by that cold and
distant charity which puts out It's
sympathy only through the tax col
lector" and which yields very meager
dole of unloving and perfunctory RELIEF"
Newton D. Baker, the chairman OF
the conference. replying to the Presl-
dent, again summarized this task as
meaning mot only mere interim pro-
vision TO tide over this Winters crisis
from the material point Of view, but
also in its larger aspects it is to con-
ttnue the work of character building
and to conserve and strengthen the
fortitude, courage and self-reliance OF
our people so that there Will De no
deep injury done to our national lue
BY this tragic emergency
Il is true, as Mr.. Baker said, that
Eve Americans have not become very
expert in dealing with hard tunes.
IT,, .1sty and growing infant that this
Nation is has been spared bitter,
valuable, experience In that direcuon'
And the fundamental difficulty in meet
ing the stresses and strains of the
period now, in 50 far as relief ana
welfare work are concerned, has been
failure to conceive the real meaning
of such work. The medieval conception
of charity as a means to aid the glVer,
instead of the recipient still persists.
1t assumes modern form in the belief
current that mere appropriation OF
money for dispensation among the poor
and the establishment OF such institu-
tions as soup kitchens are all that are
necessary to end distress.
In times of prosperity and plenty
the average contributor to charity IS
willing enough to leave the details OF
administration of his funds to the eX-
perts. those who devote their lives to
the science of helping the unfortunate
In times like these, when the plight
OF the unfortunate becomes first page
news. a new and sudden interest IN the
manifestations of misfortune IS too apt
to be transformed into miscirectec
enthusiasm to solve everything by
the typically American exped!ent OF
legislation.
Such legislation is essential. The
economic problem Of wide unemploy-
ment has created ar additional burden
that is above and beyond the ABILITY
of organized charity and relief organi-
zations to bear alone. The additional
load must, and is being, gradually as
sumed by public funds. But it has in
creased, rather than lessened, the task
always facing organized private char
ity. This task does not end with the
mere provision of food. 1t deals with
the salvation of human lives, and lives
are not salvaged by filling empty stom-
achs. There are such things as pre-
serving self-respect and confidence and
hope. and these are not safe IN bun
cling, inexperienced hands.
II there can be sustained this Winter
the idea that public funds are neces-
sary4,omplement to the private, or
ganized welfare work, but that tnS
latter work can never be supplemented
by mere appropriation of public funds
there is no reason to doubt the success
Of the Winters campaign against dis
tress and misfortune. 1t is the aim OF
The White House Conference to pre-
serve that idea, which Is, IN addition
an ideal.