The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1932-01-08
A. F. Of L. Appeals to Government
For Liberal Jobless Relief Funds

alton of Labor threw the full force of
it's Influence in favor of direct fed
eral appropriations for unemployment
relief in the hearings held by the
senate subcommittee of the commit
tee on manufactures on the relief
bills sponsored by Senators Robert M.
La Follete and Edward p Costigan
asking liberal appropriations to re-
lieve the unemployment situation.
Edward F. McGrady, legislative
representative of the federation, told
the subcommittee that "the greatest
fear of our people in this, the richest
country in the world, is unemploy-
ment and the spectre of starvation
drawing nearer and nearer"
Senator La Follette's bill asks an
appropriation of $250,000,000 for
immediate unemployment relief.
Senator Costigan's bills asks $685.
100000 for relief up to the first of
July, and $250,OOO,OO0 for relief from
July 1, 1882, to June 80, 1888.
Federal Aid Imperative
SIN view of the fact" Mr.. McGrady
said, "that many of our states, cities
and isolated districts frankly admit
that they are unable to meet the de-
mands that are being made on them
for relief of the needy, the question
resolves itself down to this:
''Is our federal government going
to allow untold numbers of our Amer
lean citizenship to suffer, if indeed
they do not die, from cold and hunger
in the coming months, which will un-
doubtedly be the worst period of
hardship this nation has ever wit
messed? Or will the federal govern
ment protect the health and lives of
our men, women and children by lib
orally assisting the states, cities and
isolated districts which are unable to
help themselves?
A. r. OF l.. Demands Federal Rellef
'It is the belief of the American
Federation of Labor" Mr. McGrady
continued, "that the national law
makers should not shirk this respon-
sibility Indeed, it is a great oppor-
tunity for the federal government to
renew the faith of the people in their
government, a faith that has been
badly shattered in the last three
years.
"The American Federation of La
Dor has always felt that the problem
of caring for the unemployed and the
destitute is first local problem to be
solved by the community, but when
it is impossible for the community to
do so, the county and state should
lend their assistance.
"If the states and communities ad-
nit that it is absolutely impossible
for them to aid in this relief, then
the only agency that can be looked te
is the federal government, and we
are in favor of liberal appropriations
in order that human lives may be
saved and hunger and misery anc
want alleviated.
Specter of Starvation
"The greatest fear of our people ir
this, the richest country in the world
is unemployment and the specter oi
starvation drawing nearer all the
time.
"The American Federation of La.
Dor is in a position to know, perhaps
better than any other group, just
what the unions in 48 states, anc
from these twenty-eight thousand
points we receive monthly reports or
the state of unemployment.
Unions Give $52,OOO,O0O
"The American Federation Of La.
Dor has prided itself on its efforts tc
care for its own, and in the last two
years we have contributed approx.