Evening star., 1932-08-16
Recovery and Relief Campaigns.

Two announcements of important
conferences at the White House this
month and next indicate the nature OF
campaigns against the depression this
Winter. to be conducted separately ana
along two fronts.
Jmnoediate interest turns to the con-
ference at the White House August 70
to be attended by prominent represent
atives of American business and nnance
who will hear from the President MS
plans for co-ordinating the forces they
represent with those put in motion by
the Federal Governments reconstruc-
ton legislation and to adopt the nu-
cleus of "a concerted program OF action
along the whole economic 'front.'.
Equally important is the announce
ment today by J. Herbert Case, chair
man of the Federal Reserve Bank OF
New York and president of the Assocl-
alton of Community Chests and Coun-
cils, of the membership of the National
Citizens Committee for the Welfare
and Relief Mobilization Of 1882, which
is headed by Newton D. Baker as chair
man. Mr.. Baker says in statement
commenting on the organization OF this
committee:
The task ahead of us is the greatest
ve have ever faced. Every social well
fare agency must cooperate. Ihe
National Citizens Committee will en-
deayor to mobilize welfare and relief
forces throughout the United States. 1t
will be the duty of this committee 10
explore and explain the existing neeo.
When we are through we must nave
prevented hunger and destitution and
saved the Nations welfare plan from
destruction.
The last two Winters have made the
"existing need" so obvious to everybody
that detailed explanations will be OF
secondary importance. The facts and
the figures, of course, will be assembled
in due time. The real task before this
national committee is, as Mr.. Baker
puts it, to save "the Nations welfare
plan from destruction"
In its broad sense, the Nations well
fare plan Is built on the work Of pri-
vate charity, dependent for its support
upon voluntary contributions. In an
increasing amount private charity has
been forced Ally on appropriations OF
public funds to make up the enormous
deficit created by the depression, and
which represents the balance between
what is needed and what can be raised
through the traditional method of vol
untary giving. In practically every
large community the funds for relief
work appropriated from public revenue
have come to exceed the funds avail
able from private contributions. Yet
private welfare and charitable organi-
cations constitute the very backbone OF
relief work throughout the Nation.
The task Of the National Committee
Just announced is to prevent this back
bone from breaking under the pressure
and strain of another Winter Of dis
tress. The breaking down process will
become more rapid and inevitable, once
the local communities begin to throw
up their hands and surrender to defeat
by asking that their own responsible
ties be transferred, first to the States,
and ultimately to the Federal Govern
ment Money so far made available by
the States, and by the Federal Govern
ment through the Reconstruction FL
nance Corporation loans, is necessary
to augment the funds raised in the dill
ferent communities by private contribu-
tions and by appropriation OF local pub
lie funds. The important thing to en-
phasize is that local responsibility re-
mains; that once the system of volun-
tary community support Of private COM
munity agencies breaks down by resort
to appeals for public funds from the
next highest political unit, the valuable
machinery of administering to distress,
built up through the years, is scrapped.
The Nation will have been set upon a
new course that leads no one knows
where, and the recovery of business and
industry will not serve to change that
course.
No national fund for relief Is sought
by the committee just created. Its func-
ton will be to stimulate the support by
private contributions Of the tweny-
seven national welfare agencies CO.
operating in this movement. Its sole
purpose" says Mr.. Case, lis to rein
force local Embarrassing efforts"