The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-11
BORAH VOICES
FIERY APPEAL
FOR HUNGRY
G. 0. P. Stand, Expressed
by FeSs, LaShed in EIo-
quent Plea to Senate.
GOVERNMENT MUST ACT
Millions Need Help, and at
Once, Idaho Senator
Tells Colleagues.
Continued From Page One)

lGUUbiHueu IAOiu dkC OlNJ
ed, if either measure were to be
adopted, the Democratic one, with
its provision for roundabout loans
to states, seemed to him FAR and
away the best"
From this point he swung into q
denunciation Of the DOLE" and tolc
the senate that if the federal gov
eminent starts feeding the people
1.-The people will be careless whether
they work or not, for why should
they work."
AS he sat down, Borah arose.
First l want to get the position
Of the senator clearly" he said. 1T
is the senator's position that the
national government must not re-
lieve starvation and suffering, even
if local governments are unable to
do it?"
1T is" Fess answered.
Assails Fess' Stand
There we nave the senator's phi
losophy. in all its naked appeal, y
said Borah. HE takes the position
that the national government will
not aid the sick, the suffering, no
matter If local government fail to
care for them ."
Not If the local governments are
able to-" Tess qualified
But suppose local governments
have been carrying the burden for
two years, and say they can do so
no longer. The senator would not
take care of the people?"
THE senate undoubtedly would
send some one to investigate if re-
ports of that sort were made"
And meantime sick babies would
die, men and women would starve, "
Borah retorted.
That would not happen in a
civilized community
Advocates Unusual Steps
Borah interrupted him. I'm not
so sure, since 1 have heard the
senator's remarks"
He went on:
I'm voting for measures these
days under a sort of duresS. The
economic breakdown has been 50
serious that it is necessary to take
unusual steps. I consider it neceS-
sary to deal with unemployment
want today as we have been dealing
with the business emergency, doing
things for which there is no pre-
cedent, for which, doubtless, there is
no authority in the Constitution,
doing them regardless Of the Presi-
dent and everything else, when they
must be done"
Tess rose to defend the constitu-
tionality of the reconstruction
finance corporation act, and Borah
said:
by what constitutional authority
do you tax all the people of the
United States for the benefit of the
few in business and refuse to tax
them for the benefit of the many
who are hungry?"
Constitution Is Quoted
Tess quoted the general well
fare" clause of the Constitution.
Then the senator takes the po-
sition that it is not in the general
welfare to keep men and women
alive?"
Il say this is the peoples gov
ernment," Borah went on. 1T was
made for them. They have given
their lives for it on the field of
battle. If a government will not
protect those who protect it, its flag
is a dirty rag that communicates
the air in which it flies.
why didn't the government say
to the bankers, Go home and re-
vive your own frozen assets. Take
care Of your own business. The
government is to be supported by
the people, not the people by the
government
What l contend for is to place
the human being on the level of the
corporation" said Borah. That's
all"
Duty of Nation
Borah went on: 81 do not think
it is the duty of the federal gov
eminent to wait until people are
actually dying; to undermine the
health of its people by letting them
starve. Local committees have been
carrying the burden two years. They
have reached the point where they
can give a family only SIS a week
to live on. Every plea humanity
possibly can put before us is ask
ing for relief now.
Il am convinced that there is
widespread and terrible suffering. In
some places it has reached beyond
human description. Disease is visit
ing these ravaged homes, taking
sway the children.
I'm not willing out of super
stitious regard for the responsibility
Of local government to refuse to dc
my duty as a man. 1t has no more
to do with the present situation
than social precedence on a sink
ing ship at sea.
Statement Called Libel
The statement that citizens will
want the dole and will refuse to
work is startling, coming from the
chairman of the Republican ma
tional committee that you can't
trust them ever TO go back to work
I denounce that as libel. I deny
that to feed American citizens UNI
dernines their moral character.
you call it dole. The hungry
call it something to eat.
Nothing is gained by refusing to
deal with realities. I do not be-
lieve they could be exaggerated to-
day.
Il sometimes doubt II the war it.
self caused more misery than these
long, protracted days of distress
The human tongue is inadequate tc
tell the story too strongly"
According TO present indications