Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1933-12-14
oE1Ht0 DOWN TO
BRASS
RELIEF UNDER CIVIL WORKS

nloh6.
Some great statesman, back In tn
days of the Revolution. said thad
One OF the leading metropolitan
newspapers OF the country ha
carried the exclamation on ii
masthead for many years. | hav
always liked the sentiment wrappet
up In those few words. And, Nv,
come to feel a good deal that VIA,
about President Roosevelt's Re
covery program. There will b.
mistakes Of course Who. wouls
have made less7 No program 8.
vast In Its scope. and carried for
ward with such dynamic rapidity
could possibly be put into opera
ton without mistakes.
No single phase of the Presi
dents big drive against Depression
has appealed to the Herald mort
than Civil Works, the plan which
Is to remove 1000, 900 men from
relief rolls and permit them to carr
a living for their families. Local
relief committees tried last year to
do the same thing, but the money
came to easy. There were too many
willing to take all they could get
and give nothing in return. Local
committees had neither the capac-
ity nor the inclination to effective
ly administer work relief. Those
whose pride alone kept them oft
relief saw less deserving neighbors
accept aid with no effort to return
1t. The plan, as carried out. was
making mendicants OF thousands.
With these 1t became a wild scTam-
BILE to see who could get the most.
The trouble was. the "cart was
before the horse"
Civil Works Is nothing more on
less than the same Emergency Re
lief we had last winrer--the ex-
pending OF government funds to re-
lieve human suffering, but 1t re-
the order. 1t puts the horse
in front OF the cart. Projects are
laid out, men are put to work. and
are paid after the work is done.
We can see a vast Improvement
In the new plan. First of all the man
who has all but given up in dis
pair under an ever : i~ncreas- !
Ing burden of debts and because OF
inability to find work can still
maintain his self respect and pro-
vide for his loved ones with money |
earned with his own hands. He need
no longer be classed as an object OF |
charity. He Is an employe OF the |
Federal government.
Instead OF Relief orders. doled
,ut In limited amounts, now there
s a pay check, to be expended as
the employee shall elect. Upon him
again rests the direct responsibility |
d providing the necessities OF life.
And. every community Ii getting
something tangible for the funds
laid to its workers. True. on MANY |
projects seemingly little will be ac-
,omplished. Some men. still In the
nendicant class. will do as little as
hey can to get by. They are ever
Nth us. But, for the most part.
much constructive work will be ac-
somplished. The measure OF suc~
'ess will be determined largely BY
he keymen and foremen who are
'lotned with authority to demand
effort from every man on the
OBJ, and replace him promptly when
9 fails to appreciate his response
'ility.
Naturally, CWA has Its weak
pots. For the life of us, we cannot
Understand, when a county is as
lgned only half its Relief quota
or work projects, why the work
hould not be placed on a stageer
rogram. This would permit halt
hose on relief rolls to work one
reek, and the other half the next.
s 1t is, hundreds are still on relief !,
are just as willing to work az +,
rose who are assigned to duty. Fur
hermore the committee, even
1ough 1t endeavors to make honest
elections, Is forced to Become the
1ct1ms OF harsh criticism, being
nanged with playing favorites. Cut !,
hort by winter. with practically
projects outside work. such
Dunties as Sheridan may well have !.
fhefr full quota OF relief made :
valuable FOR immediate work :
~'ansferring the work days 10 some :
bner section OF the state when the !.
Ioeram mere was necessarily halt :
by bad weather. On the other :
II the past week NAV be ac- /,
apted as a criterion. 1t Is going to :
more than a Montana blizzard :
sub-zerO temperatures to stop !.
zen In Sheridan county from going !
q with their work. What a spirifi !
Don't be took quick to cuss Won I
committee. The Herald is con- :
need every man on that board Is
Ding his best to administer CWA
npartlally and effectively. They
We hours and days without q cent 8
compensation, and with little 0
preston OF gratitude. When prone =
criticize, remember that no pro- Q
am involving the expenditure OF 4
lcn vast sums OF money, Intended a
relieve human suffering could I
'er De conceived to fit the needs I
every community In perfect reg Y
alton. Neither can IL be admins
RED without mistakes In judr- 4
emf. All we have the right 10 ex- a.
ct OF any group is a serious an y
OF the responsibilities I'd m
cir task. and then an honest eff d
IT to DISCHARGE them Twhfu urc 81