Evening star., 1933-05-13
NEAR
DESPERATION, SAYS
SOCIAL AID OFFICER
Plight Blamed on Communi-
ties With Hostile Attitude
Toward Newcomers.
HOPE OR BETTERMENT
HELD AIM OF TRAVELLERS
Joint Conference of Agencies Con-
cluded Today With Luncheon
at Y. W. C. A.

The transient Of today shares the
enterprise if not the opportunity of the
pioneer who broke home ties to press
on for the frontier.
Both were resolved to better them
selves, but the transient finds himself
an unwelcome burden to communities
already crowded where the pioneer
found room and opportunity.
Shunted from city to city, State to
State, the unemployed transient is near
ing desperation, according to Miss
Bertha Mccall, director of the National
Association of Travellers Aid Societies.
Speaking today before the Maryland
State Conference CT Social Welfare, in
joint session with the Washington
Council of Social Agencies. Miss NC
Call declared there can be no solu-
tion for the transient problem until
the community assumes full responsible
ity for the outsiders within its boun-
daries"
Communities at Fault.
Miss Mccall told the welfare work.
ers, meeting at the United States
Chamber of Commerce Building, that
the blame for conditions among deSti-
tute transients lies with communities
which are antagonistic toward new-
comers.
The speaker pointed out that the
people of the United States descended
as they are from the pioneers. should
have more sympathy for the plight OF
those who are on the move solely from
the hope of bettering their condition.
Nevertheless, Miss Mccall continued,
because of 49 different resident laws
in 48 States and the District of Co
lumbia. there are 49 reasons why
transiency, during these years Of de-
preston, has come to be considered
disgrace. or at least a serious handi-
cap. instead Of a progressive step, as
in the past
The conference, which opened yester-
day with more than 300 social welfare
workers and many leaders Of national
prominence in attendance. was to close
after a luncheon at the central Y. w.
C. A. at o'clock this afternoon.
Other Speakers
Other speakers at two round-table
conferences today were Miss Lavinia
Engle, director of the Maryland League
of Women Voters; Roy Smith Wallace
of the National Recreation Association:
Michael M. Davis of the Julius Rosen-
wald Fund; Miss Mary Lucas of the
Family Welfare Association of America;
NOUclL e bOIluy, ulTtCJCT OF OlSdSLer re-
lief for the American Red Cross; WAL
ter Petit of the New York School Of
Social Work. and Austin MacCormick Of
the United States Department Of JUS
tice. Mr.. MacCormicks subject was
The Community and the Prison"
Speakers to address the closing
luncheon were w. Frank Persons CT the
American Public Welfare Oficials' As
sociation: Paul T. Beisser. president Of
the Maryland State Conference of So
cial Welfare. and C. C. Carstens. execu-
tive director Of the Child Welfare
League Of America.
The MARYLAND conference elected
the following officers at yesterdays
meeting Miss Anna D. Ward Of Bal
tinore. president; Capt George H.
Marshall and Miss Gertrude Click,
vice presidents. and Mrs. Adolph Gutt-
macher, treasurer.
Would Revive Guild.
A plea for a return to occupational
groups similar to the ancient trade
guilds was made before the confer
ence last night by Rev. John A. RYAN,
director of the National Catholic We'll
fare Council.
Another speaker on yesterday after
moons program was Rev John
OGrady, director Of the National Con-
ference of Catholic Charities. DR..
OGrady declared that one of the most
serious problems of reconstruction
which the United States has ever
faced will come with the return Of
improved business conditions. At
least a third of the families now re-
ceiving relief will still be dependent
on public aid. Dr. O'Grady warned
that they must receive more than the
barest necessities If their morale Is
to be maintained.