Evening star., 1933-05-04
LA TOILETTE HITS
RELIEF LEADERSHIP
Longtime Reconstruction
Planning Falls Short,
Senator Declares.
!, POST FOR THREE DAYS.

Forces charged with leadership Of the
country have utterly failed to assemble
necessary information on which to
predicate q longtime program of re-
construction" Senator Robert M. La
Toilette Of Wisconsin told the Citizens
Conference on Vocational Education and
the Problems Of Reconstruction In an
address at the Willard Hotel today.
The Senator said 1t Is ''one Of the
anachronisms Of the time that In the
Spring OF the fourth year Of the de-
preston we do not know how many
people are unemployed or work on part
time for shockingly low wages" He
deplored the "inattention Of leaders" to
preserving human values and the Amer
lean way Of life.
His address followed one by Miss
Frances Perkins. Secretary Of Labor, at
the opening session Of the two-day con-
ference. The conference is under joint
sponsorship Of the American Vocational
Association. the American Council on
Education and the American Education
Association. Leaders in education and
social work from all parts Of the coun-
try as well as high Government ofhcials
are attending the meeting.
Idle Estimated at $4,000, 900.
! A family, Senator La Toilette de-
clared, must prove absolute destitution
before they may receive q meager food
order. The human suffering Of q man
and his family during months OF attri-
ton, during which they watch their
resources dwindle to a point where they
are able to get help, Is beyond the
ability of any man to picture"
He said leaders and the people should
guard against overcptimtsm and pointed
out that people in high positions in the
country have asserted many times that
lit will be only short time until the
depression Is over. We should recognize
that we face long period Of readjust-
ment and work cut q constructive pro-
gram to meet the situation" and help
several millions Of people who will still
be unemployed when the depression Is
over. He estimated there are approx
mately 100000 unemployed In the
country at the present time.
Miss Perkins described the problems
which confront leaders in the field of
education, and others in the leader
ship Of the country in retraining and
re-adaptation Of people to suit changed
conditions. She said more than L.
000, 900 families have moved from city
to country within the last few years,
many Of whom have no knowledge Of
their new work.
Wider Training Urged.
The Secretary Of Labor told Of the
need for versatility IN training and
pointed out that many are unable to
get employment because they are not
equipped to do but Q single type Of
work.
She praised the purpose Of the CON-
men and women have not thought OF
vocational education as a major factor
in solving emergency problems"
session and the leader Of discussion.
The conference was opened by brief
talks by C. M. Miller, of the Vocational
Education Council and Augustus O.
Thomas, of the Education Association
A series Of five-minute addresses on
emergency work through vocational
schools Of agriculture, home making,
commerce, trades and industries and
vocational rehabilitation were heard.
The speakers included George Ham,
brecht of. Madison. Wis; DR.. Wilson,
Paul w. Chapman Of Athens, Ga, state
director of vocational education; DR..
o. Latham Hatcher Of Richmond, Va;
DR.. Ray Fife Of Columbus, Ohio, and
John Aubel Kratz Of Washington.
Late this afternoon the conference
will hear an address from Secretary OF
Agriculture Wallace, as well as num-
Der Of other speakers prominent IN
national affairs and industry.