Evening star., 1933-05-21
SHOALS WORK AID
TO JOBLESS SEEN
Director of Project Believes
1t Will Help Balance,
Population.
Copyright. 1888, by The Associated Press)

(Copyright, 1893, by The Associated Presso
Welcoming his assignment to direct
the extensive Tennessee Valley project
as an opportunity to make real i'm
print on national development, Arthur
E. Morgan said yesterday he saw pos
sibilitieS of its adding greatly in keep
ing the proper balance between city and
rural population"
The Antioch College president, tan,
friendly man who fairly radiates energy,
had sat down with President Roosevelt
during the day for another exchange OF
opinion before more actively assuming
his vast duties.
While unprepared as vet to discuss
detailed plans, he later expounded in
an interview-for the first time since
his appointment Friday-his views on
what can be accomplished. Then he
left for his Ohio home to spend few
days before visiting Muscle Shoals.
Associates Undecided.
Work on this great project will begin
as soon as possible after money Is avail
able and his two associate directors
have been named. Several possible ap-
DOlIlCEcS IldYG Wv wiz
President has not said whom he has in
mind. Congress authorized whatever
funds are needed, but still has actually
to appropriate.
The first big job-as Morgan sees 1t
Is to build Cove Creek Dam.
Saving some 100000 persons have
returned to the valley because they lost
work in cities and now have but meager
means of livelihood, the director elao-
GRATED as follows:
I've have them back in the hills with
nothing to occupy them whatsoever.
They merely sit there and walt Tor q
Job. What we want to do is TO NIL this
need.
TT seems to me that mass production
has gone too far in America.
Here are places in which the peo-
ple crave to live in smaller communl-
ties.
eff some industries can be adapted to
small communities you may keep those
folks at home instead of having them
go to Cleveland and Detroit, where they
do nothing except obey orders, press
buttons and punch clocks.
They are not built to live that way.
There is more old American individual
ism in that section than in any other In
the United States.
"Too Many in Cities"
"The Nation would be much better of
if we could keep these people at home.
There are too many in the cities,
And I believe we are going to be
long time in absorbing our 100000
unemployed.
Il believe we can absorb about 2.000.-
900 in the valley in the course OF 10 or
20 years. ,.o.. - .,o
valley for industry to locate.
Small industries could be developed
there and give work to the people in
that section and take them off the sur
plus labor market.
There would be the maximum OF
economic advantage. They could make
their own clothes, building materials,
furniture and such things.
There is a potential 2,0OO,0OO or
5000 900 horsepower available In tnat
region. If the power could be utilized
and it can-this would aid the social
and economic life of the people"
Morgan also disclosed that President
Roosevelt did not have much difficult
signing him up for the new job because
1t was something he had been wishing
for for years.
Both President Roosevelt and have
been thinking Of the same thing, ne
explained. .,.,.
ing of it and 1 didn't know he was
But the fact is our ideas on the sub
ject are virtually parallel.
Fine Breed of People"
II have been in that section a great
deal You have there country broken
I'D into valleys and local groups. 1t
E,1a af with strong
feelings of independence and self re-
spect.
They don't like to have to go away
to make a living. But under present
conditions they must do so II they ex-
pect to get anywhere"
Morgan said President Roosevelt first
became interested in him through read
ing Antioch Notes"-a pamphlet he
published as president of Antioch Col
lege in Ohio.
Mrs. Roosevelt, he added, at one time
was on the New York Antioch Com
mittee.
mfr. Roosevelt, who appeared to
like my social and economic views,
talked over my appointment with James
M. Cox, Democratic presidential NOM
inee in 1920. I was delighted to ac-
cept."
Asked to explain his social and eco
nomic views, he said: It have been
harping on this: You can't get
very great improvement by mechanical
changes You've got to get a sense of
responsibility in the people. You can't
revise the Government very fast until
We increase the distribution of social
responsibility in people. You can't have
a good Government with poor charac-
ter. You can't have Government that
runs very far ahead of the people"
Morgan Issues Warning.
Morgan issued warning against per-
sons going to Muscle Shoals and Cove
Creek dam in the hope of finding work
There are 1000, 900 men sitting in the
hills waiting for jobs" he said.
we will be able to use only a small
percentage of the people there now"
He also said "one of the menaces is
real estate promotion" explaining that
they're selling lots where they never
viii be needed"
He added:
IF people buy this real estate, three
fourths of them will be stung"
During the day, Secretary Frances
Perkins also warned the unemployed to
beware of spurious agencies promising
to obtain jobs on the Muscle Shoals
project.