Evening star., 1933-10-22
Making Life Endurable

mer camp, the settlement, the VS.. the
Travellers Aid. all our great private
social organizations. have played an
enormous part. The State promised
none should starve. but 1t was their
business to see that none died of de-
spair.
But though they did their best, men
and women have died Of despair in this
long trial, and more will do SO If under
standing and sympathetic efforts do not
keep them in courage.
Bread and shelter alone will not do
1t. The cOmmOneSt observation of those
who have dealt first hand with the suf-
fering in these last four years Is the
steady way in which the unemployed
have lost morale lost faith in them
selves, lost hope Of recovery. DeSpond.
ency. cyniciSm. doubt Of the social and
political institutions under which we
live have spread.
Can We wonder? II you had done
all the things you were told In youth
that you should do in order to insure
your material stability, had studied
hard, learned a trade or profession,
gone into 1t with ardor and determi-
nation. found your place and then sud-
denly were cut of. II. hard as you tried
there was no other point where YOU
could be fitted in, II you saw gradually
all that you had put by for the rainy
day disappearing and (that final deg
radiation to one trained as we have been
trained) saw yourself dependent on
public charity. are you sure your faith
in things as they are would continue?
Mobilization Is Vital.
But things are picking up, you say.
Gradually men and women will have
work. But In the meantime $4,000, 600
ar 20 be fed and sheltered by public
funds. But how about the sick, the
child. the old. those who suffer from
accidents-hoW about keeping up the
courage of this $4,000 900? Who is 90
ing to do these things If our Moblli-
zation for Human Needs fails?
At the present moment there is not
one of the agencies essential In this
business OF keeping up courage that is
not curtailing its work for lack OF
try has been cut down. whole wards in
hospitals have been closed and the sick
are turned back at the door Women
In childbirth find no beds. Where do
they go? Mr.. Hopkins declares that
there are States where the very insane
asylums have been closed and the in
sane turned back to the poor houses
where you find them chained as was the
way 100 years ago.
To take care of these evils is what
this Mobilization for Human Needs
means. Unless they do It, who can
guarantee that the long patience Of the
100000 will not end in revolt against
the very recovery act itself?
Rut N iS nnf a1nna tho ,,pap,nlnvod
for whom these services must be kept
up. The men and women who are GO
ing back to work need them. Few OF
them are physically what they We're
three. two one year ago. MalnutritiOn
has made big inroads.
Most People Face Debt.
Nor should We forget that most of
those coming baci. to work are in debt.
they will have little money for doc
tors and nurses If need comes. nothing
for recreation, nothing for the chill
dren. 1t is risky business to take from
them nov the support of those agen-
cieS which We have taught them to use
to trust. to regard as their right
The work is costly. The allied organi-
cations represented in Washington call
culated that the Community Chest,
NIlltll Ill OlI CIJltS dllQ larger lOWIlS
usually raises and distributes the money
according to the needs of the various
agencies. needed this year $4,000 .000
and that Is what this Mobilization for
Human Needs means-a Nation wide
individual effort-every man and woman
in it according to his ability.
We are hearing a good deal Of talk
these days about the new deal being
the end Of the individual. Henceforth
he is to take orders. Henceforth. If I
Am any judge OF the new deal, he is to
exert himself. mind and body, as he has
not for long years. to keep himself.
those to whom he is obligated the coun-
try of which he is a part. on their feet.
That seems to me to be the meaning of
what Mr.. Roosevelt so emphatically
told the Conference for the Mobiliza-
ton of Human Needs. He said:
"7hey Have Got to JOHN"
There are q great many people in
this country who are going to say. oh
have given. I am helping through
such and such an organization through
such an individual leave me out.
There is no such thing as being left
out. They can't be left out. They have
got to join you.
The Government cannot get along
without you. The Federal. State and
local government can't. The whole pc