The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-02
American Relief Plans

IN AMEhlCAN plan W emu SON0Iu-
n ment aid to the unemployed" was
projected Saturday by A. L. Deane, presi-
dent of the General Motors Holding Cor
poration at the 1884 Mobilization for
Human Needs" the ballyhoo conference which has
been called in Washington to outline the drive for
Community Chest funds.
The share-the- work scheme, another name for
the stagger plan, projected by Deane "job in
surance," has as it's central feature a wholesale
slash in wages with the express purpose Of thrustng
the burden Of unemployment squarely on the backs
Of the workers. Unemployment insurance and
other European relief schemes" Deane said, "are
based on class progress"
Deane's plan in its essential points calls for
the setting up of board to determine the amount
of hours for each worker in an industry over
weekly period. In determining the number of hours
to be worked, the board would divide the many
hours necessary to maintain the needed produc-
ton" by the number of workers. employed and
unemployed, in the industry. The resulting figure
would be the number of hours to be worked
This would mean that the present $4,000 900 I'M
employed would be absorbed" into industry by
further reducing the hours of those now employed
CPEAKING at an earlier meeting of the same con-
ference, President Roosevelt said ct is right,
I think, for us to emphasize that the American
family must be the unit which engages our greatest
interest and concern
Roosevelt'S preoccupation with the welfare of the
American Cd is no new thing. In his June mes
sage to Congress he spoke of "furthering the secur
ity of the citzen."(D
"You and know" Roosevelt told two hundred
social workers at the Friday session of the con-
ference, that it has been with reluctance and only
because We have realized the imperative need for
additional help that the Federal government has
been compelled to undertake the task of supple
menting the more normal methods which have been
used for many generations"
Roosevelt then went on TO say what are "the
more normal methods" demanding that the indi-
vidual citizen, and the city governments provide
unemployment relief.
year ago, Sept. 8, 1888, Roosevelt outlined
the proposals. Two years ago. however, can
didate Roosevelt, in his election campaign said:
IF starvation and dire need on the part of any
of our citizens make necessary the appropriation
of additional funds which would keep the budget
out of balance, I would not hesitate to tell them
the full truth and recommend to them the ex-
penditure of this additional amount"
Newton Baker wartime Secretary of War in
Wilson's cabinet and chairman of the relief confer
ence, likewise speaks of putting "the entire burden
of relief local shoulders"
Coming at this time when his Federal Relief
Administrator Harry Hopkins, has declared that
Federal funds would be withheld to cities and states
which do not match Federal funds for relief Roose-
welt and Bakers statements are the official prelude
to wholesale relief cuts.
EVERY force must be modified in the campaign
40 for the Workers Unemployment Insurance Bill,
the bill initiated by the Communist Party and
incorporated in the Communist Party election plat
form. Regional conferences of all groups sincerely
deS1rous OF obtaining genuine unemployment insur-
ance must be held in preparation for the National
Congress for Social Security to be held in Washing
ton on January 5, and T. The broadest possible
mobilization of all forces for increased relief and
the enactment of the Workers Bill must be the
answer to the relief slashing announcements of
Roosevelt his relief administrator and their masters
big business