Evening star., 1934-03-11
SAN JUAN SLUMS
SHOCK FIRST LADY
Mrs. Roosevelt Confers With
Welfare Workers Re-
garding Remedies.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, March 10
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt walked
through the squalid San Juan slum,
today, talked with their poverty
stricken inmates, and then conferred
with the welfare workers regarding
remedies.
Following the First Lady through
the narrow, grimy, puddle marked
streets were the clamoring populace
barking dogs, squealing pigs and
naked children.
Once she stopped near q pool oi
dirty water swarming with flies, and
asked a photographer to take a pic
ture Of it Ito show really what it i.
like"
Family without Food.
Again she was shocked upon enter.
ing the poor home of mother suf-
fering from tuberculosis and was tolc
the family had not had relief or fooc
for a week, eating only rice and bean.
shared by a neighbor. This was due
the woman said, to a change in the
relief reporting forms in Washington
Mrs. Roosevelt was deeply touched
with the way the women tried theil
best to keep the humble possession.
clean. She was impressed, she said
by the amazing self-respect" anc
courtesy even in the water front hut.
and caves which huddled under the
old Spanish walls and were dark and
dank.
Small boys, unclothed and un.
ashamed, ran after her. shouting
'presidenta a"-meaning the woman
president.
Remembered Visit.
One plump woman to whom the
Presidents wife talked could not re-
members the name Roosevelt, but said
she knew the First Lady because she
had visited poor in the Puerto Rican
colony in New York.
Then Mrs. Roosevelt visited relief
workers Offices in the basement of the
capital and studied charts and re-
ports there.
OF her tour today she said she had
seen about the most unhealthy con-
ditions one possibly could find on
the outskirts Of city; OF course. it
can be understood in view of the re-
currehce Of hurricanes in three OF
four years.
She expressed the hope that a
plan can be made to end the slum
conditions that are a menace TO the
general health" and added that
GOV. Winship has said he must clean
it up promptly"
Late today she held a conference
with relief workers.
Il feel very hopeful about this is
land" she said afterward.
Cut Is Cited.
Relief Administrator Bourne said
threats of strikes should be attributed
to complaints from slum dwellers to
recent wage cuts in the Civil Works
Administration, reduction amount
ing altogether to almost half.
He said that where the island had
been spending $1,000, 900 a month for
relief. 1t was now to be allotted only
$500, ,OO0
A ripple was caused locally by the
publication of a caricature of Mrs.
Roosevelt on the front page OF lead
ing newspaper. The drawing exag-
gerated every feature and was set of
with a POLITICALLY eulogistic caption.
The artist meant it to be compli-
mentary, but English-reading islanders
thought 1t was an insult, and a spirit
ed controversy ensued.
Mrs. Roosevelt settled the argument
herself by graciously autographing the
cartoon for the troubled artist who
drew it.
Tomorrow's program includes a
swim, church. a band concert. a meet
ing with public nurses and local gov
ernors. and later a conference with
local Democratic women leaders.