The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-03
LaGuardia SpurnS
JObleSSDelegatiOn'S
Demands for Relief
Continued from Page y

the City Hall for hours. The demands
presented by the delegation headed
by the Unemployed Council included
the demands for the endorsement by
the municipal government and by
LaGuardia OF the Workers Unem-
ployment Insurance Bill and the pas
sage by the municipal government
and endorsement by LaGuardia OF
the Workers Relief Ordinance.
The delegation Of working women
earlier went to the Board of Estimate
meeting at which Mayor LaGuardia
was presiding. juliet Poyntz inter-
rupted proceedings to expose the
economy program Of LaGuardia as
being in the interests Of Wall Street
and not of the unemployed workers,
She demanded to know what the Act
proposed by LaGuardia to concen-
trate almost dictatorial power into
Che. hands Of the Mayor ito effect
economies" means for the iobless men
and women Of New York. LaGuardia
admitted after sharp clash with
Poyntz and other members of the
delegation that there was nothing in
the bill that gives added relief to the
unemployed women workers. Poyntz
pointed out to the Board of Estimate
that the children are starving in the
schools and demanded to know
whether the city government will
provide food for these children. He
did not answer except to make the
cynical answer that they could 90
out and shovel snow.
In an interview with the Workers
Committee on Unemployment, led by
David LASER, a Socialist leader,
which also visited the Mayor today.
LaGuardia gave this committee more
time and took an entirely different
tone. LASER gave LaGuardia little
trouble because he Immediately SUBJ
sided under the claim of LaGuardia
that he had no power to act. How
ever, in this interview with the com
mittee, led by Lesser, LaCauardia re-
vealed his attitude on Unemployment
Insurance by stating, Eyes, 1 am all
for it." but speaking in a vague and
general way and claiming that the
city or state cannot DO anything with
regard to Unemployment Insurance.
but it must be worked on a national
scale. At the same time he refused
yesterday to see the delegation led
by the Unemployed Council which
wanted to present the Workers I'm
employment Insurance Bill and thus
LaGuardia evaded taking a stand on
this bill.
For two and a half hours follow
ing the interview, the Women's Com
mittee on Unemployment, led by
Poyntz, held mass meeting on the
steps Of City Hall exposing LaGuar-
dia's Economy" program. Approx
imately 1000 workers listened to the
speeches.
LaGuardia told LASER that he
would recommend cash relief for the
unemployed to the State Legislature.
He said he would build barracks for
the jobless single workers. He praised
the C.W.A. He refused to commit
himself however, to direct statements
that the jobless would get any of the
money which is saved by his program
of consolidating the departments"
The delegation led by the unem-
ployed council finally was interviewed
by LaGusrdia's secretary, who refused
to permit the delegation in to see the
mayor, saying that it was humanity
impossible" He said he would de
liver the message of the delegation"
Richard Sullivan, representing the
Unemployed Council of Greater New
York, spoke first, and Sam Nessin of
the Trade Union Unity Council, out
lining the demands included in the
Workers Relief Ordinance. Martha
Hickman of the A. F. of L. Neck
wear local, with a membership of
1000 and a Negro worker representing
the West Side Unemployed Council,
and Ben Lapidus of the N. Y. Council,
also spoke.