The Washington times., 1934-09-08
A Sewing Machine
And a Political Machine

Democrat has been in Washington discussing his Uopan
theories with local officials who have few theories of
their own along the same lines.
THE PRESTIGE OF NEITHER MR. SINCLAIR s
DREAM NOR THE SCHEME OF DISTRICT COM
MISSIONER ALLEN Is PARTICULARLY ENHANCED
AS A RESULT OF THE VISIT AND CONVEX
SATIoNs.
Commissioner Allen and Public Welfare Director FL
wood Street. aided and abetted in their thought
by the Federal theorists months ago announced
with great fanfare that wholesale 'sef help" program
was being instituted among the Districts unemployed
Mr. Sinclair in the campaign which won him the
Democratic nomination for governor of California &C.
claimed the faction" Of the District officials and in
d1cated that the success Of the project here proved
that he could make effective his plan to end poverty in
California
On the other hand the of Mr. Sinclair in win
ming the nomination in California has been hailed by the
local enthusiasts evidence that their new plan for
handling the unemployed would meet with overwhelming
public Endorsement here
Unfortunately for the theorists both here and in Cali
fonia neither to have known just what was going
MR.. SINCLAIR WAS ENTIRELY WRONG AS TO
THE LOCAL MOVEMENT. MR.. ALLEN AND MR.
STREET. DESPITE THE EARLY PROMISE OF FED
ERAL FUNDS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE
so FAR AS THE PUBLIC HAS LEARNED ANY
APPRECIABLE PROGRESS ON THE sELFHELP
PROJECT ASIDE FROM OBTAINING REAMs OF
PUBLICITY
And even they with their colleagues in the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration have never maintained
that the Institution Of the planwhen and if it is nst
tuted-would lend poverty in the District
THE MOST THAT HAS BEEN CLAIMED FOR THE
LOCAL BRAIN CHILD IS THAT If HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WERE SPENT AND IF
THE UNEMPLOYED CoOPERATED POSSIBLY AS
MANY AS ONE THOUSAND OF THE 20 THOUSAND
NOW ON RELIEF ROLLS MAY BE GIVEN JOBS
WITHIN YEAR.
Mr. Sinclair was very particular while here to have
photograph made of himself standing beside sewing
machine This, presumably, will be taken back to Cali
forna and submitted to the voters of that State as ev
dence that the District of Columbia is dealing with its
unemployment problems just Mr. Sinclair if elected
purposes to deal with CALIFORNIA; unemployment prob
lem.
Now one sewing machine won't solve the Districts
problem. And picture of one sewing machine won't
solve CALIFORNIA; problem although may help Mr. Sin
clair to be elected
AS to the other side of the picture Mr. Sincair effect
upon the Washington project:
Mr. Allen just back from vacation and feeling fine
after watching bull and ockfght finds his enthusiasm
for subsistence farming for the unemployed stirred anew
by the Sinclair nomination.
He says that he is to blame if the local program has
been delayed and proposes to speed it up.
MR.. ALLEN COMPLETELY OVERLOOKs THE
FACT THAT THE RESIDENTS OF WASHINGTON
HAVE NOT VOTED TO NOMINATE MR. SINCLAIR
FOR ANY OFFICE. HIS VICTORY IN CALIFORNIA
CARRIES NO ENDORSEMENT BY WASHINGTON
CITIZENS OF THE LATEST PLAN OF THE FED
ERAL GOVERNMENT AND MR. ALLEN TO SPEND
HUGE SUMS OF MONEY
Furthermore Mr. Allen is called upon to deal with
quite different type Of unemployed than are the officials
horo to hau
enthusiastic for the socaed "sef help program than
do those who will pay for the experiment.
It seems to many citizens of Washington that the pur
pose in view would be better served Mr. Allen and Mr.
Street would put their unquestioned ability to work to
promote the "give a job" campaign which has ap-
parently died aborning.
Np9~ T SG