The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-11-29
WE GIVE THANKS

reason to be thankful as they have on this
Thanksgiving Day.
Spiritually speaking, we have good
reason to be thankful always for being
alive and doubly thankful for being alive
and well also. but this Thanksgiving Day
we should give wholehearted thanks be-
sides for the promotion of our material
well-beins during the last six months or so.
That material aid has been given us
by the FERA, of which, due to arrange
mentS initiated and perfected by Governor
Sholtz and Administrator Stone, we have
been something of special ward.
It was by their decision primarily
that Key West was selected for rshabilita-
ton, and, so The Citizen has been IN
formed, that objective will be attained be-
fore the FERA work is completed here.
Many Key westers, who are New
Dealers and are in full accord with the
FERA principles, have been critically i'm
patient because more constructive work
has not been done in Key West.
Il seems to many or us on the outside
that this and that and the other thing
could have been accomplished, but we
take that view because We are not familiar
with the obstacles that the FERA has met
in its work in this community.
Those obstacles could not be over
come in day, week, or month-the
chief one of them has not been overcome
yet, but gradually they have been eli
minated, with a corresponding Increase in
the volume of constructive work. and The
Citizen has been assured that when the
chief obstacle has been removed projects
that will be of a lasting nature viii be
started.
But even in the face of present condi-
tons, one is not Justified in declaring that
nothing constructive" has been done in
Key West.
What is the meaning of constructive
work. In its general sense 1t is not con,
fined to building house or bridge OF a
road.
Beautifying yard Is constructive
work; keeping streets spick and span is
constructive work; pulling down shacks is
constructive work, so that, IN view of those
facts. the FERA has done considerable
constructive work in Key West.
Well-to-30 men and women are lust
as fnsistent in keeping their yards in good
condition as they are keeping their houses
IN good condition.
1t is true Key West needs many more
good houses, particularly apartments, but
It Is true also that the yards and vacant
lots IN Key West are more attractive today
than they have ever been. With well-kept
yards, we can wait for more good houses.
and It won't be long now before we will
get them; indeed, attractive yards attract
home-builders.
But, regardless OF what the FERA has
done or not done locally, the gratitude OF
Key WeSterS toward the FERA should be
boundleSs. And that gratitude is bound
less among those Key westers who were
aware OF the dire economic conditions that
prevailed here generally before Uncle Sam
extended a helpful hand to Key West.
It was only few days ago that a gov
eminent investigator, who made thorough
study OF economic conditions here a month
or so before the FERA began local opera
tons, said TO US:
Not even you Key Westers know how
many hundreds Of families were at the
very brink of starvation at that time"
So let Us give thanks to God for pre-
serving our lives, and let Us be grateful to
the FERA for bettering the living condi-
tons of many hundreds of men. women
and children in Key West.
Promoting the well-being of our fell
lowrnen is the most constructive work a
government or an individual can do.