The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-21
3 of Every 4 Workers
JObless in New Orleans

whites have taken what few Jobs
are left.
IN NOVEMBER. 1898, the COMMIT
l nifty Chest heaved q sigh Of re-
lief and transferred some 1900
families 10 the CWA., letting the
government give the family heads
some kind Of work: for those for
whom no work could be found, d.
rect relief was given in eyer-dimin-
ishing quantities. Now these fsni-
lies who have been getting some
thing towards keeping alive, are
gradually being demobihzed and
again thrown upon a charity which
has no money to care for them.
This giving to tens Of thousands
who had formerly been self-sup-
porting has broken the morale Of
the average charity receiver. Home
and family life has crumbled in
great many cases. The same story
you hear in Brockton and in Char
lotte, comparatively large industrial
centers. is heard here: homes brok-
en- to double up" and save on rent
ais; children leaving their homes 70
go wandering in search Of the job
that may lie just beyond the hori-
zon. And to make matters worse,
the charity directors realize that
under the present system modern
business methods have made i'm
practicable for a long time to come
the absorption into the business
structure Of many Of those who are
now out Of work" as the Community
Chest director expressed.
This town is in a bad situation"
Mr.. Goldman explained in explain
ing why they could not raise suffi-
Gent funds for the relief work"
About 1855 million dollars are frozen
in the banks. We had six banking
institutions. each with many
branches. Four of these institutions
crashed and took their branches
with them.
we tried to start a work relief
program. We found work for 99
per cent Of the applicants for re-
lief. we paid them $3.50 day at
first but had to drop that 10 $50
day Usually they worked four
days or less. Naturally this was not
sufficient to keep a family going
end we supplanted this by direct
food relief"
Didn't this work relief tend to
reduce the wage scale Of workers all
around?" I asked.
"Oh. we had the president Of the
Central Trades and Labor Council
on our board to safeguard such
things" Mr.. Goldman said hastily.
What do you find is the attitude
Of these formerly sef-supporting
people who now have to beg for
bread?"
Most of them are hopeful though
7 don't know on what they base
their hopes. I assume 1t is due
mostly to the government expendi-
lures. The retailer who is abiding
by the NR.A. is paying more wages
and thus has larger overhead. He
is complaining that his sales DO not
justify his overhead. Many small
storekeepers have been forced out
of business"
How many small business men
are applying for charity nov?"
Il don't know. Quite a number,
I should say off-hand. When they
are forced out Of business the only
thing left for them is to get q job
and since there are no jobs they
have to turn to charity"
How many families have doubled
up since the depression7"
Il haven't any figures on that.
but it has been quite common.
should say a tremendous number
those who have lost their own
homes, those without Jobs and so
on"
Hasn't the MIRA. helped any?"
ut may have helped business
pick up bit, but a man can't run
his business with more overhead
and little increased sales. If he puts
extra people to work then he has
to cut some place and that means
he cuts the wages Of those still
working-which is what most of
them did"
Then actually all the NRA.
achieved is employment of q few
and reduction in wages for many
instead of raising wsges?"
Mr.. Goldman shrugged his shout
ders and did not answer.
What are you spending m this
city for relief"
We're not spending ANYTHING
The government is spending $780,
600 a month"
And this is gradually stopping?'
Again Mr.. Goldman shrugged his
shoulders.
Suppose all this money! is
stopped and those few who are
working or getting federal relief
don't get it any more. What them
What will happen9"
The director of the Community
Chest stared thoughtfully out of the
window for long time. Finally he
said slowly:
Revolution. That's all I can see.
These people were close to it before
federal relief came"
TO Be Continued.)