The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-10-11
PATERNALISTIC TENDENCIES
Bismarck, N. D.,
Oct. 8, 1884.

WV ~ ASOH'
Editor. Tribune.
The Tribune deserves the thanks OF
both the government and the state for
its editorial tilted unhealthy Trend"
In which the warning is sounded
against too many social service work.
3rS.
When we remember that there are
almost as many relief workers In the
various offices in Bismarck alone as
we have state employees. to say moth
ing of the hordes of officers and en-
ployes elsewhere in the state; when
we see more and more names added to
the list each day. one cannot help
wondering If the time is not far dis"
tant when there will be social serv-
ice worker for each person on the re-
lief rolls, and it is no wonder relief
funds are being depleted at an alarm
ing rate.
Time after time writer's to the Pub
lie Forum as we'll as through the col
umns Of other publications have pro-
tested about the injustice and dis
elimination shown in giving both work
relief and direct relief. Time after
time, the people have lifted up their
voices against the wasting OF relief
money for booze. gambling and other
things that are being done every day.
It Is encouraging to see that at last
the relief set up has ruled against
paying relief money to persons known
to use 1t for the purpose of buying
intcxicants. But what about those
who waste relief money otherwise?
Are they to 60 unhindered? Govern
ment money squandered over the
gambling tables. wasted to buy gas to
burn up the roads, chasing here and
there without cause or reason except
to be merely on the 60. and that spent
for beer or other such extravagances
is gone just a: irrevocably as that
spent for liquor. and does the family
Just about as much good.
We believe the time has come for
the public to take a hand in this bust
ness for there are hundreds of us who
are not OH the relief rolls simply be-
cause we have too much pride to ask
for help as long as we can possibly get
along without it. One of the first
things the public should do is to see
that those not absolutely in need get
off the relief rolls and stay off!
Farmers at least should be given a
thorough investigation before their
claims for relief are allowed. For
practically every farmer in Burleigh
county is In the same position - no
crops and no money. Why then
should certain few farmers, men
who have cows and other livestock to
furnish a living, be permitted work re-
lief while others in the same position
Of worse off are refused any help at
Ill? The relief officers tell us they
have ruling that only those having
nine major animals or less will receive
direct or work relief. There are
farmers working on roads today who
have two and three times this number
Of livestock.
Any farmer who is able to produce
from his dairy can Of cream or so q
week should not have help unless each
and every one Of his neighbors in q
similar position receives the same
help.
Then there is another thing. Farm
ers and others on relief can go to
Bismarck and get all the fresh meat
they want, while the rest Of us get
nothing unless it is the condemned
animals unfit for food for those on
relief!
All these things rankle bitterly in
the hearts Of the people. especially
those who are in straitened circum-
stances. but who have been refused
every form Of reiief-and they are not
few!
Instead Of the horde OF relief Of
ficers, employees and social service
workers that have descended upon us,
how much better it would have been
to have had the people themselves
elect . township committee whose
place it would have been to hear the
pleas and disburse relief wherever
found absolutely necessary and who
would at least have treated all alike
It would have been easy to disband
these committees when they were nc
longer necessary. but, as The Tribune
points out, there will be q big problem
n the unemployment Of all those relief
workers alone who comprise a goot
ai1ed army in the aggregate. Perhaps
- some Seem to think, we will have
the relief question with us the rest o.
our natural lives. but II 50, something
is'radically wrong with our form o.
government. We have with us today
thousands Of citizens who believe it Il
the duty Of the government to support
them and their families. They were
The first on the relief rolls and they
viii Be the last to come of. unless We
miss our guess.
This class Is composed Of those who