Evening star., 1934-04-25
PRESIDENT SEES
EVOLUTION IN j. S.
National Planning, Not Pan.
aceaS, Needed for Re-
covery, He Says.
(Cortinued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page)
panaceas, the suggested legislation
that they tell us will cure everything
in 80 days"
This was taken as an indirect
answer to the agitation for silver in
f1ation, which has been attacked by
opponents as a legislative "cure-all'
for the depression. Likewise. the
President referred to charges of regi-
mentation in the homestead program.
He said:
mo one will be forced to move any
where or change his work. when he
dosent want to move What we hope
to do is to make it so attractive that
they will be anxious to change
Refers to Ford's Views.
He said the Governments aim was
70 afford opportunities for those who
want to help themselves. He warned
lot of experimenting would be nee
essary and plans which would work
in one place would not in another,
but emphasized that he believed the
solution lay IN national planning He
recalled his own plan. as Governor of
New York, to utilize the land for the
purposes best suited and said the sur
vey there of human needs had shown
stranded populations in little ''pock-
cts" off the main highways.
He said he was informed recently
that Henry Ford had said the sub
sistence homestead program must be
good because I myself have found it
so difficult to do"
With another smile the President
remarked one advantage of the pro-
gram was that it applied to every
congressional district.
As an example of what the Gov
ernment is planning to do, he men,
toned the s25 ,00O, 900 which is going
into the purchase of public lands, as
the basis of the subsistence program.
The forests will provide part-time work
for many, he said, while bottom lands
will take care of food supplies. This
system, he said, is in wide use in
Europe Despite the "sprawling" de-
velopment of the whole Nation, with
populations left stranded by dying
or worn-out land" Mr.. Roosevelt said
the only solution lay in long range
planning for the future.
Seeks New Designation.
He added the word subsistence"
is repugnant to him and that a better
name should be chosen for this phase
of progress toward q more abundant
life"
Secretary Ickes and Harry Hop
kins. I am sure" he said. will offer
a prize for the winning name"
I'VE want something more out OF
our program than just being alive" !"
he continued. This is not simply a
question of just preventing starvation.
1t is one of education-a more
abundant life"
He disclosed that the Tennessee
Valley Authority had just reported to
him that it had been found profitable
to raise sweet potatoes in several
counties now under development in
that area. This is. so, he said, be-
cause 1t had been found possible to
make a good grade of laundry starch
from sweet potatoes.
Ridiculing criticism of the new deals
experimentation, the President pointed
to the Civilian Conservation Corps
and recalled that when it was estab-
lished many doubted the whole idea.
scorning the notion that 800 900 men,
unused to living in the open. would
enlist.
Could Get Million, He Says.
To-day" he summed up, "if We had
the money and Congress would appro-
PIRATE it, we could get l,000, 900 boys"
ALLEGATION of funds totaling $l0,000.-
900 has been made for IS subsistence
homestead projects, it was revealed
today, scattering from coast to coast.
The balance of the funds appropri-
ated has been tentatively allocated
either to specific projects or to. local
areas.
Secretary Ickes, who introduced the
President, declared this persistent
love of the land is one Of mans finest
qualities"
"A citizenry that owns each little
plot of ground is citizenry that wise
craftsmanship will always cultivate"
Secretary Ickes declared the Gov
ernment, in undertaking q series of
subsistence homestead projects. is
performing one of the most states
manlike acts of our generation
. Points to Urban Drift.
For too long a time" he added,
"our countryside has been drained by
the cities of its virile youth"
Ickes described the first subsistence
homestead project undertaken at
Reedsville. w. Va, called the expert
mental village" Many Of the products
of these homesteaders were on exhibit
in the auditorium. Two rooms were
set aside, reproductions of bed rooms
and living rooms in the typical houses
built at ReeGsYille. They excited
much interest.
The Government Is pointing the
way" Mr.. Ickes added. because it is
the only agency at this time in q
position to experiment, but In time
to come States and counties. and vol