Evening star., 1934-02-20
WORK IS DECLARED
| BIC RELIEF ISSUE
Or. c. NJ. Bookman Tells
Monday Evening Club
Needy Want Jobs.

Emergency Relief, who was the prln-
cipal speaker at the thirty-eighth an
nual dinner of the Monday Evening
Club, held at the Y. w. c. A, Sew
enteenth and K streets.
DR.. Bookman also urged the de-
velopment of sound public welfare
departments by the several States
and the Federal Government, so that
adequate study of unemployment
problems can be made.
He also declared that unemploy-
ment insurance, a permanent sys-
tenn Of governmental public and civil
works, old-age pensions and an eco
nomic and efficient administration
plan must be established if the
American people are to meet the
social welfare needs of today.
Judge Bentley Guest Of Honor.
Miss Fay Bentley, judge of the
District Juvenile Court, was guest of
honor at the dinner She was intro
duced by Sanford Bates, director of
Federal prisons and president of the
club. who acted as POSTMASTER. Dr.
Booknnan was followed on the pro-
gram by DR.. Fulton j. Sheen of
Catholic University, who spoke OF
the PHILOSOPHY of Charity"
DR.. Bookman, whose subject was
Social Work Today" reviewed the
work of the Federal Emergency Relief
Administration, but explained that
he was not speaking as an official.
He recently terminated his work for
the Government and resumed his
position as executive director Of the
Cincinnati Community Chest.
Present day problems of unemploy-
ment, he traced as far back as 1920.
He criticized the Government and the
public for their lack of preparation
for the crisis that threw SO many
families upon public relief rolls, and
the Government particularly for its
slow recognition of the public re-
sponsibility to care for those in need.
II have heard a great deal of critic
ism Of the methods used by the Gov
eminent in getting out of the present
crisis" he said We should not
criticize the Government alone, we
should criticize the social and eco
nomic system that permitted the
SITUATION 10 arse.
Huge Government Undertaking.
DR.. Bookman quoted figures to show
the huge proportions of the task un-
dertaken by the Government and out
lined the steps leading up to the
Civil Works Administration, estab-
lished last November.
I'VE found that it is not relief that
unemployed men want and need" he
said, "it is work The Relief Admin
istration undertook to put 100000
men to work in 80 days, task un-
paralleled In all history. OF course,
there were mistakes. But don't let
those mistakes cause you to lose sight
Of the basic principle back of it. 1t
was the desire to build up the morale
Of those men. 1t was a big job, and,
in my opinion, it is the biggest prob
1em we face today
DR.. BoOkman also said that when a
thorough study of the personnel af-
fected by unemployment was made,
from 80 to so per cent were found
to be classed as unemployable. These,
he said, present an especially difficult
croblem. They have to be rehabili-
tated and trained SO they can hold
useful jobs.
That is the first thing we must
undertake." he declared. I'VE must
see to 1t that jobs are made available
Tor all those who can work and we
must not set false standards on what
men can do. There must be job
co.
Urges Private Relief Efforts.
He also stressed the necessity for
continuing private relief agencies, cit
ing Community Chests, homes and
refugees for the INDECENT and helpless,
maintenance of hospitals and char
acter-building agencies. He explained
that because of limited funds the
Government was forced to concentrate
upon supplying the necessities of life
and had therefore refused to be re-
sponsible for other forms OF welfare
and relief needs.
"These agencies must be maintained
by private social agencies" DR.. Book
man said. The Government had no
reason to refuse to care for homeless
children or pay hospital bills except
necessity. There was not and there
isn't now enough money from pub
lie sources. So these things are
placed upon the local communities.
Il know that a great deal of crlt1-
cism has been leveled at character
building agencies, but, in my opinion,
If there ever was a time in history
when youth needed guidance, 1t Is
today. If had my way would not
curtan character-building activities;
instead I would increase the appro-
priations for them"
DR. .Bookman also made a plea for
raising the standards of relief. He
pointed out that last May the stand
ard of public relief provided only IS
per family per month.
THE Government then undertook
30 raise the standards, but even then
they did not come up to the rules
and regulations set down by the Re-
lief Administration Relief in America
today is not up to the standard we
would like, but we have learned that
the standards won't be higher than
the social consciousness of the local
communities where it is applied"
Plea for Trained Workers.
Or. Bookman closed his address
with a plea for adequate personnel
Of efficiently trained social workers
70 administer relief, both public and
private, and for closer cooperation
between the two kinds of agencies.
DR.. Sheen's address was an elo-
quent tracing of charity and relief
to divine inspiration. Charity, he
said, is not absolute, but is sacra-
mental, and he urged his hearers to
act, not in the name of humanity, but
In the name of Jesus Christ.
An informal reception for the 200
guests was held before the dinner.
Music was furnished by George Gaul's
Orchestra, and during the dinner
Adolph Turner of the District of Co.
tumbia Department Of Fairgrounds
led the guests in a number of songs.
Mr.. Bates thanked the committee
members who arranged the meeting.
This group was composed Of Edgar M.
Gerlach, chairman; Mrs. June Ever
cit, Miss Sybil Baker, Miss Mildred