Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-02-01

When Federal Relief Administrator Hopkans
announced that he would place Civil Works in the
METROPOLITAN areas under Army control. he made
good his promise of prompt action when it was
found that widespread graft existed in carrying out
the big relief program.
me graft which crept into the Civil Works Ad-
ministration should not have evoked SO much sur-
prise Just as thousands of people throughout tha
nation chiseled and grated on direct relief last
year, L was inevitable that a huge relief program
Ike the CWA- set up as it was. in haste to meet an
eusaung emergency. operating in times like the
presenf. should carry with il some unpleasant exper-
fences.
In appraisdng the general situation It will be-
well TO remember that for every CRATER in CWA
there are perhaps a thousand honest men deeply de.
voted to their duty. trying to do it honestly. Let If
renown 10 the credit of the state civil works board
LIS director, T.. c. S%paulding, and to every county
board. that Montana was one of the few states where
no charges of graft had placed a stigma against the
hundreds of thousands paid TO work on relief nro-
iecfs.
II is not so surprising that many men have
turned crooked in the last few years. Economic fear
IS ever q powerful urge to forsake ideals and estab-
asned standards or integrity and meet distracted
problems on the lines of least resistance. It has
been much easier TO ohisel than to endure. easier to
IND fault than 10 understand, easier to follow the
ADoi iVustT ihan 10 Keep hoping and battle on for
better things. So. If in the ranks of the needy
there be a few who have gone astray. thew are
greatly to be pitied. It has been a part of the toll
OF desperation.
But, there Is another side OF the picture filled
OF inspiring aspects. Never In the history of most
on Us now living. have men and women been as
sorey tempted and confused. Through 1t all hum
Die American citizenship, true to traditional ideals.
maintained a high average of integrity. How much
we owe as a nation to the men and women who
have suffered deprivation, hunger, loss OF property.
months o. d1sfractfng idleness, we shall never know
We do know that at the peak OF the unemplovment
We had more than twelve million people ont ar
work. and almost as many more dependent either on
federal aid, the bounty OF friends or scanty reserve
RESOURCES That Is an experience that only those
VINO have experienced 1T can properly appreciate.
In every community in the Land (and Sheridan
county communities are no e~xception) men have
given unsparingly of their time to the tasks. first 10
Emergency Relief administration, and then to Civil
works, without pay. Our county board, and every
cnMmif1eeman In every district. has not received a
dime TOR their weeks and months OF hard work. ALI
too often they are paid in harping criticism. unwar-
ranfed suspicion, and gross ingratitude.
The federal government has done wen to proceed
promptly and relentlessly against the chiselers. That
severe punishment will be melted out ito them. there
u Atfle doubt. But w Is better judged by Its re-
within ITS ranks. 1t has relieved an untold amount
suits than by the shortcomings OF a few gratters
o. distress on a we'll organized basis OF social ser
sace- IL has made workers out of mendicants. II
has enabled honest men and women everywhere.
v1ctlms OF despair-fightng against big odds-to
AIRY on without accepting the stigma of dole 1t
has proved that In honest work much OF our troubles
nay be forgotten and much OF hope may be in
Experience with CWA certainly i~ustifies furth-
II appropriations for 1t. Despite a blot here and
mere, it qualities as an emergency recovery meas
Ire that has 'hit the bulls eye Its work NAV
iced more careful organizing, but certainly should
carried on.