The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-15
BY ROBERT S. BROWN

ulOSL CRITICAL winter OF the OepE6S-
sion closes in, she bears most Of the
responsibility.
Five years of unemployment have
tested the stock Of the American
people. Thousands of families have
had nothing during that period ex-
cept what has been handed out,
first as private charity, now as an
official dole Hope in many in
stances has become despair, and
sometimes bitterness.
But relief workers everywhere tell
Of a patience, an understanding and
an ever-present desire among the
great ma jority to become once again
self-supporting. And it is the moth
er, they say, who nourishes these
sentiments.
Thoughts Are Explored
What are these millions on relief
thinking about2 Are they getting
used to relief" Is relief establish
ing a permanently dependent class?
Are the children blighted?
Answers to these questions were
sought by the Scripps-Howard
newspapers in a study of "a repre-
sentative cities.
In Columbus, o., II persons on
relief were interviewed. One man
has turned radical. He believes
capitalism is tottering and he looks
on relief as stop-gap until the
revolution" arrives. Three have &C
cepted relief as the only thing left
in life. Thirteen want work. Their
pride suffers. Eight of the Is are
grateful to the Government, one
man declaring that when I get a
job I am going to pay back the
Government"
A San Francisco relief case"
said: ANY relief is a dole; steady
Job. doing anything I can at any
salary. is what 1 want" A boy who
stepped out of college into a dole
instead of a job, said: I'D like to
get married, but I can't while I'm
on relief" A group of Cleveland
young men applied to relief officials
for an extra allowance of so cents
each week for date money" In
Denver, frequent marriages of young
persons on relief are reported.
Relief Offers Security
What do New York's thousands on
relief think? Miss Lillian Robbins,
head case worker at Hamilton
House, replies:
In our neighborhood, relief Of
fers more security to a family than
temporary work. A family is getting,
say. Sc a week relief. If one men,
Der takes a Sc job, the job may be
lost at the end " the week, and the
family forced to re-apply. They
feel more secure if they stay on re-
lief. But any one offered a decent
job at decent wages will go off re-
lief Immediately. Relief is still in
adequate"
Washington reports three types Of
response from relief clients-thoSe
who have been on relief since the
depression began, and feel that the
Government owes them a living"
those who have accepted relief only
in the last year, and are grateful to
lllc NiAOnC wiz
have reached relief rolls in the last
month. largely white collar workers,
who fear this will brand their
children
Memphis relief workers say faith
in private employment has vanished
and that clients almost to a man
center their hope in President
Roosevelt. That. they explain,
means federal public works.
Men Are Dissatisfied y
Men are more dissatisfied with re-
lief than women in Pittsburgh. The
majority want work of any sort.
One man appeared each morning
for months at the Federal-state en-
ployment Office, only to be turned
away each time. A few days ago he
failed to appear. He did not have
sufficient clothing to go on the
street.
What is happening to relief's
children?
In the better Cincinnati homes
now on relief, mothers are sacrifice
ing everything for their children. In
their dress. food and recreation. the
children are protected as much as
possible The mother still urges
her child TO dream of higher posi-
ton in life. Children from slum
areas readily adapt themselves to
relief. Juvenile delinquency has not
increased but social workers fear for
the future.
Girls Quit High School
A Fl. Worth girl of teen age quit
high school because she had to wear
cotton stockings. A Memphis girl
had to stop school because she had
no dress and is now selling notions
from door TO door.
The Rev Hugh L. McNIenamin,
Denver, fears an unprecedented
crime wave will result from the idle
ness Of young men.
Young transients are an import
ant problem. Their continual tramp
from city TO city has lasted more
than two years. Establishment of
camps has been tried in California
and elsewhere with some success.
The Civilian Conservation Corps
has taken hundreds from this class.
Undernourished children are re-
ported in Washington, Birmingham
and Memphis. but as a general rule
relief youngsters are found TO be in
fair condition.
The same degree Of physical well
fare is reported among adults.
Knoxville clients complain that
they are not allowed sufficient funds
for medical care. but in Cleveland
the average individual gets better
medical treatment than hard
pressed persons who are not on re-
lief. Houston unemployed are gain
ing weight and strength on relief
diet.
Health Generally Good
nr Cas- Reran of birmingham