Evening star., 1935-10-20
PRIVATE WELFARE
. EFFORT STRESSED
Relief Experts Stress Need
for Work With Training OF
~ Volunteers.

Need for the continuance OF the
work of private welfare organizations
is stressed by prominent Government
officials and Others in series OF In.
terviews issued yesterday in connec-
ton with the 1885 Mobilization for
Human Needs.
Among the Washingtonians quoted
are Harry L. Hopkins, administrator OF
the Works Progress Administrations;
Miss Katharine F. Lenroot, chief OF
Children's Bureau, U. S. Department
of Labor; Rear Admiral Cary T. Gray
son, chairman of the American Red
Cross, and William Green, president
Of the American Federation of Labor.
New and enlarged welfare frontiers
with increased, rather than decreased
service from the privately-supported
social work agencies were predicted.
Each pays tribute to the work of the
private agency and stresses the i'm
portance of its continuance.
Hopkins Gives Views.
The change in policy OF the Fed
eral Relief Administration, now ac-
lively seeking to withdraw from the
relief field, is emphasized in the COM
ment of Hopkins. He says:
''On the whole, I believe voluntary
efforts in behalf of community social
welfare need to be strengthened and
projected along new frontiers. In my
opinion the immediate future holds
out tremendous opportunities and re-
sponSibilities for private organizations
In connection with rehabilitating in
dividuals and families long denied the
privilege of employment and normal
existence. Workers in these agencies
can also do much to guide the de-
velopment of sound public welfare
programs.
THE more distant future is very
uncertain. 1t will surely be desirable
for public and private agencies to
continue to work on a partnership
basis. The bulk of public assistance
will probably be financed from tax
funds, but numerous opportunities will
be open to private organizations to
provide intensive family service and
experimentation of the type which
citizens are not ready to accept as a
public responsibility. The expanding
area Of community organizations for
leisure may also continue to receive its
major contribution from private
sources"
Burdens Not Lightened.
Miss Lenroot makes it clear the
measures of the social security act will
in no way lessen the responsibility OF
private social work agencies. She
says:
Il want to emphasize and re-
emphasize the fact that the security
act will not relieve the State or the
local community of one jot of the
social responsibility which it now
carries. Rather, it should stimulate
State and local initiative to needed
uniformity of the Federal provisions
and the Federal aid made available
under various titles of the bill Nor
will it reduce the need for Community
Chest funds and other forms Of pri-
vate support of social work"
Admiral Grayson emphasizes the
Importance of public and private social
work working hand in hand in Amer
lea and pays tribute to the activities
Of volunteers in welfare service.
Would Train Volunteers.
THE private social agency" states
Admiral Grayson, should continue to
give leadership to the whole field of
social work by enrolling and training
volunteers. Public-spirited volunteers
have made possible much of the ex-
tensive development of the work of
private agencies. The private agency,
because of its greater f1exibility, is in
position to render most effective aid
to the victims of sudden disasters. The
private agency must continue to sup
plement the work Of the public agency
in the field of relief and must con-
tinue to give aid to people not eligible
for public. assistance, since public aid
is based upon legal sanctions"
Green. speaking for the American
Federation OF Labor, states private
social work shoald occupy a very large
place in the welfare policy and pro-
gram of America, both today and in
the future.
While the relief of human distress
and the advancement of a social JUS
tice program is very largely public
responsibility, 1t does not in any way,
in my opinion, lessen the great need
for private social work. 1t would be
unfortunate If the people of America
ever reached the point where they
evaded their personal responsibility
assist unfortunates and shifted the
burden of providing adequate relief
for those who are dependent on the
State and Federal Government"