Evening star., 1935-07-07
SOCIAL SECURITY
PROGRAM DEBATED
Policy Defended and Hit as
Mere Concession to
Poverty"
~ the AssoclateA Press.

Closing conference OH ECOHOfHlC De-
curity" this afternoon heard the
Roosevelt administrator security
program contrasted rs q Significant
beginning" and a mere concession TO
poverty" by q Government spokesman
and university economist, respec-
lively, appearing at the Public Affairs
Institute at the University OF Virginia.
DR.. Joseph Harris or Washington,
assistant director Of the Presidents
Committee on Social Security. praised
the administration plan, which he
said marks q tremendously signifi-
cant beginning In the field Of social
insurance and also the recognition Of
a permanent Federal responsibility for
public welfare"
But Prof Broadus Mitchell of Johns
Hopkins University told the same
audience what we need Ii not mere
concession to poverty, but construc-
ton for plenty" He charged Presi-
dent Roosevelt and his administration
were lost in trying TO stand on two
stools of business relief and social re-
form" and, instead. falling between
them.
Program for Church.
At the same hour, Rev. r. A. Nc
Gowan, assistant director of the De-
partment of Social Action in the Ma
tional Catholic Welfare Conference,
was urging that the church work for
social security in industrial life. His
proposal was heard by the round ia
Bile on The Church in q Changing
World"
Political leaders today should take
lesson from Washington. Hamilton
and others Of the Federalist persua-
sion. Prof Mitchell declared. These
men refused to trifie with an alarming
situation by mere patching Of the ar
ticles Of confederation. 1t was imper-
ative, they declared, to throw political
sovereignty to the Central Govern
ment. or we should have won the Rev
olution only to lose our liberty.
These men insisted, in word and
deed, upon q radical cure for a radi-
cal disease. Now think the task
of statesmen in America today is TO
SAAAt IAiC NCAASA ~ SONCi A
ment must exercise sovereignty. as
economic responsibility has. in fact,
been thrust upon It.
The claims of the worker-consum-
ers come forward slowly but surely.
They have watched experimentation
with patience, and have not been
enormously impressed with the re-
suits. Still tolerant. however, they
more and more are inclined to say 10
the President, tinker il you must, but
while you do so, remove our mental
and bodily anguish-if not by jobs,
then by adequate Government guar
antees"
Southern States were accused by
the speaker as having contributed
almost nothing to the support Of their
huge relief populations. And he
added that Thomas Jefierson's in
sistence upon local autonomy has been
humbled by developments which have
generalized and standardized our eco
nomic life"
Economic stability is. he said In
conclusion, the next necessary step.
This requires q planned economy
which cannot, he argued, be achieved
without social ownership and social
control Of the great means Of pro-
duction. Its purpose will be produc-
ton for use. not for profit-or. il you
will, its purpose must be production
for social profit
Prof. Mitchell's indictment Of the
administration plan was answered in
part by DR.. Harris, who pointed out
that the Presidents program had been
equally criticized by those who think
1t goes too far and those who be-
lieve it does not provide suficient
security; by those who hold 1t pro-
vides too much Capitalization in
Washington and those who contend it
leaves too much to the States.
"All this indicates" he continued,
that the program is a practicable
one, and one that can be started now"
Reasons why the church seeks eco
nomic security for It's people were
given by DR.. MCGOWAN before the
conference on The Church in the
Changing World" He said, "One rea-
son is that when they are not secure
they have TO think so much about
how to become secure that they have
neither time nor inclination to care
enough for the spiritual needs Of their
life"