The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-18
mo IMPORTANT FAILURE?"

THERE was no important failure to provide for
those in real need" says Herbert Hoover, speak
Ing of his relief leadership during the four dark
winters of his Administration
Is human memory short that it has forgotten
the sickening scenes enacted in America before the
Federal government established relief admnistra-
ton on national scale?
Mr.. Hoover's record as an American relief adj
ministrator at home is of the least praise
worthy chapters in his career. 1t was marked by
1ndecision prejudice and a blind unwillingness to
face the economic facts before his eyes, For the
first two years of the depression Mr. Hoover argued
that the Red Cross and private charity could take
of relief.
When, finally, his own experts pointed out that
private charity had failed and that at least 10 per
cent of the burden was being carried by taxpayers
he met the situation by setting up another Hoover
commission-his Organization for unemployed re-
lef"-to coordinate" private and public giving
services and act Federal mouthpiece for appeals
This method proved so futile that the organiza-
tons first head Col. Arthur Wood soon resigned in
disgust.
BY the winter of 1882 the situation had be-
come acute. The Mayors of 215 cities sent word
that they were at the end of their ropes. Cover
appealed. Senators La Toilette and Costigan,
demanding Federal action, amassed staggering
ray of evidence from than 800 municipalities,
showing widespread want, unrest. malnutrtion,
hunger
In Philadelphia that April relief families went
without food for II days, and women and children
rummaged in garbage cans. "Hoovervilles" hobo
shack villages, sprang up on river banks. More
than 100000 young and women became Ish-
maels and wandered through the land. In New York
eI,oe a. T,
syvana coal fields $4-a-month budget was all
some miners families had. Destitution strobe
through the states Hunger marchers moved
masse on state capitals and Washington.
TN the spring of 1882, Edward McGrady labor
l. leader warned that the country was dangerously
near revolt During all this time the President
silent, and his spokesman were opposing the Co.'S
tigan $500 100000 Federal relief bill and denouncng
1t as Federal dole" THE situation is being taken
care Of" said Walter Clifford, second chairman of
Mr. Hoover's relief co-ordinatng organization.
Finally pressure of public opinion became
great that Senator Robinson, Democratic leader
quite as alive to the American tradition Mr..
Hoover, offered a compromise $3OOOOooOO relief
loan bill. The Hoover Administration reluctantly
accepted it. SO overwhelming was sentiment that
only seven Republican Senators and one Democrat
voted against it.
Thus Federal lending to bankrupt states and
municipalities for relief purposes forced upon Mr..
Hoover by three years of the peoples suffering and
by the combined voices of social workers, labor
leaders, local authorities and Congress. And before
cent of the meager $500 900 600 loan fund had gone
to states or cities in July 1882, the great Hoover
Reconstruction Finance Corp. had authorized more
than one billion dollars in loans to railroads, nsur
ance companies, banks and other business firms
Actual and systematic Federal relief did not come
until Mr. Hoover had been driven from office
Mr.. Hoovers new relief program" proposes put
ting relief administration in charge of local officials
not responsible Federal authority with the Federal
government continuing to pay practically all the
bill.
His record does not entitle him to counsel the
nation on this subject.