The Omaha guide., 1935-01-19
APPEAL
FOR THE NEEDY
OF THE NATION

Harry L. Hopkins, Federal Emer-
gency Relief Administrator, has
broadcast a nationwide appeal for
Sympathetic understanding Of the
problem of feeding, clothing, and hous-
ing the 100000 persons still on re-
lief, including some 100000 colored
families.
Painting a vivid picture of dire pow
erty in all sections of the country, Mr..
Hopkins declared that all of it did
not begin with the depression. made
quate housing, especially shacks in
cities and -ffoorless cabins in many
sections of the country for poor whites
and Negroes, tolerated for genera
tions, Mr.. Hopkins called "evil' and
unnecessary, and he declared that
something has got to be done about
housing and something is going to Be
done"
He continued: "We should allow,
ourselves no SNUG feeling of charity
at this holiday season to know that
the Federal Government is attempting
to take care Of the physical wants Of
IS, 900 900. We are merely paying
damages for not having had a thought
about these things many years ago.
We will have to do a great deal of
thinking from here OUT.
Asserting that e, 100000 persons
have been restored to useful employ
ment, Mr.. Hopkins said the outlook in
some ways was more hopeful than
ever before at the Christmas season.
For the first time in our history, he
declared, we have a President whose
mind and heart are c~Onsecrated to the
ending forever Of such conditions"
Continuing, he said: 1T has been
one Of the outstanding virtues of this
administration that it has been willing
to uncover the extent Of the problem
with which it has to deal. 1t is the
~motivating force behind the President
and his aides to bring about a day
when these men and m who have
endured so much will come again, or
even come, some of them, for the first
time, into the inheritance which right
fully belongs to every citizen of the
richest country in the world.
And this is not all still in the stage
of hope. Much has been accomplished.
1t lacks some months of being two
years since the President undertook a
task which was years in preparing.
Remember that already at least $780,
600 unemployed persons have gone
back to work. Remember that in
spite of the natural seasonal rise of
unemployment in winter and the adj
ditional physical needs that people ex-
perience n cold weather, and in spite
Of the fact that depleted family re-
sources have forced newcomers to list
themselves upon the relief rolls, there
are fewer families on relief at this
moment that there were in March
1888. Besides this, new social move
ments have been begun hat will pro-
tect and enrich our common life. These
good effects are ever now, at the be-
ginning of a longtime program, sub
stantial enough to be felt. Not only
have pledges been made, but pledges
have been fulfilled"
Mr.. Hopkins declared that because
of limited funds families on relief of
ten received 'less than so percent of
the so-called ideal budget which is in
itself inadequate to life" He said
that among the recipients of relief
there is some "chiseling, racketeering,
politics and laziness."
Work relief, although more costly
than direct relief, Mr.. Hopkins said,
is preferable from the standpoint Of
maintaining the morale of those
forced to accept it. Work for the I'M
employed, he said had been the goal
set by the administration and he de-
clared 1--WE shall continue to fight for
it." He asserted most men do not
give up without a struggle that in
tangible thing they call their indepen-
dencs." i~aE