The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-06-22


Numerous plans have been pro-
posed to enable the unemployed to
produce for themselves the things
they need, but most of them have
met with such strong opposition
from business leaders that they have
been entirely, or almost entirely,
abortive.
Projects Opposed
1t has been asserted that any
productive effort of the jobless to
help themselves sets up an impedi-
ment to private industry and initia-
tive. The Government must pur-
chase food and materials for relief.
Remove this huge market and pri-
vate industry would be crippled and
recovery set back is the claim. Re-
duced to an absurdity, this would
mean that the greater the unem-
ployment the more private industry
would profit.
Moreover, it is asserted that any
attempt to set up industry on a
non-profit basis on the scale neceS-
sary to care for the 9,000,00 or more
unemployed and their families
would smack of socialism or COM
munism and might lead to under
mining private industry. But it
might also be argued that depriv-
ing 5000, 900 persons of the right to
work NAV lead faster still to So
cialiSm.
Conservatives Back Plan.
The idea of establishing self-help
projects for the unemployed has not
been advocated by radicals only
Thoroughly conservative minded
gentlemen have proposed it as the
best possible form Of relief-provided
the unemployment will really work
for themselves. Early in the de-
preston an attempt of this sort was
made in New York with several men
closely identified with Wall Street
active upon its board.
This attempt failed, but others
like it in different parts of the
country have met with more sue
cess, and one of the engineers most
active in the New York venture,
Jacob Baker, is now Assistant Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Emer-
gency Relief Administration. Under
his leadership self-help among the
unemployed is making progress in
a number of communities. But
business still prefers outright gift
relief.
However, there is an angle to
these self-help projects, including
farm hOmesteads, that has been
overlooked by business. If wisely
managed, they might provide a
great safety valve for a tremendous
forward squirt of industrial activity
Would Free Economies
If every possible industrial eff
cheney could be put into force, with
out fear of the results to the men
displaced by machines, production
might again be placed upon the
most economical basis. Prices could
be cheapened to the limit that
technical progress and a reasonable
profit allowed. Consumption prob
ably would be expanded materially.
The lifting of the incubus of unem-
ployment, which drags recovery
down, would be lifted.
Self-help and subsistence home
stead projects would provide an in
expensive and wholesome outlet for
the pent-up energies of the unem-
plo5a and at the same time by
providing unemployment would re-
move much of the moral obloquy of
throwing man out of job to pare
down a working force to the most
efficient level.
The release of industry from di-
rect and indirect responsibility prob
ably would bring with it vigorous
and healthy revival that might again
absorb many of those displaced and
now public and private load.
At any rate, with relief rolls show
ing comparatively little diminution,
it is clear that unemployment will
become an unbearable burden if al
lowed to continue as it is. New
industries may eventually take up
the slack, but in the meantime
government spending has its limits.
If remedy is not found, the dis
ease inevitably will force itself upon
YoiIh1ic attention in manner that