Evening star., 1935-03-21
WELFARE UNITY
INEEDS STRESSED.
Family Service Association
Speakers Seek Remedy
{ for Economic Ills.

The need of cooperation on the
part of private welfare agencies in
renedying the social and economic
ills that have placed 20,500,0 900 people
In. this country on public relief rolls
was stressed by speakers last night
at the fifty-third annual meeting of
the Family Service Association. for
merly known as the Associated Chari-
tics.
This form of corporation was en-
pliasized as a duty by both Aubrey
Williams, assistant administrator of
the Federal Emergency Relief Admin
isna.on, and by William H. Savin,
SO has just completed his first year
as director of the Family Service
Association. While both speakers de-
clared that the new order in the
work of private relief agencies calls
fof concentration on individual case
work, they reminded the welfare
groups in the audience that there can
be no permanent cure for relief until
social and economic wrongs are
rishted.
Stokes Reelected President.
DR.. Arson Phelps Stokes, who pre-
sided at the meeting. held in Barker
Hall of the Y. w. c. A., was reelected
President, as were the other officers
and members of the Board of Mana
gers.
Mr. Williams declared that the
Government has a primary duty in
providing for all the millions on re-
lief roles but predicted that this con-
dition can never end until democracy
has evolved a better distribution of
jobs, wages and wealth.
s'Private agencies have an obliga-
tien to try to think these things
through" he said. THE issue is be-
tween the common man and cor
porate and controlled wealth in the
hands of the few he added.
Out of the 20,500000 people on re-
lief rolls, Williams listed 11,710,000 as
under 25 years of age; 6,140,000 be-
tween Is and 40 and $4,000 between
SO and "a years.
No one is better fitted to engage in
the study of these problems than the
private welfare groups, he reminded
in. explaining that the story of the
depression lies buried in the case
workers records"
The so-called prevailing wage"
constitutes a problem for the F. E.
RI A. in large areas, Williams de-
clared. since records reveal that the
prevailing wages in many cases are
actually less than the amount of
relief funds necessary for individual
families. This is particularly true in
the case of the rural South and has
resulted in bringing about a condi-
ton where welfare work is really sub
sidizing business in many cases. 1t is
not uncommon, he pointed out to find
its necessary to extend relief to en-
ployed workers.
Social Evolution Urged.
Mr.. Savin, who explained at length
the part of the private case worker
in welfare work, declared also, ''it is
the privilege and the duty of the
social agency board member to be an
apostle of social progress to promote
social evolution and thus remove the
motive for revolution. 1t is only
when an influential group of lay citi-
zens who still enjoy life according to
the American tradition become pro-
foundly concerned about a system
which has dealt harshly with so many !
Of their neighborS that we can have /
effective change" /
..Mr. Savin said that three years ago .
the Board of the Associated Charities |
and the Council of Social Agencies |
led a movement to secure the estab-
lHhment of public relief group in
To-day" he said, 1--WE
have an equally important RESPONSE
oility to lead in a community insist
snce that the gains which have been
made be consolidated under a perma-
1ent division of the Board of Public
Welfare with continuing responsibility
Or safeguarding the welfare of un-
ortunate families not covered by
,ther categories of public assistance"
HE declared it would be a back
ward step" if the minimum security
n the form of public relief were to be
withdrawn faster than genuine work
opportunity is created to replace it."
ain discussing individual case work,
4r. Savin declared an important
aspect, comparatively new in social
service work, is a division of applied
mental hygiene dealing with personali-
les, human relationships, and be-
iavior Of individuals.
Others Reelected.
yCorcoran Thorn was reelected vice
,reSident and Norman E. Towson
vas renamed treasurer.
sMembers of the Board of Man.
gers were reelected as follows: For
hree-year term, DR.. Arthur Deerin
all, Mrs. G. Howland Chase. Dwight
lark, Charles c. Glover, jr.; Richard
v. HynSon, Mrs. Frederick w. Nc
teynolds, Newbold Noyes and DR..
frederic w. Perkins.
Elected for three-year term: Mrs.
fenry Grattan Doyle, Woodson
foughton, Dorsey Hyde, Mrs. John
i Selby and Mrs. Elwood Street.
) Mrs. Morris C.. Belts and Dean
wight o. w. Holmes we're elected
2 fill vacancies for terms of two