davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1935-01-04

a. Preference should be given
to those projects which will be
self-Iiquidating in the sense that
there is a reasonable expecta-
tiOn that the Government will
get its money back at some
future time.
(5) The projects undertaken
should be selected and planned
50 as to compete as little as pos
sible with private enterprises.
This suggests that If it were not
for the necessity Of giving use
full work to the unemployed now
on relief, these projects in most
instances would not now be un-
dertaken.
(6) The planning of projects
would seek to assure work dur
ing the coming fiscal year to the
individuals now on relief, or
until such time as private en-
plOyment is available. In order
to make adjustment to increas-
ing employment, work should be
planned with a view to tapering
it off in proportion to the speed
with which the emergency work
ers are offered positions with
private employers.
~ Effort should be made to
locate projects where they will
serve the greatest unemplOy-
ment needs as shown by present
relief rolls, and the broad pro-
gram of the National Resources
Board should be freely used for
guidance in selection. Our ulti-
mate objective being the enrich
ment of human lives, the Gov
ernment has the primary duty
to use its emergency expendi-
lures as much as possible to
serve those who cannot secure
the advantages of private CAPT
tai,
The Washington times., 1935-01-04

by counties, by towns, by cities,
by churches and by private well
fare agencies. It is my thought
that in the future they must be
cared for as they were before.
I stand ready through my own
personal efforts, and through
the public influence of the Of
flee that I hold, to help these
local agencies to get the means
necessary to assume this bur-
den.
The security legislation which
I shall propose to the Congress
will, I am confident, be of as
Sistance to local effort in the
care Of this type of cases. Local
responsibility can and will be
resumed, for, after all, common
sense tells us that the wealth
necessary for this task existed
and still exists in the local
community, and the dictates of
sound administration require
that this responsibility be in
the first instance a local one.
There are however an addi.
tional three and one-half mil.
lion employable people who are
on relief. With them the prob
lem is different and the respon-
sibility is different. This group
was the victim of a nation
wide depression caused by con-
ditionS which were not local
but national. The Federal Gov
ernment is the only govern
mental agency with sufficient
power and credit to meet this
situation. We have assumed
this task and we shall not
shrink from it in the future.
1t is a duty dictated by every
intelligent consideration of ma
tional policy to ask you to make
it possible for the United
States to give employment to
all of these three and one-half
million employable people now
on relief, pending their absorp-
ton in a rising tide of private
employment.
The Washington times., 1935-01-04
PLANS Barred
FOR JOBS To
END RELIEF

the long range permanent policy
Of providing the three types Of
security which constitute as q
whole an American plan for the
American people.
I shall consult with you from
time to time concerning other
measures of national impor-
tance. Among the subjects that
lie Immediately before us are
the consolidation of Federal reg
ulatory administration over all
forms Of transportation, the re-
newal and Qualification Of the
general purposes Of the National
Industrial Recovery Act, the
strengthening of our facilities
for the prevention, detection and
treatment Of crime and crimi.
mails, the restoration Of sound
conditions in the public utilities
field through abolition of the
evil features Of holding compa.
MES, the gradual tapering off OF
the emergency credit activities
of Government, and improve.
ment in our taxation forms and
methods.
We have already begun to
feel the bracing effect upon our
economic system of a restored
agriculture. The hundreds Of
millions Of additional income
that farmers are receiving is
finding its way into the chan
nelS Of trade. The farmers
share Of the national income is
slowly rising. The economic
facts justify the widespread
opinion of those engaged in az.
riculture that our provision for
maintaining a balanced produc-
zion gave at this time the most
adequate remedy for an old and
vexing problem. For the pres
ent and especially in view Of
abnormal world conditions, ag-
ricultural adjustment with GER
tain necessary improvements in
methods should continue.
It seems appropriate to call
attention at this time to the
fine spirit shown during the
past year by our public servants.
I cannot praise too highly the
cheerful work Of the Civil Serv-
ice employees, and of those tenn
porarily working for the Gov
ernment. AS for those thou.
sands in our various public
agencies spread throughout the
country who, without compensa-
ton, agreed to take over heavy
responsibilities in connection
with our various loan agencies
and particularly in direct relief
work, I cannot say too much. I
do not think any country could
show a higher average Of cheer.
full and even enthusiastic team
work than has been shown by
these men and women.
The Washington times., 1935-01-04
Peace Is Aim

I cannot with candor tell you
that general international rela-
tionships outside our borders
are improved. On the surface
Of things many old jealOusies
are resurrected, old passions
aroused; new StrivingS for
armament and power, in more
than one land, rear their ugly
heads. I hope that calm coun-
sci and constructive leadership
will provide the steadying in
fluence and the time necessary
for the coming of new and more
practical forms of representa-
tive government throughout the
world wherein privilege will
occupy a lesser place and well
fare a greater.
I believe, however, that our
own peaceful and neighborly
attitude towards other nations
is coming to be understood and
appreciated. The maintenance
of international peace is a mat
ter in which we are deeply and
unselfishly concerned. Evidence
Of our persistent and unde-
niable desire to prevent armed
conflict has recently been more
than once afforded.
There is no ground for ap-
prehension that our relations
with any nation will be other
wise than peaceful. Nor is
there ground for doubt that the
people Of most nations seek re-
lief from the threat and burden
attaching to the false theory
that extravagant armament
cannot be reduced and limited
by international accord.
The ledger Of the past year
shows many more gains than
losses. Let us not forget that,
in addition to saving millions
from utter destitution, child
labor has been for the moment
outlawed, thousands Of homes
saved to their owners and most
important of all, the morale Of
the nation has been restored.
Viewing the year 1884 as a
whole, you and I can agree that
we have a generous measure of
reasons for giving thanks.
It Is not empty optimism that
moves me to q strong hope in
the coming year. We can, if we
will, make 1885 genuine period
Of good feeling, sustained by a
sense Of purpoSeful progress.
Beyond the material recovery,
I sense a spiritual recovery as
well. The people Of America
are turning as never before to
those permanent values that
are not limited to the physical
objectiveS Of life. There are
growing signs Of this on every
hand. In the face Of these
spiritual impulses we are sensi-
BILE Of the Divine Providence to
which nations turn now, as al
ways, for guidance and fostering
care.
The Washington times., 1935-01-04
Human Problem

A large proportion Of these
unemployed and their de-
pendents have been forced on
the relief rolls. The burden
on the Federal Government
has grown with great rapidity.
We have here a human as
well as an economic problem.
When humane considerations
are concerned, Americans give
them precedence. The lessons
of history, confirmed by the
evidence Immediately before
me show conclusively that con-
tinued dependence upon relief
induces a spiritual and moral
disintegration fundamentally
destructive to the national
fibre. To dole out relief in
this way is to administer a
narcotic, subtle destroyer Of
the human spirit. It is inim-
ical to the dictates of sound
policy. It is in violation of the
traditions of America. Work
must be found for able bodied
but destitute workers.
The Federal Government
must and shall quit this bust
r ness Of relief.
I am not willing that the
vitality Of our people be fur
ther Sapped by the giving Of
cash, of market baskets, Of a
few hours Of weekly work cut
ting grass, raking leaves or
picking up papers in the pub
lie parks. We must preserve
not only the bodies of the un-
employed from destitution but
also their self-respect, their
self-reliance and courage and
determination. This decision
brings me to. the problem of
what the Government should
do with approximately five
million unemployed now on
the relief rolls.
The Washington times., 1935-01-04
Wide Field

Ever since the adjournment
of the Seventy-third Congress,
the Administration has been
studying from every angle the
possibility and the practicable
ity of new forms of employ
ment. AS a result of these
studies I have arrived at GER
tain very definite convictions as
to the amount of money that
will be necessary for the sort OF
public projects that I have de-
Scribed. I shall submit these
figures in my budget message.
I assure you now they will be
within the sound credit Of the
Government.
This work will cover a wide
field including clearance OF
slums, which for adequate rea-
sons cannot be undertaken by
private capital; in rural houS-
ing of several kinds, where,
again, private capital is unable
to function; in rural electrif1ca-
ton; in the reforestation of the
great watersheds of the nation;
in an intensified program to
prevent soil erosion and to re-
claim blighted areas; in improv-
ing existing road systems and
in constructing national high
ways designed to handle mod
ern traffic; in the elimination
of grade crossings; in the eX-
tension and enlargement Of the
successful work of the Civilian
Conservation Corps; in nom
Federal work, mostly Self-liqui-
dating and highly useful to To-
cal divisions of government;
and on many others which the
nation needs and cannot afford
to neglect.
This is the method which I
propose to you in order that we
may better meet this present
day problem of unemployment.
It's greatest advantage is that 1t
fits logically and uSefully into
The Washington times., 1935-01-04
World Wide Crisis

Throughout the world change
is the order of the day. In
every nation economic prob
lens, long in the making, have
brought crises Of many kinds
for which the masters of old
practice and theory were un-
prepared. In most nations So
cial justice, no longer q dis
tant ideal, has become a def
mite goal, and ancient govern.
mentS are beginning to heed
the call.
Thus, the American people
do not stand alone in the
world in their desire for
change. We seek it through
tested liberal traditions, through
processes which retain all Of
the deep essentials of that
republican form of representa-
tive government first given to
a troubled world by the United
States.
AS the various parts in the
program begun in the Extraor-
dinary Session of the Seventy
third Congress shape them
selves in practical adminiStra-
tion, the unity of our program
reveals itself to the nation. The
outlines of the new economic
order, rising from the disin-
tegration of the old, are ap-
parent. We test what we have
done as our measures take
root in the living texture of
life. We see where we have
built wisely and where we can
do still better.
The attempt to make a dis
tinction between recovery and
reform is a narrowly conceived
effort to substitute the appear
ance of reality for reality it
self. When a man is GONZALES
cling from illness wisdom die
tates not only cure Of the
symptoms but also removal Of
their cause.
The Washington times., 1935-01-04
SECURITY Of ALL CITIZENS
PLACED FIRST AMONG
NATIONS PROBLEMS

on stated occasions. We con-
tinue to recognize the greater
ability of some to earn more
than others. But we do assert
that the ambition Of the indi.
vidual to obtain for him and his
a proper security, a reasonable
leisure, and a decent living
throughout life, is an ambition
to be preferred to the appetite
for great wealth and great
power.
I recall to your attention my
Message to the Congress last
June in which I said-"among
our detectives I place the Sc
curity of the men, women and
children of the nation first"
That remains our first and con-
tinuing task; and in a very real
sense every major legislative
enactment of this Congress
should be a component part Of
it.
In defining immediate factors
which enter into our quest, I
have spoken to the Congress and
the people Of three great divi-
.SionS:
!. The security Of q livelihood
through the better use Of the
national resources Of the land in
which we live.
2. The security against the
major hazards and vicissitudeS
Of life.
3. The security Of decent
homes.
The Washington times., 1935-01-04
Face New Issues

It is important to recognize
that while we seek to outlaw
specific abuses, the American
objective of today has an in
finitely deeper, finer and more
lasting purpose than mere re-
preston. Thinking people in
almost every country of the
world have come to realize
certain fundamental difficulties
with which civilization must
reckon. Rapid changes-the ma
chine age, the advent of uni
versal and rapid communication
and many other new factors
have brought new problems. Sue
ceeding generations have at
tempted to keep pace by re-
forming in piecemeal fashion
this or that attendant abuse.
AS result, evils overlap and re-
form becomes confused and frus-
trated. We lose sight, from time
to time, of our ultimate human
objectiveS.
Let us, for a moment, strip
from our simple purpose the
confusion that results from a
multiplicity of detail and from
millions of written and spoken
words.
We find our population suf-
fering from old inequalities, little
changed by past sporadic RENE
dies. In spite of our efforts
and in spite of our talk, we
have not weeded out the over.
privileged and we have not ef-
fectively lifted up the under
privileged. Both of these mani
festationS of injustice have re-
tarded happiness. No wise man
has any intention of destroying
what is known as the profit
motive. BY the profit motive
we mean the right by work to
earn a decent livelihood for our
selves and for our families.
The Washington times., 1935-01-04
Better Homes

The third factor-better
homes for our people-has also
been the subject of experimen.
tation and study. Here, too, the
first practical steps can be made
through the proposals which I
shall suggest in relation to CIV.
ing work to the unemployed.
Whatever we plan and what
ever we do should be in the
light of these three clear OBJ
jectiveS Of security. We cannot
afford to lose valuable time in
haphaZard public policies which
cannot find a place in the broad
outlines of these major pur-
poses. In that spirit I come to
an immediate issue made for
us by hard and ineScapable cir.
cumStanceS-the task of putting
people to work. In the spring
of 1898 the issue Of restitution
seemed to stand apart; today
in the light of our experience
and our new national policy,
we find we can put people to
work in ways which conform to,
initiate and carry forward the
broad principles of that policy.
The first detectives Of emer-
gency legislation Of 1898 were,
to relieve restitution, to make
it possible for industry to oper-
ate in a more rational and
ordely fashion, and to put be-
hind industrial recovery the i'm
pulse of large expenditures in
Government undertakings. The
purpose Of the national indus
trial recovery act to provide
The Washington times., 1935-01-04

HighHghts Of Message

from utter deStitutiOn, child
labor has been for the moment
Outlawed, thousands Of homes
saved to their owners and most
important Of all, the morale Of
the nation has been restored"
1--WE have undertaken a new
order Of things; yet we progress
towards it under the framework
and in the spirit and intent Of
the American Constitution"
Materially, 1 can report to
you substantial benefits to our
agricultural population, In
creased industrial activity, and
profits to our merchants"
"There is evident q reStora-
tiOn Of that spirit Of confidence
and faith which marks the
American character.
"Let him, who for specula-
tive profit or partisan purpose,
take heed before he assumes
responsibility for any act which
slows our onward steps,"
Throughout the world change
Is the order Of the day. In every
nation economic problems, long
in the marking, have brought
crises of many kinds for which
the masters Of old practice and
theory were unprepared. In most
nations social justice, no longer
a distant ideal, has become q
definite goal, and ancient gov
ernments are beginning to heed
the call.
1t is my thought that with
the exception of certain of the
normal public building opera
tiOnS Of the Government, all
emergency public works shall be
united in a single new and
greatly enlarged plan.
The projects undertaken
should be selected and planned
so as to compete as little as
possible with private enterprises.
This suggests that If it were not
for the necessity of giving use
full work to the unemployed now
on relief, these projects in most
instances would not now be un-
dertaken.
The Washington times., 1935-01-04
Merger Urged

It is my thought that with the
exception of certain of the
normal public building opera
tions of the government, all
emergency public works shall be
united in a single new and
greatly enlarged plan.
With the establishment of this
new system we can Supersede the
Federal Emergency Relief Ad.
miniStration with a coordinated
authority which will be charged
with the orderly liquidation Of
our present relief activities and
the substitution of a national
chart for the giving of work.
This new program of emer-
gency public employment should
be governed by a number of
practical principles.
~ All work undertaken
should be usefuI-nOt Just for q
day, or a year, but useful in the
sense that it affords permanent
improvement in living conditions
or that it creates future new
wealth for the Nation.
(2) Compensation ON emer-
gency public projects should be
in the form of security pay
mentS which should be larger
than the amount now received
as q relief dole, but at the same
time not SO large as to encOur-
age the rejection of opportunities
for private employment or the
leaving Of private employment
to engage in government work.
~ Projects should be under
taken on which a large per.
centage Of direct labor can be
used.
The Washington times., 1935-01-04
Continued from Page ~

Continued from Page y
to greet you and that I look for
ward to common counsel, to use
full cooperation, and to genuine
friendship between us.
We have undertaken a new
order Of things: yet we progress
towards it under the framework
and in the spirit and intent Of
the American Constitution. We
have proceeded throughout the
nation a measurable distance on
the road towards this new order.
Materially, I can report to you
substantial benefits to our agri-
cultural population, increased
industrial activity, and profits
to our merchants. OF equal
moment, there is evident a res
toration of that spirit Of conf
dence and faith which marks
the American character. Let
him who, for speculative profit
or pratisan purpose, without
just warrant would seek to dis
turb or diSpel this assurance,
take heed before he assumes re-
Sponsibility for any act which
slows our onward steps.
The Washington times., 1935-01-04
~ international News Service


Some Of the highlights of Pres
ident Roosevelt's annual message
to Congress today:
"The ledger Of the past year
shows many more gains than
Losses" .
"The FEDERAL Government
must and shall quit this busi-
ness Of relief. We must pre-
serve not only the bodies Of
the unemployed from destitu-
tiOn but also their seIf-respect."
'WOrk must be found for
able-bOdied but destitute work.
erS."
among our Objectives I
place the security Of the men,
women and children of the ma
tiOn first. Every major legis-
lSttve enactment Of this Con-
gresS should be. q component
part Of IT," (He defined the
immediate factors into three
diviSiOnS):
81. Security Of livelihood
through the better use of the
national resources Of the land
In which we live. 2. Security
against the major hazards and
vicisSitudes Of life. 3. Security
Of decent homes"
THE sound use Of land and
water Is far more cOmprehen-
sive than the mere planting of
trees, building Of dams, dis
tFibutlOn Of electricity or retire
ment Of Sub-marginal land.
1--WE have already begun to
feel the bracing effect upon
eur economic system Of q re-
stored agriculture"
II cannOtA with candOr tell
you that general international
relationships outside our bOr-
derS are improved. / believe,
however, that our own peace
full and neighbOrly attitude
towards other nations is COM
ing TO be understood and ap-
preciated."
"There Is no ground for ap-
prehensiOn that our relations
with any nation will be other
wise than peaceful"
"Let US not forget that, in
addition to saving millions
The Washington times., 1935-01-04
Aid Pledged

About one million and a half
Of these belong to the group
which in the past was depend
ent upon local welfare efforts.
Most of them are unable for
one reason or another to main
tain themselves independently
for the most part, through
no fault Of their own. Such
people, in the days before the
great depression, were cared
for by local efforts-by States,
The Washington times., 1935-01-04
Mandate Of People

We have, however, a clear
mandate from the people, that
Americans must forswear that
conception Of the acquisition of
wealth which, through excessive
profits, creates undue private
power over private affairs and,
to our misfortune, over public
affairs as well. In building to-
ward this end we do not destroy
ambition nor do we seek to di.
vide our wealth into equal shares
The Washington times., 1935-01-04

Materially can report to you sub
stantial benefits to our agricultural
population, increased industrial activ-
ity and profits to our merchants" !"
The Washington times., 1935-01-04
PRESIDENT OUTLINES BIG PROGRAM
Federal Relief Must Cease 20

"A definite program for putting
people to work is a component part
Of security of livelihood through the
better use of our national resources"