The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1936-02-06
CASE WORKER In RELIEF
REPLIES TO INVESTIGATORS
Continued from Page One)

deap to personalities including the
name of one relief client. The more
important facts in this particular case
were not given. No mention of medical
reference or the necessity of food,
fuel and clothing.
Neither the initial report of the
Friend committee nor the article of
February first stated what percentage
of the small number Of fifty-fve cases
visited were farm families. This was
the type of case at which the greatest
amount of criticism was directed.
The leading minds of our education
al and religious institutions of the
county state that the origin and de-
velopment of the relief investigating
committee was designed solely to rec
oncile both the yeas and the nays who
voted for the chairman of the Senator
Friend committee in the last cleo
ton. There are others who say perhaps
the Senator Friend committees report
on relief may be political move to
gain for the chairman Of the commit
tee the presidency of the Board of
County Commissioners in the next
local election. 1 myself wonder if the
committee will win the favor of the
public with their eager and truly i'm
aginative revelation Of Opinions" to
the point of carrying their chairman
forward to an Unsuitable desire to &C
complish the possible rather than the
impossible.
Apparently the committee does not
realize that there are some few peo-
pie who are thorough students of sew
eral deep subjects. Surely they are
aware that shallowness is abhorred by
the student. This may be the reason
they have failed to register with the
favor of those whom they have made
the greatest effort to interest. For the
taxpayers to make a swing to the
right or pass to the left would be
changing the budget to make it bal
ance by adding an increased number
of figures to the debit column, causing
the total to go down and around and
come out here"
No matter where the administrative
tasks are placed, the public rarely ex-
presses its sentiment which to some
would be refreshing because of its
rarity. The public knows that improve
ment is possible, if at all, only at such
a tremendous loss resulting in the ne
cessity of reorganization that it will
not back political movement Of such
fragility as that offered by the Senator
Friend committee. The County Com
missioners asked for courageous, con-
strctive and conclusive facts. Instead
they received frivolous, fanatical
Opinions" which causes public senti-
ment to demand something a little
more substantially elevating.
The committee recommends by sug-
gestion the dispensation of the services
of the present staff Of case workers,
clerical workers and executive secre-
tary, all having the terrific RESPONSE
bility of gathering and recording facts
from every section Of the ego square
miles of our county, being the largest
in area in the State. From the begin
ming, the Senator Friend committee
demanded a frightening up" and so
far has not offered substantial plan
for an alternative method of admin
istration to replace the present one.
This according to leading business and
professional men is nothing new.
1t is my further contention that dol
lars, time and thought (if any con-
sumed by the committee in completing
its report would have been better
spent in mnch-needed constructive,
educational and religious program to
undermine some of the real causes for
the lack of moral fortitude and use
full, healthful and neglected industrial
enterprises in the entire county.
What are the real causes for the
lack Of these products?
First, there is the technical cause in
the wording of the Senator Friend re-
port: "by way of suggesting remedy,
etc." Something which the present
day form of leadership repels;
Second, there is the pleasure-seeking
cause;
Third, the mob-emotion cause;
Fourth, the habit cause-resulting
in the habitual vote getter.
Destroy the cause of this lack, as
written heretofore and the lack of pur-
pose ceases to be. Educate the relief
client with the remainder of the pub
lie away from their indulgence and
support of present policies. Supply
them with healthful industrial enter
prise and instill within their hearts
the spirit of true OPTIMISM.
The announcement Of relief by the
Senator Friend committees report
flashes with lightning-ike rapidity to
the thoughts of undernourished, helf-
clad children. Following my fourteen
months as a case worker-a period