The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-28

1t affects all the people.
life itself. To those not receiv-
ing benefits it constitutes a
steady drain on pocketbooks.
The present split responsibility
between the Federal and state gov
ernments in caring for relief clients
has driven home to the taxpayer
the cost of relief. When the Fed
eral government carried the load
practically alone, the financing was
painless to the average taxpayer.
Relief Has Come to Stay
Civic leaders, some business men
and even a few politicians admit
that relief is far more than an
emergency problem. There is a
minority belief that the time has
arrived when the nation must &C
cept unemployment as a permanent
thing and that the unemployed must
be forever supported under some
plan that will fit into our present
economic system-or into differ
ent one.
The Social Security Act of 1885 is
not regarded as an answer to the
problem in most states. Old-age and
widows pensions, aid for dependent
children and unemployment insur-
ance will help relief officials say
but can only take a part of the bur-
den.
Continuance of WPA, or some
similar form of public works, is IA
vored by almost all except partisans
who see nothing good in the New
Deal. In fact, there is much sup
port for expanding work-relief to
take in all employable relief cases.
regardless of the cost.
Spending Is Dangerous Issue
The prominence given to relief
spending in the coming political
campaign will vary by states and
communities. But the issue is too
dangerous to be faced with complete
honesty by either party.
In Colorado, relief and emergency
expenditures of huge sums are of
first Importance and will be carried
into both local and national po-
litical campaigns The sales tax
used to finance direct relief, is I'M
popular. Relief administration is in
the hands of Democrats. Such Re-
publicans as are employed in key
jobs are classed as friends of the
Administration"
While most Southern Californians
take relief for granted, any ballup
in the relief manhinery at San
Diego or some other city is always
the topic of the day. Throughout
in the relief machinery at San
Francisco, opponents of President
Roosevelt have made relief eXpendi-
lures big political issue.
WPA Workers Favor OARP
1t is not an open issue in Birm-
ingham, Ala, but the plight of state
and local budgets responsible for the
care of unemployables brings relief
into the limelight. A newspaper
poll showed WPA workers over
whelmingly in favor of the Town
send Plan.
Perhaps in no state has relief
been forced into public view as
much as in Ohio. A belligerent
Governor, Martin l.. Davey, used the
Federal Administration of relief as
the basis for an attack on the en-
tire New Deal. Today in almost all
large Ohio centers relief is the para
mount problem. One exception is
noted in Akron, where the unsettled
labor situation in the rubber tire
plants overshadows all other issues.
To most communities. such as
Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus and
Youngstown, the raising of local
funds presents a real crisis.
One in Six on Dole in Pa.
With one out of every six persons
or relief in Pennsylvania, the care
of these dependents dominates the
states problems. Enemies of the
New Deal charge that WPA has
built a political machine in the
state, but there is little evidence
that such is the case. WPA is an
extremely active issue in Pittsburgh.
where Mayor William B. McNair
has refused to match Federal dol
lars with local funds and work has
gone outside the city limits.
Oklahoma reports more public in
terest in relief than any other ques-
ton Citizens conclude that the
emergency status of unemployment
has passed, but, they say, nothing
is in sight that will keep people
eating if relief spending stops.
Relief is not a political issue in
Memphis, probf ~ because the
party in powe' is Democratic and
only Democrats expect jobs-and
only Democrats get them. The same
situation exists in Knoxville.
In Washington the average citi-
zen feels that relief has taken up
permanent abode as a longtime
problem.
Johnson Failed in New York
New York City's WPA started out
to be a model for the rest of the
country. Gen. Hugh S. Johnson was
sent in with plenty of Federal money
and a free hand. He announced he
would have 100000 persons at work
by Nov. /. last year. He had to eat
his words, and he did so with bad