The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-27
MORMONS MAP
! RELIEF SYSTEM
/ FOR OWN NEEDY
Program of Cooperative
Activity Is Studied by
u. S. Officials.
BY ROBERT s. BROWN
Times Snecial Writer

WASHINGTON. May 27-The
decision Of the Mormon Church to
assume the relief burden within its
own riember5nip provoked increas-
ing Interest among officials here to-
DAY as full details of the church,
plan became known.
Cooperative farming and manu-
featuring. community warehouses,
sharing OF available work and "tith-
ing in kind" form the backbone of
the Mormon movement to relieve
the government of relief.
Up TO 1890, the Mormon Church
had cared for its own. Income from
fast days"-the first Sunday in
each month, on which only one meal
is eaten, the remaining two being
given in cash or kind to the church
had been sufficient to meet relief
needs. But the load increased so
rapidly that it became impossible
to continue without state or Federal
aid
High officers of the church were
reluctant TO take public money for
their charges and began imme-
dlately to plan a program which
would make the church membership
again self-sustaining. 1t was
launched last month by the FIRST
presidency" of the church, the high
ruling office.
Cooperative Agreements
Already hundreds of acres of fer
tile soil have been pledged for pro-
duction purposes. In most cases
this land will be planted to sugar
beets, with relief labor tending and
harvesting the crops. Cooperative
agreements with sugar refinerieS in
Utah and Idaho have been reached,
and the profits of the crop will be
distributed in cash or kind to the
needy.
In other areas tomatoes, peas,
beans and other edibles will be
raised Here again cooperative
agreements with local canneries
will assure a full return to the
people who produce the crops.
Regions have been designated,
and each region will have a COM
munity warehouse, TO be stocked
with clothing, food and fuel suffi-
Gent to supply the areas needy. The
warehouses also will be clearing
houses for labor Representatives
Of the general church relief COM
mittee will be in charge.
SaryioaS In Re rradod
In connection with the ware
houses will be various types of CO.
operatives in which relief workers
can trade their services for food or
clothing. Some sections are expected
TO establish small manufacturing
plants, where raw materials will be
transformed into consumer goods.
Still another source of supply to
the common warehouses will be the
restoration OF "tithing in kind" an
age-old custom of the Mormon
Church. Once again members can
give their 1.-THE IN meat, grain, hay
or eggs.
Church members whose cash in
comes permit will continue to pay
their tiUlles in money, to supply
those things impossible to produce
or manufacture, and to provide
capital for cooperative enterprises
Hopes to Care for $4,000
BY Oct. J., First President Heber
j. Grant hopes to have the ware
houses filled with enough to carry
$4,000 or more needy Mormons
through the winter
The Lord has given us within
our church, the government, organi-
zation and leadership to accomplish
this great purpose and if we fail we
stand condemned" President Grant
has said.
The world is losing that genius
OF helping others - in banding to-
gether in a cooperative spirit to
overcome serious obstacles and
tighten burdens" he said.