Evening star., 1938-03-20
DELEGATES DINE
ON N6CENT DINNER
Relief Meal Fed to Those
Attending ParIey on Work
and Security.

Senator's, Representatives and dele
gates from scores of labor unions last
night "dined" on a Scent meal served
at the National Conference on Work
and Security as an example of the
daily rations of family on relief.
Consisting mairly of beef stew and
boiled potatoes, the meager meal based
on the average budget of family of
four II its $22 monthly stipend were
spent exclusively on food. instead of
being divided among rent, clothing,
medical supplies and other necessities.
AS the "banqueting" delegates con-
sunned the half slice of bread allotted
each one and disposed of the unappe-
tlzlng stew. their hungry looks bespoke
their sympathy for the 100000 peo-
pie who were sitting down at the same
time to even more stringent diets
Even the walters at the Lee House,
Uhere the conference and dinner took
place, appeared depressed by the fare.
Farley on Relief.
The banquet" and a symposium
which followed concluded the first day
OF a tWo-day study of relief and un-
employment problems, praised bv
PRESIDENT Roosevelt as AN open forum
for free and untrammeled discussion
on problems which clamor for the at
tentlon Of the Government"
In letter read to the delegates
yesterday afternoon the President
SAID Your conference has chosen
Tor Its consideration two problems
work and security, which are basic
factors in the solution of all of our
troubles today
only through labor can security be
achieved and the economic and social
welfare of the Nation be established
upon a firm foundation. Our first
duty then is to find work for every
aole-bodied man and woman"
In answer to the invitation he issued
for the delegates to send him "anv
helpful suggestion or constructive rec
ommendation your conference may be
able to arrive at which will help in
the solution of the great problem of
unemployment the conference voted
to ask Mr.. Roosevelt for an audience
tomorrow
Participants in the symposium were
Aubrey Williams. w. P. A. admins
traitor, who urged fair treatment for
W. P. A. workers; Senator Bulkley,
Democrat, of Ohio, who explained his
program for system of super high
ways, and Rabbi Edward L. Israel of
Baltimore, chairman of the Social
Justice Commission, who spoke for an
economy of abundance instead of an
economy Of scarcity.
Murray Speaks.
Backing the President in his efforts
to win economic security for all, Sen-
ator Murray of Montana principal
speaker at the afternoon session. un-
leashed a bitter attack against these
Senators who, he claimed. were elected
on New Deal program and were now
working against the administration.
The Senators should know, as /
do he declared, that the present
relief appropriations are totally in
adequate. They're supposed to be in
telligent and able to exercise their
own Judgment. not heed kilograms
from lobbyists"
He warned the delegates that "un-
less we can go forward through DEM
ocratic processes it is possible that
people will seek economic security by
otner means. even If it means giving
up their birthright of freedom"
Representative Voorhis of Califor-
MA, who spoke at the morning ses-
sion, urged a Federal works pro-
gram employing every unemployed
person who is willing and able to
work and a further liberalization of
the Social Security Act
Programs to be considered by the
conference were submitted at the aft
ernoon meeting by David LASER, ma
tlonal president of the Workers Alli-
ance of America, which called the
conference; Ralph Hetzel, unemplov-
ment director of the Committee for
Industrial Organization, and Abbott
Simon, American Youth Congress
Six-Year Plan Asked.
A Federal program over a six-year
period providing for work, relief and
social security was proposed by the
alliance, starting with a s3,5OO,OO0, 900
appropriation for 1899.
Based on works program, the pro-
posed projects for Government spend
Ing included public housing, flood con-
troll, health, rural area and cultural
and white-collar projects, vocational
training and experimental and yard
stick plants.
The c. I. o. program emphasized
work relief, although the need for
direct relief was conceded. The pro-
posed program, as outlined bv Mr.
Hetzel, included work for the unem-
pioyed suitable to their skills and
needs, socially useful and necessary
works programs, immediate Jobs with
out period of gradual pauperiza ton
and an elasticity of funds, so thev
might be allocated whenever and
wherever needed.
Mr.. Simon reaffirmed the principles
OF the National Youth Act, asking for
work relief program for young peo-
pie, with the National Youth Admin.
Stration taking care of 1,5OO 900 per-
sons.
Senator Green of Rhode Island will
open todays meeting at II am, and
reports from subcommittee on relief
social security and a works program
Will conclude the conference.