Evening star., 1939-05-19
Encourage Youth
In Responsibilities,
Mrs. Roosevelt Urges
Notobles Speak at
Dinner Sponsored by = 4
Youth Council

Prompt action toward fostering In
every citizen an individual sense of
responsibility for the success of dem
ocratic government is imperative
in the United States, Mrs Franklin
D. Roosevelt declared last night at a
dinner sponsored by the Washington
Youth Council.
We've got to do something as a
nation-and very quickly" she said.
IF we do not succeed in showing
that people can live their own lives
and can solve their own problems,
other solutions are going to appeal"
Mrs. Roosevelt stated, adding that
the problem of proving That de-
mocracy works and that we can
make it work" is something that
cant be left to the next session of
Congress"
In stressing the need of encourag-
Ing youth to accept its responsible
tiles If helping to prove to the world
that democratic principles are sound,
the wife of the Nations Chief Execu-
tive referred to the expression of
amazement at the attitude of youth
in this country made to her by a
Frenchman, saying he was appalled,
to observe that 80 many young peo-
pie when finishing high school are
full of ideas, hopes and energy, and
when they have finished college,
they have lost them"
Apathy of More Concern.
Mrs. Roosevelt stated there was
more reason to feel concern over the
APATHY" of American youth than its
activity"
Mrs. Roosevelt was one of three
guests of honor at the dinner, held
in Pierce Hall, Fifteenth and Har-
ward streets NV. The others were
Aubrey Williams, administrator of
the National Youth Administration
and DR.. Homer P. Rainey. retiring
director of the American Youth
Commission and president-elec of
the University of Texas.
Mrs. Roosevelt's opening remarks
were devoted to congratulating Dr.
Rainey, whose work in recent years
has been devoted to surveying youth
problems, for giving "all of US who
felt things and thought certain
things basis of fact, so that we
now know things" She expressed
pleasure that in his new capacity
as president of the University of
Texas he would be able to assist
in the difficult job of helping youth
in the South to solve some of its
problems"
In reviewing the work of his COM
mission, DR.. Rainey stated that he
had witnessed a change in the at
titude of the American people to-
ward problems of youth from "a
feeling of skepticism" to "one of
genuine concern"
He pointed out that his SURVEYS
revealed that IS per cent of Ameri-
can young people ARE characterized
by sheer apathy" and do little or
no thinking about the problems that
are confronting them" He said
this lack of interest should be COM
batted by fostering youth organi-
cations rather than harboring fear
of the potential power of such Or
ganizations.
Other Problems Crowd Out Youths.
A similar view was expressed by
Mr.. Williams, who declared that
the problems of these young peo-
pie are too easily lost sight of by
people who have problems of their
own"
The conviction is pretty well
nxed in the minds of the people of
this country that it is the business
OF government to aid people in
their struggle for = a modicum
OF enjoyment" he said, adding that
the people also were convinced that
there is a good life for everyone"
Mrs. Roosevelt was introduced bv
David H, Scull, chairman of the
Washington Youth Council. fed
Grafton of young peoples groups in