Evening star., 1939-01-29

public-improvement contracts made with cor |
rupt public officials which stood the taxpayeG@
ten times more than the jobs actually cost.
And YET, l like AMERICA. For every
crook have found ninety nine decent Aneri-|
cans. For every crook in public office there are
scores of honest officials.
When travel in foreign countries l am
conscious of system of caste, and the special
privilege of birth and station. see multitudes
of these same nationalities in my own city. l
know their customs and sometimes their
language. Yet those abroad are strangely
different from those of the same nationaties
whom know in my own city. America has
done something to these people who came to
live with us. What it is, is difficult to state in
words, but there is a courage and buoyancy of
spirit, and a sense of manhood which is lack
ing among their kindred in the homelands.
Crime and corruption in America are not
normal they are subnormal; that's why they
constitute news. They are storm signals which
America will heed and America will not be |
overcome.
Our sun now shines on a people who are
overcoming religious bigotry and racial preju-
dice - who will recognize that wealth is
fluent and unimportant. and that the real
America will be more concerned with pre-
serving and perfecting decent, free society
where men may live, work. think and worship
as they please, so long as there is no interfer-
ence with the rights of others.
The problem of unemployment represents
challenge to us, but it is one we will meet.
1t cannot be solved by arraying class against
class or by melting hatred or violence. The
solution will come through the efforts of
American youth, who will attack this situa-
tion in the better light of new experience
and new day.
There are more than million young peo-
pie in college, most of whom will not be de-
feated Corrupt politics has fallen so low that
it is being understood and in short time will
be on its way out. A new broom is in the
making and it will be welded by militant
youth, who will sweep away the things that
crawl in dark places.
These young people will not take govern
ment for granted Government is being stud
led as never before. Economic questions are
being debated; social questions are topic of
live interest in every college. And when these
young men and women hook up with life,
they will do so on a basis of high citizenship,
fine courage and irresistible determination.
Recently I've been following the career of
one of Americas army of youth - and it
symbolizes to me what is to be.
Born in poverty - at Ia delivering milk
before dawn to earn his clothes, living or
scanty meals as he struggled through grea
university - today at 80 years of age h91
directs five great club centers for lO,OOpI
underpriveged youths of the tenementsl
He started new club recently in an aban1
doned police station - and more such oaseS
in the city deserts that we call slums are in
the offing as benevolent minded people hear
about his heroic work One elderly man of
wealth recently donated 100000 for a new
club, and still another has written provision
into his will for half million dollars for
similar youth center.
This tireless young worker for needy lads
recently told me. Il won't be satisfied until
we are able to reach the last youngster in our
city and give him fifty-ffty chance"
Pioneer blood is not so diluted as many
believe. What our pioneer grandparents did
to master a continent. and to shape govern
ment to suit their needs, their grandchildren
will be able to do even in this strangely altered
49,