Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1939-02-02
Shiipstead Makes
Statement AS To
His WPA Action
Minnesota Senator States
That Chiselers Should be
Kept From Relief Rolls.

Since United States Senator Hen
rik Shipstead voted with the oppo-
Sition forces against the Presidents
WPA recommendation, he has re-
ceived numerous protests as to his
stand on the issue, which aided in
its defeat The Senator's statement
in the form of a speech before the
Senate is herewith published:
"Mr President, have voted for
1882 l intend to vote for the pend
ing measure However, l wish to
reiterate what l have said on many
occasions of this kind, that l cannot
agree with the philosophy and the
theory of economics which holds that
spending for relief has anything to
do with the permanent economic re-
covery of this country.
"We must feed hungry people. We
must vote for funds to feed hungry
people. However, a permanent re-
covery cannot come from this form
of expenditure of public money. We
are treating the symptoms of dis
ease instead of the disease itself. I'm
til we change the policy of treating
the symptoms of disease instead of
curing the cause of disease, do not
see any hope for permanent recovery.
when the time comes to consider
the question of distribution of relief
money l shall be in favor, as I always
have been, of turning the distribution
of hot tn
munities. Those in the local COM
munities know who the needy are
and will see that they are fed, and
will see that chiselers are kept off
the rolls, because the people in the
community know who the chiselers
are.
although it is necessary to spend
money for relief, l do not believe
that form of spending is any more
effective in bringing about permanent
recovery than for a man to think
he can drink himself sober.
81 intend to vote to sustain the
committee, because I feel that there
is plenty of money to take care of
all the needy, at least until the 1st
of April or 1st of May. If by that
time it becomes necessary to make
further appropriations to carry on
the activities until the 1st of July,
/ shall vote to provide funds to keep
the needy from hunger and suffering"
Explains Stand.
"The session last summer appropri-
ated ST ,425, 100000 to carry WPA re-
lief through to July l, 1889. Now the
WPA comes through stating that their
estimate of needs was incorrect and
that unemployment has increased and
they state they have to have $685.
100000 more to carry WPA up until
July /. In view of the statements
made by the Administration that
employment and prosperity are in
creaSing the Senate committee felt
that the WPA might get along with
SIPS 100000 until July l, but said
that if it appears by April l or May l
that in case the Administration is
mistaken in its estimate of increas-
ing employment and prosperity and
S725 100000 is not sufficient, the WPA
will come back and so state that
additional funds will be voted at
that time.
81 have had many complaints, as
have many other Senators that many
people are on WPA and other relief
who are not entitled to relief and
are on relief because of political in
fluences and those people are called
chiselers. If that is true, they are
getting money and food and work
that should go to those who are in
need. l think that is an injustice
to the needy, l am opposed to it. l
am for giving food and work for
those who are in need, but l do not
believe public money should be spent
to support people who do not need
it. Under this appropriation there
is no need or possibility of any one
entitled to relief under WPA to be
refused aid under the law. Any state
ment to the contrary is not true.
''In the last analysis the cost of
these expenditures will be taken out
directly or indirectly of the income
and at the expense of the standards
of living of the poor who always
carry the burden of any expense
contracted by an inefficient govern
ment This is true no matter what
may be said to the contrary"