Evening star., 1939-05-23

program, we should never lose
sight of the objective that Federal
aid to these groups of citizens Is
only because of their inability to
make it alone, and should be linn
tied and circumscribed TO tenn
porary assistance, the ultimate
objec i've being to rehabilitate the
citizen so that he may be self
supporting and sustaining.
am afraid in our relief activities
we have lost that objective.
am fearful that many of our citizens
are rapidly learning to lean upon
the Federal Government; to feel
that it owes them a Job, and to
more and more lessen their efforts
to be self-sustaining. Statistics
show that about II per cent Of
the w. P. A. workers in the United
States have been on the program
for more than three years. On the
other hand, thousands of deserving
cases are not able to get w. p. A.
employment. This national average
is not so bad. But some of the
metropolitan centers are shocking.
The percentage runs as high as
A per cent in some of the heavily
congested areas in. the United
States. Those citizens, employed
by w. P A., very much fear have
become content to stay there in
definitely. We must do something
about that. I will comment briefly
upon one other feature 1t has been
shown in our open hearings. and
there has been much discussion in
the press of so-called subversive in
fuences which are seeking to Or
ganize and control the unemployed
workers Of America.
1t is matter of common knowl-
edge that very determined effort |
is being made to mobilize and or
ganize the unemployed; to stir up
strife and discomfort and to manip-
ulate this great body of our citizens
as a great political factor in local, |
State and national elections. That |
subversive influences control this
movement there is not the shadow
of doubt
The disappointing part Of 1t is that |
the administrative officials of w. P.
A. have not felt called upon to do |
anything about it. Not only that,
but in many instances they have, |
fear, given comfort and encourage
ment to the movement. I believe
in civil liberties. I believe that men |
should have a right to have their |
own political opinions, but I hold |
that it is ineXcusable and indefens-
ible to have any person upon the
relief rolls or the work relief rolls |
of this Government whose an
nounced political philosophy is con-
trary to the form of government |
under which we live, and who be- |
lieve in and support political phil
osophy that advocates the overthrow
of our present form of constitutional
government
In the last relief act, Congress
put in a provision that took aliens |
off the relief rolls. I predict that
in whatever legislation is passed in |
the future, Congress will endeavor
as best it can within constitutional
limitations to circumscribe and re-
strict subversive activities, and to
make it impossible for people to
secure public assistance, or to in
f1uence its administration, who are
not in sympathy with the American
form of government.
Now what is the conclusion of the
whole matter? First of all, we
should refuse to embark upon any
further experiments that will place
charge upon the Treasury. We
should not only talk economy in
government, but vote economy when
opportunity presents itself We
should try to consolidate and per-
petuate the splendid social reforms
which we have set in motion. We
should meet, as best we can under |
appropriate restrictions and limita-
tlons, assistance to needy persons |
who cannot help themselves, but |
we must be able above all things
to say in thunderous tones mo" to
the manipulations of pressure
groups who are constantly de-
manding increased public expendi-
lures without reference to our ma
tional income, or our ability to pay.
If the legislative and executive
branches of this Government, sup
ported by an intelligent citizenry,
do not set about with resolute de-
termination to set our economic
house in order then, in my judg-
ment, We are headed for a great
economic disaster.