Evening star., 1939-09-17
Mrs, Roosevelt
Urges Effortfo
Lasting Peace
p Women in Democratic
Clubs Asked to Aid
Party Roise Funds

Party Raise Funds
Mrs. Franklin d. Roosevelt last
night directed the attention Of the
women Of America toward establish
ment of a permanent. peace in a
radio broadcast transmitted over all
three networks.
Speaking from the National Wom-
ems Democratic Club, she said the
greatest obligation of the people Of
this country today was to think
about the future and what might
be done toward bringing peace to
the world.
There is probably no other great
democracy that can think that lar
ahead at present and ! hope that
every one listening tonight will bear
In mind in all their work that some
day we must. have peace, and some
day it must be a better and more
lasting peace"
Makes Plea for Funds.
Before concluding with this ap-
peal, Mrs. Roosevelt urged members
of women's Democratic clubs
throughout the country who were
listening to the program to take a
greater part in affairs of the party
and to aid in raising party funds for
carrying out its political and social
program.
I'VE want to be treated as equals
In party councils she said. then
we must be equal all along the line
and in raising some of the money
we will feel that we are discharg-
ing an obligation which undoubt-
edlv is ours
The radio program was the high
light Of Democratic Women's Day,
observed on a Nation wide scale.
To emphasize the work being car
ried on by the Government in lend
ing assistance to women and youth,
Mrs. Roosevelt interviewed Miss
Katherine Lenroot, chief OF the
Childrens Bureau; Mrs. Ellen S.
Woodward, member of the Social
Security Board; Miss Josephine
Roche, chairman of the Interde-
partmental Committee to Co-ordi-
nate Health and Welfare; Mrs.
Florence S. Kerr. assistant works
progress administrator. and Miss
Helen Fuller, administrative assist
ant in the National Youth Admin
istration.
Reads Presidents Letter;
Mrs. Roosevelt was introduced by
Mrs. Thomas F. McAllister, director
of the Women's Division OF the
Democratic National Committee
who read the letter of the Presi-
dent canceling his engagement to
speak on the program because OF
the conflict in Europe and his de-
sire to avoid partisanship at this
critical time.
In response to questions from
Mrs Roosevelt, Mrs. Woodward de-
scribed efforts of the Social Security
Board to promote family security
More than 100000 men and
women, she explained, have ac-
counts under the old age and sur
vivors' insurance program and near
ly 28,000000 workers have credits
toward unemployed benefits under
State job insurance laws. Under
the broader program established
by Congress last session, monthly
benefits are provided for aged wives
or dependent children of wage
earners who have retired and are
receiving annuities, she said.
The health needs of the Nation
were outlined by Miss Roche, who
explained the provisions of the
pending national health bill spon-
sored by Senator Wagner of New
York.
Our program outlined in Senator
Wagner's bill" she said, is the
first comprehensive and united ap-
proach toward health security for
all our people. Illness and death
take toll two to three times
heavier from the homes of the poor
than from people in more fortu-
nate circumstances.
States Urged to Plan.
"Under this bill, the Federal Gov
ernment proposes to give financial
aid to the States for improvement
of health services. Each State would
make its own plans for improving
its health services and for compen-
sating wage loss due to illness.
"The program does not set up
health insurance. AS for the tradi-
tional doctor patient relationship,
obviously the main trouble now is
that such a relationship does not
exist for countless people. They do
not 90 to doctors and doctors do not
90 to them. The whole purpose of
this program is to bring doctors and
people together"
Miss Lenroot told of the progress
of the Childrens Bureau in recent
years, especially since the Social
Security Act was passed in 1895. AS
a result of Federal and State CO.
operation to save the lives and pro-
mote the health of mothers and
babies, she said, the year 1887
showed the lowest maternal mortal
ity rate in the Nations history, IA
per cent less than the previous year,
and also the lowest infant mortality
rate.
The many phases Of life touched
by the w. P. A. program were re-
viewed briefly by Mrs. Kerr. She
pointed out that the recent law
throwing of w. p. A. rolls all en-
ployed for 18 months forced a spe-
cial hardship on women. The lay
offs were only for 80 days, but re-
certification placed the persons az
fected at the bottom of the list apd
thus resulted in much longer periods
of unemployment, she stated.
''The lay-off to many struggling
families seems to be only another
blow of fate, meaning hunger
eviction, sickness and despair" she
said.
Miss Fuller stressed the need fol-