The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-07-20
Bruckarfs Washington Digest
Blame Absurd Relief Policies
For Widespread WPA Strikes
Misguided Effort Force Government Into Greater Gifts
To Them; Yell Radical Accusations When Soft Snap
Is Ended Honest Distribution Congress Aim.
By WILLIAM BRUCKART
WNU Service, National Press Bldg, Washington D. c.

WASHINGTON.-It is sometimes
possible, I believe, to find an ex-
cuse for violent action on the part of
a man who is hungry. Likewise,
that individuals desperation may be
explained when his children are
near starvation. 1t is social con-
dition that perhaps merits sympa-
thetic understanding rather than
harsh treatment. When those indi-
viduals have had the specter of star
walton removed by the generous
hand of government, however, it
strikes me that there can be no
justification for revolt against the
government or the people which
have been responsible for the chart
ty. That is to say, neither the gov
eminent nor the citizens can be
held responsible for the hard luck
of any of us, nor does any one in
dividual have divine right to such
generosity.
Yet, there exists in this country
today an extraordinarily large num-
Der of persons who seem to feel the
government must bend its knees
to them. They have lately taken
the position-largely misguided by
the lowest grade of leaders-that
they can dictate to their govern
ment and their neighbors the terms
upon which they will receive gov
eminent relief. They have gone so
far as to use the strike as weapon
to force, to coerce, their govern
ment into greater gifts to them, and
it is one of the most dangerous
trends to be noted on the horizon of
our country. 1t is traceable, of
course, to the utterly absurd relief
policies that have been practiced,
heretofore.
To go back bit for a review, the
relief program enacted recently by
congress for the year that is now
starting specified that all WPA
workers must put in 100 hours per
month in order to get the maximum
government relief. It was included
by congress as a part of the law
upon recommendation by WPA
Commissioner F. c. Harrington, and
no right thinking persons can find
reason to disagree. The purpose is
most commendatory. The increase
in the hours of labor was designed
to weed out those who were receiv-
ing WPA checks who were satisfied
to go on without any thought of
ever obtaining private job again.
There is that type, you know.
Congress Sought to Set Up
An Honest Distribution
The rules that expired June 80 had
made it possible for some workers
to receive the maximum pay in as
little as two weeks of work. Skilled
workers were being paid wages that
were equivalent to the rates in pri-
vate employment in the area where
they were So, some workers stayed
on the job two weeks and had their
months pay; others worked longer
and were paid much less. Congress,
therefore, tried to set up something
like an honest distribution and it
directed that everybody receiving
the WPA checks had to work 1870
hours in order to receive the full
amount.
There were some other provisions,
too, that irked the WPA workers.
One of them, for instance, makes it
necessary for those who have been
on WPA relief jobs for Is months,
to take layoff of one month. That
was designed to give some other
unemployed person chance to get
WPA relief.
The third big change from last
year and the earlier years of fed
eral relief was a specification as to
wages. The legal language is too
complex for me to understand, thor
oughly, but the intention is to make
the rates of WPA wages have some
relationship to the cost of living
where the unemployed are given
WPA jobs.
These things are in the law, this
time. In previous years, congress
had been unable to break the grip of
the professional BELIEVERS, like Har-
ry Hopkins and Aubrey Williams,
and the rates of pay and conditions
of work were determined largely by
such men. Mr.. Williams will be re-.
called as the man who said in
speech to WPA workers they should
use their numerical strength politi-
cally and support only those Off
Gals who turned loose the most
money Under the previous system,
the WPA workers could attack rules
and regulations laid down by indi-
viduals. But now Mr.. Hopkins and
Mr.. Williams are not in the picture,
and a hard-boiled army officer
heads up the WPA organization.
Strike Against Government
Is What Confronts Country
The condition that confronts the
country, therefore, is a strike
against the national government, be-
cause the elected representatives of
the people as a whole laid down the
rules, this time. Of course, the Con-
stitution guarantees to all citizens
the right to petition congress. It
does not grant the right, however,
to use force or violence to change
the action of congress. The WPA
workers who went out on strike,
therefore, in my opinion, were right
close to the border line of serious
offense against the government. It
is one thing to strike, as a union