Evening star., 1940-01-20

whole, as he is related to the
life of his family, his community
and the entire Nation.
can illustrate best the extent
to which the interests of children
are interviewer with the interests
of families and communities by
giving you the main topics of the
conference report.
The first part reminds me
sharply that by every step we take
to protect the families of America
we are protecting the children
also. Here the recommendations
in general constitute an argument
for buttressing and strengthening
the institution of the family as it
relates to the health, training and
opportunities of children in a
democracy. This part of the dis
cussion includes families and
their incomes; families in need
OF assistance; families and their
dwellings; the family as the
threshold of democracy.
Following these topics, the re-
port discusses religion in the lives
Of children; schools; leisure time
activities; libraries; protection
against child labor; youth and
their needs; conserving child
health; social services for chill
dren; children in minority groups,
and public financing and admin
istration.
Conditions of Many Children
Remain for Correction.
After reviewing the record of
the past 10 years, your conference
finds that we have definitely i'm
proved our social institutions and
public services. You conclude,
and rightly, that to have made
progress in a period of hardship
and strain proves that America
has both strength and courage.
But we have still much to do. Too
many children are still living
under conditions that must be
corrected If our democracy is to
develop to its highest capacity.
You tell us that more than half
the children of America live in
families that do not have enough
money to provide fully adequate
shelter, food, clothing, medical
care and educational opportunity.
have been called to task, as
you well know, because I have
reiterated many times about the
one-third of America that are
ill-clothed, ill-housed and ill-fed,
criticized on the ground that I
was saying something derogatory.
have been telling the truth and
you good people have sustained
me by that statement that more
than half the children of Amer
lea are living in families that
do not have enough money to
provide fully adequate shelter,
food, clothing, medical care and
educational opportunity. Why
shouldn't we admit it? We are
saying we are going to improve
this and that Is more than the
critics.
You are rightly concerned that
provision be made for those who
are unemployed, whether for
economic or personal reasons.
To keep families from starving
while fathers walk the streets in
vain search of jobs will not give
children the best start in life.
Social insurance to provide
against total loss of income, and
appropriate work projects, ad-
justed to fluctuations in private
employment and to both urban
and rural needs, constitute the
first lines of defense against fam
lily disaster.
You tell me in effect what I
have been talking about for
many years-that we are moving
forward toward an objective of
raising the incomes and living
conditions of the poorest third of
our population, that we have
made some dent on the problem,
and that most decidedly we can
not stop and rest on our some.
what meager laurels.
Suggests That Treasury
Has Bottom to It.
Yes I agree with you that pub
lie assistance of many kinds is
necessary, but I suggest to you
that the Federal Treasury has
some bottom to it, that mere
grants in aid constitute no per-
manent solution of the problem,
but that we should address our
selves to two definite policies:
First, to increase the average Of
incomes in the poorer group, in
the poorer areas of the Nation
and, secondly, that we should adj
dress ourselves to an insistence
that in every community and IN
every State and in the District
of Columbia they should pay
taxes in accordance with their
ability to pay. q ..
called attention also to the need
for continuing and expanding
public and private housing pro-
grams If families in the lowest
income groups are to live in
dwellings suitable for the rearing
of children.
Last April, to take another item,
I referred to our concern for the
children of migratory families
who have no settled place Of
abode. I spoke casually to the
press today about study I am
4 making. Up In the State of
Washington we are spending q
great many millions to harness
the Columbia River-to put q