Evening star., 1940-05-26

MIS. May AAOIlpoOIl GNdIlS, dSS
sion Of the Democratic National Coz
Of the general conception of q poll
tician. Only S feet 2 inches in height,
with waving hair, worn in an at
tractive bob, she looks many years
less than the 30-odd she admits,
and her soft Southern voice is
scarcely that which one would ex-
pect to hear discuss national and
world politics. Her views on poll
tics, however, disclose a fund of
information and intelligent interpre-
tation. Politics, in her opinion, are
of ranking importance in the life
of the Nation and she declares
"active participation in politics is
the most important duty of every
American citizen today"
Mrs Evans Is not q politician,
however, who believes in the use of
politics for personal advancement.
Her belief in the power of politics,
she says, is based entirely upon her
conviction that politics, wisely in
terpreted, are essential in the
proper administration of govern
ment, and that democratic form of
government as practiced in the
United States is the only hope left
in dark and despairing world OF
dictators and totalitarian govern
mentS.
She believes, she asserted in an
interview, that democracy is to be
saved only through the calm, clear
vision of the American people, who
are faced with two serious prob
lens, domestic crisis and an in
ternational crisis.
Two Defense Programs,
National and Civil.
I'VE must have a national de-
fense program and a civil defense
program" she said, "if we are to
make our democracy work and give
to all our people something to fight
for"
Mrs. Evans says her first in
terest in politics and government
was aroused by teacher of politi-
cal economy at Womans College,
University of North Carolina, where
she was a member of the faculty
for four years following her gradu-
alton from Westhampton College of
the University of Richmond.
She said it was this same teach
er, Miss Harriet Elliott, who recon-
mended her for the position she
later held with the National In
dustrial Unemployment Service.
She started as supervisor of the
western part of North Carolina, and
during her first year in ONCE in
1884, Mrs. Evans says, approxi-
mately 10000 persons registered
in need of jobs. At the end of the
first year she had assisted in plac-
ing $4,000 back in employment.
Mrs. Evans was so successful in
helping solve the unemployment
problem in her State that when
she was invited te come to WASH
ington in 1887 as a member of the
National Democratic Committee, she
was holding the dual dictatorship
of the North Carolina State En-
ployment Service and the National
Unemployment Service.
Her wide experience in this field
has convinced her, she declares,
that 1893 per cent of the American
people want work, and will work at
anything rather than not work at
all"
There is always a small frac-
ton that won't work." she added,
land when you hear people say the
unemployed don't want to work, it
is because they have been unfor-
tunate in running into this small
fraction"
Has Definite Program
To Solve Unemployment.
With the belief that the United
States must solve its greatest do
mestic problem, unemployment, in
order to give the world a working
democracy" Mrs. Evans has a def
mite program to suggest.
Il believe we should have a great
expansion of our internal program" !"
she said. 1--WE have plenty of
needs"
She pointed out 1T not only gives
many kinds of employment. We
should increase our. housing pro-
gram until every man and woman
in the Nation has a home"
Housing" she continued, mot
only gives employment, but 1t gives
people a stake in the game. 1t Is
also a program that would not come
to an end for some time.
I'VE should also expand the Ma
ton Youth Administration and the
c. c. c. We need more roads,"
she commented, "and our forests
haven't even been touched"
Mrs. Evans also advocates techni-
cal training of the Nations youth.
1--WE should take up skilled labor
program. We have very few skilled
workers and we have no idea of the
meaning of efficiency" she said.
The Nation. declared Mrs. Evans,
was faced with financial crisis in
1892. Had we collapsed economi-
cally then it would have been our
end. We face crisis now just as
destructive as that in 49,"
The recent appropriations for ma
tional defense were effected, Mrs.
Evans said, because the Nation
realizes the necessity in face Of the