Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-24
Group Expands Plan
For Self Reliance Of
U. 5. Communities
By Eroneis P. DougIos

The National Council for Com
munity Improvement opened o
campaign in Washington today
to expand to all 48 States its
program to stimulate community
self reliance instead Of depend
ence on Washington.
The program received the in
dorsement of Former President
Herbert Hoover.
The one-day meeting at the
Mayfiower Hotel heard an adj
dress by the Council Chairman.
]. c. Penny, chairman Of the
board of the j. c. Penny Co. It
was read in his absence by DR..
George S. Benson, president OF
Harding College. Searcy, Ark.
To Lessen Pressure.
In his prepared address, Mr..
Penney said:
"One of our major detectives
is to encourage States and COM
munities to lessen spending pres
sures on Congress for projects
that can and should be financed
locally. other organizations have
the same declared objective, but
when grantS-in-aid to States and
communities have mounted to
more than 50 billion we must
recognize that there is greater
need for further effort to create
a sentiment for thoughtful care
in Government appropriations
and for hating the paternalism
that always accompanies large
Government spending"
The message from Mr.. Hoover
was read to the meeting by Paul
C. Stark, president of the council
and vice president of the Stark.
Brothers Nurseries of Louisiana,
Mo. In his message, Mr.. Hoover
said:
g. most of our citizens do
not realize the great danger of
undermining the whole sense OF
local responsibilities in our
country which can result from
the States foiSting their oper-
atoms on the Federal Govern
ment, nor the continuing and
increasing efforts of pressure
groups for Federal legislation.
Advancing their special in
terests, the constant effect is in
creasing Federal bureaucracy
and Federal domination of daily
life. And at once empire build
ing springs from this bureaucracy
which overrides the States and
local communities"
$25O,OOO Budget for Program.
Mr.. Stark pointed out that the
council does not sponsor indi-
vidual projects in any commun-
ity, but devoteS its efforts to
fostering the organization of
State and local councils for COM
munity improvement through CO.
operation of community residents
and organizations. The National
Council, he said, is planning a
budget of $250.000 for its ex-
banded program. It's expendi-
lures last year were reported at
about one-tenth of that sum.
The headquarters of the organi-
cation are in st. Louis.
Charles r. Wook, chairman Of
the Armco Steel Corp, who ad-
dressed a luncheon meeting, de-
scribed community development
in Middletown, Ohio.
He said the people Of Middle
town, a community Of $4,000,
have worked hard to make their
city a self-reliant one. He said
projects which would have
meant coming to Washington in
search of some one with a Gov
eminent check book" seldom got
'as far as first base"
Indian Program Described;
Morris L. McGough. executive
vice president of the Asheville
IN. c. Agricultural Development
Council, told a panel meeting of
a community known as Big Cove.
N. c., which includes IS Indian
families. He said a little more
than two years ago they organ
lied a community development
program.
He listed these results: The
painting of IS homes whereas
only two had been painted be-
fore, white mail boxes on painted
stands for each family although
there had been only one mail
H~~AAA~%~H~A~~~~~~~~~A<