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Letters From the Nation's Clergy

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Dear President Roosevelt:

1. I am of the opinion that your administration has done a very fine thing in asking the opinion of the Clergy of the various Churches in America re the problem of recovery and particularly Social Security Legislation.

2. Any Clergyman that is not conversant with the above named matters is recalcitrant to the duties imposed upon him by his high and holy office, which certainly ought to bring him into very close touch with the affairs of human relations.

3. One thing that has impressed itself very much upon me is the greater hopefulness of the people, hence their greater happiness. Most of the grumbling that we hear comes from those who have a plus of this world's goods, or those who are just naturally cantankerous.

4. In dealing with the problem of Social Security, I find those who are not of employable age or in physical condition to work, anxiously awaiting your program, which to be effective; must be elastic enough to meet conditions and not merely a set of hard and fast rules.

5. In dealing with the difficult problem of unemployment, I note several things.
   1. I am informed by neighborhood merchants that many relief and rent checks are cashed at saloons, which, if true, is certainly pernicious.

   2. In my opinion, the present system of relief is going to develop a vast class of all-time dependents, thereby prolonging the depression.

   3. Our present system, (P.W.A., W.P.A.) develops in many instances a shiftless class of shirkers who will not respond to real work.

   4. The people everywhere are crying out for real work, a real job and decent pay.

   5. A great many people are strongly commending subsidized private concerns as outlets for work, providing a man's job and standard pay, to build and repair roads, schools, asylums, prisons, armories, court-houses, post-offices, historic shrines, monuments, etc.

   6. The continuance of the splendid C.C.C. Camps.

   7. Last but not least, the establishment of National Police, for City, Town and Country, with barracks and district commands regulated from Washington, doing away entirely with the present police force and placing in the field a mobile, modernized army of crime fighters, outside the pale of petty politics and the influence of politicians, saving the people of this country in taxes and crime depredation, millions of dollars, thereby in a very practical way assisting the Program of recovery in our beloved land, which at present is inundated with crime, which is on the increase. All the Conventions called by Governors and Social Service workers cannot cope with crime.

   I am.

   Very respectfully yours,

   E. C. Russell, Rector
   St. Ann's Episcopal Church
   295 St. Ann's Avenue
   New York City
   September 26, 1935