Home Photo Gallery Classroom Documents Dear Mr. President: Replying to your letter of Sep. 24 permit me to say--- Many are unemployed a large part of the year. Many of those employed are not receiving a living wage. The amount received for relief in some cases has been more than the farmer and other employees could afford to pay for help. This recipient of relief could turn up his nose at the farmer. Some have feared or refused to work on odd jobs lest they be cut from relief rolls. Some are so accustomed to relief they have no intention of working. Much relief money has not been well spent. In less than ten years there will be nothing to show for it. Some has been spent foolishly and much spent well. Much money has gone where it was not most needed. Spoils has no business to enter into relief pockets. Some of it is unavoidable of course. In my judgement the civic sore is festering about as it was three, five, or seven years ago. In my judgement it will stay that way till we reach new spiritual levels. Old age pensions and all other relief must be paid by the people whether part comes from the Federal Government and part from the State Government, or all of it from either. It is the people who should pay. There may be some jockeying, not intentionally bad. Those who are able should pay. A lot of baby stomachs are gorged (by gouging or otherwise). The same might be said of adult stomachs. There is no good reason in this land of abundance for anyone being uncomfortable so far as material things are concerned. If we cannot straighten things out with our brains we had better use our heart. The government should demand as much from its employees, as fair a return, as would a private employer who is just. These are my convictions. I lay no claim to infallibility, or even superior judgement. Fraternally,
Rev. W. E. Blackstock
|