The American Unemployment Controversy Unemployment has brought about a more
delicate situation in American politics than there has been for a long time. When we write there is deadlock in the controversy between the Senateand the House of Repre- sentatives as to how relief shall be given to those who are in evident want. • There are, of course, no Soeial Services on the British -model in the United States. The Senate has Voted £5,000,000, but this sum—though. it seems Wh011y insufficient when it is remembered that some estimates place the, number of unemployed as high as 7,000,000—has put the fat in the fire. It is seriously believed that a great " matter of principle " is at stake. On one side are the people who think that all relief shoUld be personal charity ; on the other are the people who say that the crisis is already so acute that the State cannot possibly disavow a direct responsibility. The authorities Of the Red Cross Society are so strongly in favour of the charity view that they refuse in *advance to administer any State fund. • * * .*
