Letter, Dr. Max Arzt to Franklin D. Roosevelt

TEMPLE ISRAEL Recipe MONROE AVE. AND Gibson ST. Scranton, PA. DR. MAX arzt RABBI October 8, 1935 His Excellency Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. President: I am wholly in accord with the principle of the Social Security Legislation. It is to my mind a most meagre beginning towards a much desired end. The extension of this principle in terms of the actual needs of the beneficiaries will go a long way in maintaining the essential democratic structure of our country and will save us from excesspof the right and of the left. In my community, due to the new WPA policy, half of the relief cases are about to be thrown back on the private agencies. I doubt whether these agencies will be able to handle the load. It appears that the general improvement in business, which no one disputes, does not result in a proportionate increase in employment. This ought to be carefully studied and a plan should be adopted whereby excess populations in various regions can be offered new opportunities for economic rehabilitation. If the profit system is to be retained, it must provide also for those who are the victims. of that system. I remain Cordially yours, MA: HW