Best broadcasts of 1938-39 (1939)

BEST BROADCAST S OF 1938-39 tion levels, that all the able-bodied unemployed will be able to find work all the time. Voice. — What’s to happen, then? Second Voice. — Possibly the permanent establishment of a Federal works program to function as a reserve labor pool for private industry. Voice. — Well, then, how does WPA work? Second Voice. — It works in 98 per cent of the projects in cooperation with the local or state and federal governments. Listen to this case of the little community of Crossroads, Ohio. . . . Sound. — Gavel. Mayor. — The Board of Selectmen of Crossroads will please come to order. Voices. — {Ad libs subside) Mayor. — Gentlemen, this special meeting was called to consider the Works Progress Administration, which has recently been established in Washington. Selectman. — What will it do for us ? Mayor. — Well, as I understand it, the government pays for the labor for local projects, and the local community furnishes the supplies. Second Selectman. — I can think of plenty of public works that we need, but we can’t afford them these days. Mayor. — That’s just the point. We can’t afford them, because we can’t afford to hire men. Now the government will pay for the labor. Selectman. — What unemployed labor is available in our town? Mayor. — Well, let’s look at the list. There are carpenters, bricklayers, painters, unskilled laborers, some stenographers, three real estate agents, a radio operator, a baker, a detective, a shirtmaker, and two teachers. . . . Selectman. — I can see where you can use those unskilled laborers, building roads, but what are you going to do with the shirtmaker and the radio operator ? Voices. — (Laughter) 464