Hear Waldo McNutt
On Youth Congress
At Council Meeting

Tells Work of Congress in Com-
      bating Fascism;
          Traces Origin of Congress

AYC SECRETARY SPEAKS

Analyze Programs to Help Econ-
     omic Problems of Youth;
          Decries NYA

            Waldo McNutt, national chairman of the American Youth Congress, spoke Wednesday on the work of that organization in combating fascism at the open meeting called by Student Council. Mr. McNutt traced the origin of the Congress to the united efforts last year of twenty-seven national youth organizations to stop the Nazi-inspired and financed attempts of Viola llma to establish a fascist youth movement in the United States.

            "We must face fascism and fascist developments here at home," declared Mr. McNutt. They are even more important than the war developments abroad."

            Mr. McNutt cited as an indication of the reactionary force of our government, the bill passed fey the last session of Congress making all workers in the communications industries, such as telephone and telegraph industries, subject to army discipline in case of war.

            "I have just returned from a tour of the Middle West;" said Mr. McNutt, "and I am convinced that in that part of country a fascist youth movement is developing." The speaker related several incidents which illustrated the growth of Nazi ideology in that region of America.

            Mr. McNutt concluded by stressing the growing sentiment on the campus for the American Student Union, a united organization of all student groups which is being formed to fight for student rights.

            William Hinckley, executive secretary of the American Youth Congress and member of the Student Council of Teachers College, analyzed the various programs which they have been presented for alleviating the economic problems of youth. "If we young people are going to sit back and wait for the National Youth Administration to put us on our feet we're far more likely to land on another part of our anatomy," declared the speaker.

            Mr. Hinckley questioned whether the N.Y.A. is not "a force to chain youth to the sinking anchor of the New Deal." He cited the 1935 educational budget, which is $408,000,000 less than that of 1929, and the inclusion in the organization of such individuals as Owen D. Young and Bernar MacFadden as indications of the inadequacy of the N.Y.A. in coping with youth problems. Mr. Hinckley condemned the wage-scale of the N.YA. which is $6 per month for high school students, $15 per month for college students, and from $25 to $40 for graduates.

            In direct contrast to the N.Y.A. Mr. Hinckley presented the American Youth Act as the only "feasible and adequate program for aiding American Youth." "One week after the N.YA. was introduced the American Youth Congress was asked to endorse it. We laughed," continued Mr. Hinckley, "and proceeded to draw up a truly democratic and adequate plan. The only hope for young people lies in the American Youth Act." The Act provides for aid for all needy people from the ages of 16 to 25. High school students would receive not less than $15 per month and college students not less than $25 per month. The money would be appropriated from the Treasury and administered by Youth Employment Commissions.

            "The American Youth Act will be introduced into Congress in January," concluded Mr. Hinckley. "With our disunity it falls, with out united action it passes."

            Eli Jaffe, editor of Pioneer and delegate to the American Youth Congress last summer, spoke on the attitude of the 1205 delegates to the Congress. "When there was an attempt in Detroit to discriminate against Negro delegates," said Mr. Jaffe, "the unity of all representatives manifested itself in their opposition to race discrimination."

            Sylvia Wener, former vice-president of Student Council, spoke on the work of Brooklyn Borough Council which attempts to carry out the program of the American Youth Congress on a Borough-wide scale. She urged every club and organization to support this Council.

            Sivia Friedman, Student Council's delegate to the American Youth Congress, was chairman of the meeting.

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May 20, 2004