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Mr Chairman. Distinguished guest of honor. Vice president elect Bok placed. On a guest ladies and gentlemen. I'm sure that you realize from what the presiding officer has said. That this. Is not unlike generals of its kind. In that it has an expressed purpose and another theory a motive. The expressed purpose. Is to do or not. To a distinguished New York. Who needs no praise from me. Off from any other person on this platform. In fact. We can. Lay aside. Verbal tributes. Because the great tribute has already been paid. In the presence of this. Marvelous lay significant cross-section of the light of New York City. Was. A mere glance. At the list of persons present here tonight. Convinces me that it is a veritable who's who. Of this great city. As has been said. By a presiding officer. The children's welfare Federation is principally concerned. With setting standards for prenatal maternal. And child care. It dealers not directly with children but with the agencies that said children. Its effort to establish proper standards spot Child Care Act. Naturally bring it into close contact. With. The institutions of society that vitally affect child like namely. The home school. State the church. Because of time limitations. I must confine what I have to say to the home. In its relationship to child care. It is fitting that I should do this. Because the guest of honor of the evening. Has devoted most of his time in recent years to housing and city planning. In putting the emphasis that I do upon the home. I am not overlooking the importance of the school state and the church. Fall without the influence of these institutions upon home life. It would be poverty stricken indeed. I was glad to read in the newspapers yesterday. That the bond of Education was recommending a budget to twenty three million dollars in excess of the current budget. Which would make possible one optician of mom and twenty five hundred teachers so sorely needed to lift the heavy burdens that rest upon the present overworked staff in the public school system of New York. I was glad also to read in that same issue of the paper. The recommendations of the president of the United States. That a new cabinet post in the social welfare after you will be established and that estimated one hundred fifty budget expenditure. For social security health and welfare be placed at a figure approximating two billion four hundred million dollars which would be three hundred forty nine million dollars in excess of the nine hundred forty nine budget. These are figures that represent something of the spirit of a crusade. In the interest of general public welfare. There are also indications of similar interest in education and public welfare. In the early days of the state legislature in Iraq. To all of this I say Aha to. A man. But basic to the realization of the lasting benefit. From these expressions of public concern is a stable home life for all people. Let me say in the marry outside. That I realize that our house is not a home. A home a special not enduring quality is a part of spirit. The house is merely a structure in which the home operates now lapse unless the structure is adequate enough. And situated in an environment that enables its occupants to enjoy sunshine and fresh air. There can be no home in the truest sense of the word my plea tonight that rock is that home development. Be entered upon all sold in the spirit of a crusade. That can be no doubt but that public housing over the past twelve or fifteen years has made greater progress than has been true at any other period in the history of our nation. But it is still only have tocome. That indicates how the need may be met through one arced public interest. And it should be brought in mind. That under our system of government there are limitations upon the extent to which government may go in this particular field all of which means. That if we are to have a great crusade for slum clearance and decent housing. It will have to come about through the joining up interests of private enterprise and local state and federal government. It will take the combined effort or things of all these possibilities to realize the objectives that must be realized if we are not place the proper safeguards around child life. Doesn't show our strong America for the future. The difficulty of our approach to this problem at the present time is that we are dealing with it in a piecemeal fashion. And on a superficial basis for instance in the well intentioned recent effort what's taught to clean up campaign in the East Harlem area. Following an exposé of conditions by the New York Times. Pressures were brought to bear upon the people of these crowded areas not to throw garbage in refuges upon the streets or into vacant lots. It is highly commendable that city authorities have called together the leaders of the community to enlist their sympathetic cooperation in restraining the people to back congested neighborhood from littering up the streets. As one who lives in a location immediately contiguous to that area. And who passes through the streets of East Harlem day Lake. I wish that I could say that there was noticeable improvement but I cannot truthfully say self. And I speak on the basis of observation as of this morning at eight thirty o'clock. Because there are still scars a vacant lot with empty cans decaying Vegeta bottles and dead animals. Where hundreds of children adjust themselves to these places as playgrounds apparently unaware of the family and that they are breathing. And the diseased conditions that grow out of such surroundings. Even if every one of these locks were cleaned up tomorrow. They would be lit up again in a day or two and this will continue. Until a basic approach is made to the problem which will involve a major operation in the field of housing. Two years ago I was in West Africa. And was made conscious of what could be done with the control of certain diseases through insect extenuation. Introduced into certain areas by the American army. In Iraq in the Gold Coast and in Monrovia Liberia and. Mosquitoes have been practically exterminated. But this was not done merely by supplying those areas with adequate quantities of D.D.T.. It was necessary for the Army to drain the swamps. So as to get rid of the breeding grounds of the insects that made malaria and similar diseases such a menace to the health of the people. So here in New York greatest city in America and for that matter in the world. We must demonstrate to the nation and to the world. What can be done through proper emphasis upon housing. To create a home life will enable. And then the church so that they may develop into the kind of men and women that will keep America strong. It is not. To clean up. We must clear up and build up. Thank you. Thank you. Let's talk master. Mr Wagner. Distinguished guests ladies and gentlemen. I do not know to up circumstance I will. They honor. The invitation which brings me here to participate. In this dinner in honor of a great New York. Citizen and the great citizen of America. Whatever may be the circumstance that brings me here I'm glad to be here. And have the honor of saying a few words. Not only in honor of the guest of honor. But in behalf of the great cause which brings us all here. I'm always glad to come to this great city. And I usually take advantage of any excuse or any good reason. That I can offer for coming though I usually need neither an excuse nor a reason. Though I regret that my visits are too infrequent and too brief. Some day I'm coming to New York to spend a whole week. Do as I please. Drop from. Not to punish anybody with a speech. I like this hotel. I like the homey atmosphere of this beautiful banquet hall. Not in the sense. Of a young merchant in the small town in Kentucky. Came here to buy goods. He'd been here about ten days. He ate around one restaurant or another. Until he got homesick and fell upon it. Walking down thirty fourth Street he saw across the street a sign on a big plate when the. Home cooking. Home atmosphere. Walk in. He crossed the street walked into the restaurant and sat down. And waitress came over and asked him what he could would have and he said I just saw a sign on the window. That you have a home cooking here in home atmosphere he said Is that true she said yes that's what we advertise and make especially. What can I serve you. He said Have you got some hash. That has been warmed over for five days in the skillet. She said I think so oh I said Bring me some of that. What else would you have. He said if you got some cornbread that was baked for five days ago in the pan and had been allowed to saw there were Sants. She said I think we can provide some of that he said Bring me some. One Else. He said Have you got some coffee that was made for five days ago in the tin coffee pot and been long over every meal since. Well she said I think so little he said Bring me that she said what else. He said that's all. And when you bring it in set out across the table in front of me and they get hell out of me while I eat it. It is it is not in that sense. And I like the whole atmosphere of the Waldorf Astoria. I'm happy to be here. For a number of reasons. I imagine a long friendship service. In the Senate with the father of the guest of honor. May have had some part. In the invitation which brings me here. On the same day. For the march. Twenty seventh. For the most part. Work together. Our of you. In the. Same channel. We never found ourselves in very disagreement about anything. I'm. Able to be here tonight. I hope he is listening all the reveal. But I should like to hear what I'm about to say. He is not here because of illness. And because of illness he has not been able to function as he should have liked. In the Senate for several months. And being the sensitive soul that he is. Sensitive all his responsibility. He did under that inability. To attend regularly his duties in the Senate. We have missed it missed his counsel and his association. Is here in the nobility of his soul. And we all hope for his speedy recovery and his return. To his duties in Washington. But an in my hand who has served his state and his nation and humanity as faithfully as Bob Wagner had served. Is entitle to a season of rest and recuperation until he can recover his health. Thank you. And Bob if you happen to be listening to me Don't worry we understand. We will carry on Fortunately. He enjoys such a supreme respect in the Senate and in the committees on what Jesus heard. That his gold and his views have been recorded even in his absence on practically every measure that came before them. I would not want to be here. Paying that brief tribute to a great man to a great friend a great public servant and a great father. Jang. I'm not unfamiliar. With the work. Of the Federation. Which coordinated and brought together. Two hundred associations interested in child welfare in the city of New York. And that within itself is almost an amazing accomplishment. That without regard to race or religion or. National origin or creed. One great organization in this cosmopolitan city. Could bring together two hundred separate organizations. Dedicated to the welfare of children. And there is a tribute to the spirit of cooperation. The spirit of accommodation. The spirit of tolerance and understanding. That spirit which recognizes. That the bundle of fagots tied together are more powerful than any one singly. For Therefore I congratulate all those who are interested in the child welfare of this city. And of this state and of this nation. On their ability to coordinate their work and move forward as one solid body. In behalf of the most precious asset that any nation can or ever possessed. The children of that nation. I am interested in this. As a vice president elect and I thank all of you for the compliment you paid me. On that account but I'm not here tonight on that account. I'm not here is a senator or on account of the fact that I am one. And will be one for another week. I don't know how I'm going to get along I've been asked by a lot of people want to call you. Making a difference what you call me just so you call me. When I was elected to Congress. Two years after Bob Wagner was born and before. You were born I think. I'm on to you. When I was elected to Congress I was a judge. And even now thirty six years afterwards when I go back home. About half the people call me judge and when I hear somebody say Hello Judge I know I'm back home. And so it will be entirely agreeable with me if you continue to call me Senator. I would be at home in the Senate though not a member of it. I'm not here in any of those capacities However. I'm here because I'm interested in childhood. In the development of childhood. Where it may be found. For whatever raises the style of life and of citizenship in New York City. In the nation as a whole. And whatever lowers it in New York City. Lowers average in the nation as a whole. In our complex society. Where we have in many regions of our country build an artificial atmosphere. Entirely different from that pastoral life which our forefathers led then lived in the early history of the nation. There have been inevitably and I suppose a lot of ought to be created conditions which all of us would remedy and eliminate. Which have grown up like topsy. Without any individual responsibility that could be fastened upon any person person or any group of persons Nevertheless those conditions exist. Lack of housing. Lack of medical care. Lack of proper educational facilities. Lack of sufficient social recreational objectives and facilities. Lack of those things which every normal child has a right to expect of society as a whole if not of its parents individually. I have always believed and I am more firmly convinced of it now than ever. That every child born into this world without any volitional that song is entitled to be born. In the hell. Is entitled to be born into a home that is normal and adequate is entitled to be born into a society that recognizes that its obligation to him in order that he or she. May be upset himself or herself. For the strenuous duties of the life that lies ahead and that is why our have supported and expect to continue to support in every way within my power housing legislation. Not only in cities and states but in the Congress of United speeds that will have guaranteed to every child a normal home and that. That. That will have guaranteed to every child a normal home and that you have that's why many years ago I have to write and supported legislation creating the Children's Bureau in the Department of Labor. Creating the division of infant and maternal mortality. And while I have watched with great satisfaction and pleasure. The infant mortality rate in America decline in the maternal mortality rate declined. Perceptibly and almost immediately. That's why I favor not the government of United States going into the medical business. Not the government of the United States taking over the practice of medicine which has been so adequately performed by our great medical societies and medical man and women. But that is why I support House legislation. That with the aid of every county in every city in every state and the government of United States. We made writing about him create normal conditions of house and sanitation in every part of America that would make out the normal thing and not exceptional thing you never neighborhood in America. That's why I also hold. The government of the United States belatedly as compared to many other nations embark upon a great social security program for the benefit of our people. To enable them to look upon the declining years of their lives with some degree of security while we have advocated health insurance so that men and women made a living in health class much fear and environments so the third children or their grandchildren may be brought forth under normal conditions these are things that are fundamental. They are beyond the boundaries of politics. They go beyond. The kind of urges that arises in denominational religions. These things are universal. Appeal to all men of good will of all men who are interested in the society in which they live and its constant improvement and its advancement that's why we are striving to bring about conditions that will make it possible for each generation or are going to harden the generation which it succeeded in health in education in physical stamina. And all the things that make for good citizenship. Because of these same things we are now advocating better lead on the part of our government to the states to create better educate educate facilities for all of our children these things go hand in the have. Comfortable homes. Fear. Mall rule stand one end up building metal training these are things to which every American child is a matter of right. And if their parents cannot obtain them for them. It is the duty of society to do so in its own self interest on its own self defense. Is a golden thread that runs through all of us in this regard. No matter what our politics or religion all race or color. And this is going. To do. In a very beautiful beautiful way in Germany. Christmas a year ago and this last Christmas. Both of which I spent there. General Clay told me Christmas a year ago. That the American soldiers in Germany out of their own small pay out of their own pockets. Arrange for unpaid fart two million Christmas dinners for the children of Germany. What a great lesson and a mark. I don't want to for example of applying religion that seem to me to be this last Christmas when I was there. With a group of American. American lovers of humanity. To try to bring a little more Christmas to our soldiers in Germany and particularly to the Alyea forces. General told me that our soldiers did the same. In Germany this last Christmas by providing two million Christmas dinners to two million children. In. Germany. I'm happy about that and I was proud of the American soldier. And his soldier. All farm saw. Who is willing to go down in two ways only adequate pay to bring Christmas cheer. To the children of animals who we fought in a war. Will bring democracy and liberty and appreciation of our institutions and of our ideals. To those whose countries they occupied in a foreign land. I just want others illustration that I wish to bring to your attention I do not know whether I have enough time over the radio to do it look I want to and how because to me it was a wonderful lesson. Going to the Vatican in Rome. I came to the Sistine Chapel. Those of you who have been there will remember that wonderful painting. On the ceiling. Of the Sistine Chapel. I do not doubt for the accuracy of the story. But it was told to me by attaching a of the Vatican who showed me through the chapel. Same Raspail. And Michelangelo both of whom lived in Florence. Were contemporaries in a sense. The raffia was the older of the two. He was somewhat jealous of the story goals of Michelangelo. And when the pope went to Rapaille to ask a recommendation. Someone to paint this beautiful painting in the Sistine Chapel. Raspail recommended Michelangelo. Not because Michelangelo had ever painted a painting because he had been a sculptor all his life. But because. Rafa L. The story goes found that if Michelangelo were induced to undertake the painting. He would make such a failure that he would retire event upon his arrival as a sculptor. And when the pope approached Michelangelo about it he said Your Holiness I am not a painter I'm a sculptor I cannot paint I've never painted anything. And the pope went back to raffle and reported what Michelangelo and said in Rasul insisted he said Your Holiness if you insist Michelangelo were paid. The full went back to Michelangelo and finally he said I will undertake it on one condition though I have never been a painter. And that condition is that I be closed within the Sistine Chapel myself alone until I have finished it that my meals be brought to me and that I have no communication with the outside world during the period in which I am working upon this thing. To which the pope agreed for three years. Michelangelo was close within the confines of that great chapel and the soul communion with the soul of the Almighty and with that divine touch and that Divine Communion during those three years. You've painted that masterpiece. In the Sistine Chapel the end of which he came out. The lesson of that story to me is that there is a divine spark a divine thread that links us to divinity. And that if we concentrate our Barcelona's upon some great objective some great work to which we may have been on a custom we may succeed in bringing forth something worthwhile for mankind and for humanity. After three years of concentration in this great chapel Michelangelo the sculptor came out the immortal painter. My friend Young Bob Wagner in the sense you are doing that same thing. You are following in the footsteps of a noble father in a noble cause you have concentrated your time and your energy upon this great public service when you might have done other things to greater financial advantage. And we may say of you tonight and I do say in conclusion. In the language of the boy. Who still. Does not stoop Let's see. The Walmart's. Family or boxing reverend clergy distinguished guests the guest of honor and gentlemen. As you know from reading most programs I'm not scheduled to speak and I don't intend to make a speech after the fine display of sorry that you have already left into the night. Frankly. I am only here to say a few words and I representative capacity I left the merit city hall in night and there is one thing that he had down on his schedule that he really wanted to attend in person let's see and that was this testimonial dinner to one of his trusted lieutenants in the administration of the city of New Yawk Bob. Mero Dwyer had every intention of coming here tonight but as you all know right at this moment. Is doing his dumb this. To try to attempt to hurt a tugboat strike those of you who were in the City two years ago when the tug boats were arriving for about twelve days you know just how disastrous that would entail every one of us in the city of New York a tugboat strike believe me what almost at this time of the year resulting in a major catastrophe for that reason and that reason long narrow Dwyer is at City Hall right now attempting to avert that strike and he's asked me to express to your grasp of honor his deep regrets. I am behalf of marrow Dwyer and expanding to Iraq immigration is a deep appreciation of the splendid work you do throughout the year he knows of your work as everyone in the city at night and in the city administration knows he knows that the splendid cooperation. That Bob Wagner has given to your organization as a member of your board of directors for that very same reason this ballroom is jammed to the hilt tonight because. All of the people in attendance tonight recognize in your guest of honor the very same qualms which Marilyn why are recognized when he appointed Bob Wagner at the beginning of our administration as chairman or as commissioner rather than the pop into housing and buildings and later on as chairman of the blog of city planning for all those reasons Mero Dwyer is thankful to your guest of honor for the splendid work he's performed as a member of his cabinet so many in the his behalf and on behalf of the people of the entire city congratulate your organization in selecting your guest of honor this evening such an outstanding public spirited citizen as Bob Wagner Jr. Thank. My good and all friends no Bob. Evans members of the clergy Senate a bottle a stink which guests and friends. First of all I want to thank each and every one of you for coming here the seedling and paying tribute principally to the work of the children's welfare Federation I know we're all happy that we're able to do something in our little way for such a great cause. I want to reiterate the words of new bold and thank those who made this. Such a success Leonard Probst less to stone but we kept to kick you when we Goldstein and many of the others who did so much to make this the success that it is and naturally of course I want to thank the speakers who said such lovely things about me and about the Federation. Because I had an opportunity to say. On the radio just before the dinner started to great honor and privilege not only for myself I'd only for all of us here but those who had the benefit of listening on the radio just a short while ago to have a top principal speaker. One of the great men of America one of the great men in i history who through the this has been a stalwart in the fight for the people who need help and who will continue in the great office of vice president to fight their battles and they look to him always for that selfsame thank you that he has put into everything which he has undertaken I know we're all proud and happy that we had Dad's old friend and our friend the new vice president Senator Baucus thank you thanks to. Dr Chan and Tobias one of the great leaders in the country too for coming here and giving us such a splendid address. A topic that is so timely at this time. To Miss Fannie Hurst like and understand was probably confused about my age because she happened to look at the product picture in the program which was taken I must admit a number of years ago. To having Hershfield an old and dear friend who was always bringing sunshine and happiness to only office and who was a much a part of New York a city hall or any landmarks here and I hope you'll be with us for many many is to bring that thank you and since I thank you. For expressing your thoughts and I may as thoughts I'm all I know we're all sorry he couldn't be here but he's doing a job for us in the city that's very very important at this time I did with his with a sense of B.P. a melody that I accept Leon as according to me tonight. I recognize this occasion not so much as a tribute to my own small contributions to charitable work and to social progress but as an indication of our joint responsibility for what remains to be done. I know that the new vice president of the United States as he has said to us and joining with us tonight does as an expression of his own yielding faith in our democratic principles and of his deep rooted interests in advancing on all fronts the cause of social problems I deeply appreciate and I am very grateful to the children's welfare Federation and its many friends who have joined with us tonight for making this a memorable occasion in a more significant sense your presence here tonight is an expression of your faith in the work of the Federation in bringing to countless underprivileged children the first bright rays of a happy a future through its camps and other facilities within its sphere of activities the children's welfare Federation is making a substantial contribution towards building today the healthy and responsible citizens of tomorrow. In this period of crisis in which we live it is vital that we become more aggressive in the fall what movement designed to strengthen our democratic faith and practices the twentieth century as what this day series of devastating attacks upon our way of life and men have sacrificed their lives and all Kaunas of the globe in defense of options above. Today more than three years since the end of the war that basic struggle continues and we have not yet succeeded in constructing upon the rubble and ruins of the last war a firm foundation for world peace and international security we emerged from the wrong relatively unscathed with an economic power so overwhelming and a standard of living so exalted as to arouse the envy of people throughout the world I'm nation is powerful in material resources and strong in the spirit of its people on economic force developed and expanded by free men has contributed to a rising standard of living the world over Amaro strength found faith in human rights and liberty the inspiration to free men everywhere whether we adequately use our results is our model and economic strength to support the democratic faith that home and abroad is the fundamental challenge of our day it is no doubt clear to all of us that we have not yet fully employed all of our results is for the maximum benefit of all people it is equally clear that we must take affirmative and effective action to bring home to our people from their youngest days the inherent benefits of democratic living to provide for them a greater measure of security and a greatest stake in American prosperity. Children who will be our citizens in the future are involved in every one of our add our problems of today the children for example suffer first in the shocking situation that today in a land rich in resources and at a time of unparalleled prosperity decent housing is still unavailable to wrong most three million American families certainly all of us here must go all we can to set the foundation for a comprehensive housing program at a time when medical science is reaching into the outermost recesses of human knowledge it is shocking to reflect upon the vast unmet medical needs of our people and our children at a time when business levels are reaching their highest peak we cannot be indifferent to the devastating impact of the inflationary prices people must pay to fill their own needs and those of their children at a time when our material resources are being expended at an unprecedented rate we cannot afford to blind selves to the need of a firm policy of conservation to save those results is that our children may enjoy richer lives than our own Similarly we must expand our program for Social Security for the benefit of the aged and dependent children. At a time when our basic philosophy is locked in a struggle with another fact the last of the alien to our own we cannot overlook the threat to our faith arising from continued prejudice and discrimination on our own shores in terms of economic security we cannot afford the indulgence of discrimination in the final analysis our wealth is the product of our resources and our people to the extent that we provent prevent any individual because of his race or color from making his maximum contribution to our society to that extent have we wasted and the pleated our national strength. Nor can we hope to keep alive the Democratic Spock among diverse peoples throughout the world when intolerance and discrimination prevails in the world's greatest democracy these are the things and the causes for which all of us try the dynamics of the times are such that we cannot hold the bridgeheads we have won without a band singing for they into new frontiers of social progress certainly we can all derive a large measure of satisfaction from the progress we have made here in this city for instance we are moving ahead rapidly towards creating the physical and environmental factors essential for a fuller life for people parks and playgrounds new schools health centers are being completed as rapidly as possible with the fullest results of this of our city just the other day I had occasion and I commended to everyone to visit Jacob brief houses a public low rent housing project and I could not help but dream market the striking contrast between the gleaming windows and the new buildings and the happy faces of the children with the drab and Vironment from which they must of come here in this one development Modern a thousand families are enjoying for the first time the opportunity for a clean and healthful living essential to a sound and constructive citizenship. In a numerable other ways our city is attacking the problems I have mentioned and as the Jacob Riis project shows in the field of housing we are making progress against them and here let me say that no one has fought harder and more courageously than our own mayor it is then my pleasure to say to him in a number of capacities and I may say that at all times he has placed the common good for the people first however the city's efforts must be supplemented at every point by the Energies of private agencies so that our forces may be marshaled in a common cause to provide the framework for a happier and more pleasant living other cities and other states are attacking them too and under our own national administration those problems are being fought simultaneously on a country wide scale. Progress is slow but at least we know that from a purely practical point of view no longer do a lot children have to be raised in disease ridden slums simply because their parents cannot afford to pay the high rents demanded for adequate apartments our health centers are driving hotter and hotter to a solution of the problem of disease among our people who are not able to pay the fees of private practice during a do two hour program in the program of the federal government to give children adequate lunches we are whipping the situation where the farmer was led to feed his milk to his pigs in the country while children cried for it in the city representatives of almost every group in our nation joining in this campaign not only the federal state and city governments but labor groups and business and a new bill organizations such as here the children's welfare Federation it becomes essential to to develop individual leadership in our community young men and women must be encouraged to enter the fields of social work so that we can rely on both times about trained and devoted personnel to advance our efforts at every fund from Iowa for my own pot I regard myself as privileged indeed to have participated actively in some small way in moving forward the cause of human dignity and freedom I want to joint efforts must inevitably bring us the America we want an America where our children no longer will suffer privation in the midst of plenty and America where no child will know the heartaches of intolerance and America in which the citizens of a new day will live in peace security and happiness Thank you. Thank.