Slim Jackson

During the Depression there was a lot of controversy surrounding relief and how it should be distributed. President Hoover and other conservatives believed it wasn't the government's function to issue handouts. That mentality came in conflict with President Roosevelt's New Deal programs that tried to provide aid directly to the people. Slim Jackson worked for Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration (WPA) distributing relief supplies. In the following WPA writer's project account recorded by Della Yoe and Jennette Edwards, Jackson describes his opinions about relief, the people he's met in the relief lines, and the trials his own family has experienced.

The way I look at it is this. This is a rich country. I figger it ain't going to hurt the government to feed and clothe them that needs it. Half of 'em can't get work, or just ain't...