The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1905-03-03
No Need Of Alarm
(Salt Lake Tribune.D

tsodlt ILdhS ibhilc.J
A recent statistical compilation
shows that among the workingmen of
New York City. two hundred thousand
are idle either from choice or necessity.
This fact taken alone is enough to give
fit of the glooms to the man who
realizes that. upon human toll in gen.
eral. depends the general progress of
the world; and upon human toll in
particular depends the well-being of
the individual and his family. The idle
man. who should be at work for a
weekly wage, represents all sorts of
menaces against society; and also he
represents somewhat severe criti-
cism against society from the view
point of the social ,eformer who be-
lieves that the right to work is inher-
ent. Looking, then. at this mass OF
100000 and contemplating the large
labors which are in progress at the
metropolis. one is at first surprised
that they should not have found en-
ployment; but upon reflection there is
no surprise, and there may be but lit
tie menace in the existence OF this
army OF the unemployed.
New York city Is engaging in extern
sive work for municipal Improvement.
the large corporations are entering
upon practical reconstruction Of rail-
way terminals. and the incidental re-
construction of large areas OF the city.
These things draw men from all parts
OF the country-men who want work
and believe that they will find it there
and men who. not wanting work. de-
sire to be where there is such activity
as that they may live by the petty
graft Of the tramp and the loafer.
| And the menace further recedei
when one thinks of the thirty millions
Of people actively employed every da,
in the United States in gainful occu.
pations. With the exception of brie1
periods. during which panic has beer
/ sweeping the country and causing
foolish people to act as II men weult
never again desire to eat bread or weal
clothes-we have never known in thu
United States the real calamity o
large unemployment OF labor.
In proportion to the numbers OF gu
people. to whom labor In gainfui occu
patton Is a necessity and duty. WI
have fewer people here who are idle b.
compulsion than any other OF the grea
countries Of the world: and it is ais
probably true that We have fewer pa,
pie who are idle from choce-althoug
the vast area OF the United States
with its sensational opportunities TO
gaining riches quickly, gives a tss i
ency to the wandering spirit among
men not firmly fixed by family ties
and leads many into the job-hnntin
{ life which often degenerates rto tn
tramp life.
But upon the thirty millions VIII
work six days in the week for wage
stands the safety of this country. Their
is nothing like it anywhere else in tn
, world. These thirty millions produc
more: they consume more: they ge
larger wages: they save more money
they have better hopes for advance
ment; they average higher in educa
: ton and in social status than an
other similar body of people ont h
face of this globe. And while the pres
ence of any considerable element of tn
unemployed is IA social warning to u.
from which we should learn the lesso
5 of social justice-under which the ma
, who desires to work shall have wor
and the man who should work an
won't work shall be made to work
yet we may all properly refuse to b
frightened so long as more than one
!. third of the entire population of tn