The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-07-02
NATIONAL LABOR EXCHANGE.
Leading Financiers of New York VIII
Try to Solve Hard Problem

Because 1t promises to fill q long
felt want the National Labor Elk
change has attracted attention all
over the country. The 100000 citi-
zens who are out of work, according
to the estimate OF the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor, represent the entire
population OF Wisconsin. They equal
the entire wage-earning population
OF the states Of New York and New
Jersey.
Mere figures give no adequate idea
of how materially the country would
benefit we're these 100000 unemploy-
ed put to work The 81, 100 ,00O, 900
they would earn in a year would buy
the equivalent of every dollars worth
of manufactures and products export
ed from this country during the year
1908. The same sum would buy out
right the state of Virginia and every
thing In 1t, according to the last CEN
sus valuation.
Just imagine how the mercantile
and manufacturing concerns would
boom II the purchasing power OF the
people were increased 81 ,l00, 900, 900
year. Then you will gain some idea
OF how tremendous is the problem OF
the unemployed: then you viii realize
why the astute Wall street financlers
are so anxious TO solve t. For II
means as much to them as II does to
the poor. unskilled laborer who IA
wearing out shoe leather he can't
replace in a vain effort 10 flnd the
necessaTies Of life for a hungry fam
lily
There is plenty OF work for them
TO do, but they are never where they
are needed There are millions Of
acres Of land to be titled. but they
can't get 70 II. There are new com
munitieB forming which are crying
for men, skilled or unskilled, but the
helpless urbanites profit as little from
them as a reservation on the moon
were opened 10 settlement.
To put these men where they belong,
where they will contribute 10 the
prosperity Of the country instead OF
retardinR it-that is the task 10
which the new labor exchange has set
itself, And that Il Will not lack Co
operation seems assured.
Why from a single newspaper ar
ticle," said Mr.. Barnard. president OF
the exchange. Il have had more than
200 letters asking what we we're going
TO do. These letters came from all
parts Of the country One Of the
FIRST was from Dallas, Tex. Down
there they wanted us TO establish q
branch Office right away. But Ne
are not going 10 be in a hurry about
establishing branches We're not
ready Cor that yet II We attempted
20 do anything OF the aort now We
could make a canvass, perfect an rl-
aborate organization, spend All OF our
100000 and az the end OF year have
nothing TO show for tt
Back Of Mfr. Barnard and hts ASSOC
clates are all the big men OF Wall
Street,. Pierpont Morgan, biggest
OF brokers and bankers. " H. HAr-
riman, the railway king. John ID.
Rockefeller aud John ID Archbold.
the mnnarchs OF Standard oil. Gilbert
H. Gary. Of the Steel Trust: Otto m.
Kahn. Mortimer NJ Schiff and Adnlph
Lewisobn. all big bankers; George r.
Baker. John s, Kennedy, Edward &.
darkness and other powers ~ the
financial world. not 10 mention the
Russell Sage Foundation.
Abt NAtuhtthN nNe
been effected by the election Of the
following officers. President, Otto
fremont Barnard vice president.
John Il. Macarthur. treasurer. Paul
NJ Warburg; secretary, v. Eyerit
Macy.
In New York city the task CON
fronting these men Is no slight one.
The yagrant population alone IN nor
mai times IN estimated NJ 10000 Dur
ing the dull months OF 1907 II was
estimated that 10000 men In the
clothing and building trades we're out
OF work. That time the percentage
OF the unemployed In the trades union
was 34.2. But during the revival OF
business that percentage has decreas-
ed, according 10 q recent report OF the
New York State Labor Department.
to 2i-5.
stu. even In normal periods there
Is usually too large a percentage Of
unemployed men IN the great, con-
gested cities. In 1906 this percentage
In Greater New York was 1913 among
the skilled workers.
From this II can be seen that there
viii always be a fruitful field for an
cNSnAnko WHicn Will PfoFlue placee
for those who are willing and anxious
TO earn an honest living.
Another thing. among many. shows
that such an exchange is both neces-
sary and practical immigration, al
ways a good barometer OF trade condi-
lions, is on the increase. Many Of the
aliens who fed the country more than
year ago are returning. They are
coming back because they can again
get work And they can get work be-
cause they can 30 where labor IL need
ed. The helpless city dweliers could
get work, too, II they knew where to
find II and could get to II when found.
The whole movement, in fact. Is an
attempt TO solve o problem that has
been puzzling sociologists for many
yearH. a more Uerfeqf auiugifnent of