Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-08
Conference at Department of
Commerce and Labor.
PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYED
One of the Most Serious Questions
to Me Mastered.
VIEWS OF SECRETARY STRAUs
Lower Railway Rates Proposed for
Sending Men Where Labor
Supply Is Short.

The forthcoming conference WIFI some
of the more prominent labor leaders.
which will be held at the Department OF
Commerce and Labor Wednesday morn
ing at 10 o'clock" said Secretary Straus
today, lis but another step in the plan
of this department to live up to Its name
That is to say. in the recent 1oriha'ioii
of the national council of commerce,
having for its object the establishment on
relations between the commercial Worlo
and the great agencies of the government
looking for the betterment OF trade rela-
lions with other countries. the Depart
meut believes 1t has accomplished much
that will result in good to our CONNER
cial interests. The purpose of the TABOR
conference is to evolve plans whereby
labor interests may be brought in touch
with governmental agencies and the wage
worker made to feel that the republic
has him in mind as we'll as the great
capitalists in carrying out its mission
from the people.
Problem of the Unemployed.
"Onc of the greatest problems, in my
opinion, which presents itself for solution
at the present time" said Secretary
Straus, lis what is best to be done for
Great Britain, Germany and. in fact, all
the leading commercial nations of the
world: and I deem it subject of the
highest importance, which should be tax
en- up by the government. with the OBJ
ject of alleviating inequalities as far as
possible which are accumulated In COM
mercial era such as that we now live IN.
BE- "On the one side we see such prosperity
as the world has never before known
while on the other. especially during
periods of depression, we flnd thousands
of able-bodted men, capable and willing
to work, who by reason of the shifting
phases of Industrial activity are deprived
of the opportunity Of earning a decent
livelihood. The problem is very acute In
Great Britain and probably little less
SO in this country.
Lower Rates Suggested.
Through the bureau of information OF
the Department Of Commerce and Labor
we are cllecting data every day to show
where labor is needed. The results of our
efforts in this direction are not, as has
been mistakenly understood in some
quarters for the benefit of aliens, but for
our people as whole. We have also con.
ferred with the interstate commerce COM
mission to ascertain if 1t be legal to grant
a special railroad rate for labor. which
country to another, as the closing down
of one class of industry and the renewal
of work in another occurs from time to
time. Railroad rates for men who are
thus forced to change their places OF
abode should be made as low as possible
If existing laws will not permit a pro-
vision of this kind for our wage workers.
we will go to Congress for relief 1t Is
beneficial for the people and beneficial Tor
the railroads, for it tends to Increase
production and that means more railroad
freight traffic. In other countries provision
of this kind is made by the railroads
themselves. regardless of governmental
interference. There is no good reason
why it should not be done here: The
question of the unemployed can be largely
remedied by this simple means
other Questions to Be Taken Up.
There are other questions which will
be considered at the conference. all OF
them of Importance, and we want the
help of the labor organizations in franz
ing measures for the relief of the wage
worker.
..The railroads will also be represented
at the conference for the question is one
that affects them.
Then too we know that much of the
immigration to this country Is broush,
about by extravagant inducements held
out to foreigners to come mere w nile
conditions are undoubtedly better here
than anywhere else. it is not true that
our streets are paved with gold and
that the new immigrant can become q
millionaire in a minute. We have neec
to see that the foreigner Is not thus de-
luded but to decrease immigration thai
only aggravates the question OF what
shall we do with our unemployed.
These are some of the matters TO be
dealt with at the conference, which l.
really a preliminary one and may be fol
lowed by a more comprehensive one WITH
wider representation from the labor or
CARNATIONS.
Mr. Powderly. the chief of the division
of information in this department has
made a good start in the work mapped
out for him. as will be seen by his laS
report The field is being rapidly de-
yelopad and widened in it's scope, and W.
want to get in close touch with those o.
our people who are interested III the
work first. to see that they are not mis-
led by idle rumorS or unWarranted SuS
picions and then to secure their ACTIVE
cooperation for good, as is done In othel
progressive countries of the world.