Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-29

Workers and Society Large of Present Inefficient Means of
Bringing Jobless Man and the Mnless Job Together
By JOHN B. ANDREWS
Secretary American Association for Labor Lesi'slion.
LBy special arrangement with The New Rspubliol

TT is apparent to any one who knows any
J. thing about the subject that our labor
market is unorganzed and that there is
tremendous waste of time and energy in
the irregular and haphazard employment of
workers. 1t is this very great social waste
which we are just beginning to appreciate,
but every method for overcoming 1t so far
tried in America has been painfully made
quate.
The first and simplest method of bring
ing workmen and work together is by un-
systematic individual search. A man not
recommended for a position by relative
or friend often follows the easiest course,
that which involves the least immediate eX-
penditure of money and thought. He starts
from home and drops in at every sign of
Help Wanted"
Help Wanted" scrawled on a piece of
cardboard, is the symbol of inefficiency in
the organization of the labor market. The
haphaZard practice of tramping the streets
in search of it is method at all. 1t as
sures success neither to the idle worker in
his search for work. nor to the employer
i'm his search for labor. On the contrary,
by it's very lack of system 1t needlessly
swells the tide of unemployment, and
through the footweary, discouraging tramp
rancy and to crime.
Tremendous Waste
1t is impossible to reckon the cost to the
community of this methodless method. Be-
yond the tremendous waste of time, there
is the waste incurred by putting men into
the wrong Jobs. The law of chance DEGREES
that. under such lack of care, misfits must
ba tbo rt1Ia fha
daily process of attempting to fit round
peg into a square hole.
A second common method of connecting
employer and employe is through the me-
dum OF advertising. About 1000 newspapers
published in New York State carry every
year some 100000 columns of Help Wanted"
and Situation Wanted" advertising. at a
cost TO employers and employees estimated
at $4,000 OOO-an expenditure of about Sc
for every worker in the State. II the money
spent brought commensurate results there
would be less ground for complaint. But at
present an employer advertises for help in
several papers because all the workers do
not read the same paper. The employs lists
the positions advertised, and then starts on
the days tramp. At one gate 80 or 100 men
may be waiting for a single Job, while in
other places a hundred employers may be
waiting, each for a single employe. Unnec-
essary duplication OF work and expense by
both parties is apparent.
Philanthropic employment bureaus fail
mainly because Of the taint Of charity which
justly or unjustly olings to them. and have
become for the most part merely bureaus
for placing the handicapped, Self reliant
workmen are inclined to shun such agencies,
ana employers do not generally apply there
.. -,
none at all. these Ofices are unable to COM
pete with the more active private agencies
which spend large sums OF money develop
ing clienteles among employers and en-
ployes Trade union day rooms" and Of
fees maintained by employers associations
have 10 contend with mutual distrust, while
their benefits are at best limited to one
trade or industry.
"EmplOyment Sharks"
Private employment agents. doing busi-
ness for proht. have sprung up in All large
centres. no fewer than 500 Of them bsins
licensed IN New York city alone. wbf,s
many OF these operate with a reaSonabls
degree Of ehieieney, their general ehsracter
is petuTesquely il not elegantly iadiested
By their soubriquet employment .bs,l, !,
In the year ending Nay /. lsls the CO.
missioner Of Licenses Of the city o. NeN
York reported the investigation of 1ss2 com
plants against registered emplovment
agsnts, resulting IA nine convictions. the
reiundins e more than $4,000 q yietilalssd
applicants ana the revocation Of Is lcsnss.
Amons The worst evils lad af the door 81
tas private eseneies are charsine szfor-
-enate fees splitting fesaa sta employer
a f 'se GAYS discharge workman