New-York tribune., 1914-11-29


acticr, but it's all physical and Of it mental
No, that's rather harsh way TO put it-but in
general way it's what I mean. Do you get ny
pont?'
THE UNEMPLOYED SHOW NDECIsI0N-AND
IS THIS sTRANGE7
An hour in the general Office. watching the end
less lines that work their way inch BY inch 70 The
registration desks, leaves with the conviction
that all unemployed men, skilled or unskilled,
have one trait in common. That is indecision.
Practically every man who came into the room
closed the door after him and stood exactly where
the closing Of the door left him. He was just far
enough from the door 70 avoid being hit BY It
when 10 opened and the man who followed him In
necessarily moved him away little further
Once inside, no one seemed 20 know what 70 do.
The four lines, leading TO as many desks, met
started, rather-at the door. Hardly a man who
stood around the door knew which line he was in,
but each stayed where he and did what the
rest cid. Efficient as they may be individually, un-
employed men-those who 90 20 municipal en-
ployment bureaus-arc devoid OF initiative when
massed together. The fact may not mean any
thing but 1t is true.
One mar lost a job, while We hung around, by
too careless a walk
10 him, "but it. ought to do until you get some
thing In your line
The employer had picked the man from hun
dreds who stood in the lines lie had picked him
when standing still, however and now the tnsn
stepped out Of the line to talk it over.
The employer shook his head
Wont do" he said. "Tye just seen his walk"
And the man with the bad walk lost not only
the job out his place in the line.
Registering an unskilled worker is brief pro-
ceeding-the name and the address, and possibly
a question as 70 whether he minds going out o.
town. ISut the skilled manor woman-must I'll
out one 81 those blanks that want TO know every
thing. T. asks the applicants age, race, height
and weight, condition Of health whether married
or single and how many persons he supports
whether he uses liquor and If he has any physi-
cal defects; how much salary he wants, where
he wants to work. how many languages he speaks
and writes where he went 20 school, it wants %
know If hc is a citizen and where he was born
and if he has a kit of tools; also, if he lives at
home, ami how long he has been unemployed, scd
for whom he has worked during the last hve
years. II even inquiries his religion, and whether
he is a trade unionist. but those questions he is
not compelled 10 answer. And 10 asks other
question: For the first hour or so after receiv-
ing his blank the unemployed man is emphatically
employed.
As stated, women are taken care Of at the new
bureau. as we'll as men. The departments sre
distinct and have separate entrances-Lafayette
ST. for the women, Leonard So for the men. Two
desks are sufficient TO take care of the women.
Miss Marion White, who is particular that it be
not spelled Marian interviews those seeking
mercantile positions Miss Anna Murphy the non
mercantile.
A majority or the applicants want stenographi-
cal Jobs. Miss White states, at Sl2 to SIS a week.
Private secretaries are numerous but openings
for them are few. There are plenty Of appli
cauts chiefly among foreigners, for jobs in cloth
ing factories. One of these applicants acquainted
Miss Murphy with distinction that is az least
novel She announced that she wanted job a
worker on mems winter neckwear. Asked about
summer or medium neckwear, she shook her head.
It was am unexpored line.
Housewives. there are domestic servants 70 be
had at the municipal bureau, Don't forget 10
next time You will be offered a choice infinitely
wider than at private bureaus, and it will cost
you nothing. What is more important, it viii
cost the girl nothing
One more whimsicality materialzed in the wom-
ans department: there have been any number Of
girls seeking positions as assistant bookkeepers,
but not a half dozen are ready 10 be bookkeepers.
Is that emineuce necessarily reserved for men?
Cities the country over are waking up TO their
duty to their unemployed Pittsburgh set aside
100000 the other day to find jobs for its idle
and announced that there win be much more
forthcoming as is necessary. II is going to see
the job through New York must do the same
Leaving every other consideration out Of it, it is
to the citys financial advantage to make a good
job Of d.
1t is up 70 you, Mr. Employer. II you want 20
be good citizen patronze the citys employ
ment bureau. And if you're not employer tel!
those of your friends who
The telephone is Franklin 600.