Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-12-19
DR.. JACKSON MAKES
TR|TE SUGGESTION
Says That If People Started Work
Which They Should Under
take 1t Would Help

DR.. John Price Jackson, Pennsyl-
vania's commissioner of labor and in
dustry, is out with the suggestion that
if all corporations, railroads, manu-
facturers, merchants and individuals
will start in and order work started
on extensions or improvements that
must be made within a few months
it will go long ways toward helping
unemployed persons to get through the
winter without suffering. DR.. Jack
son made a study of employment agen-
cies and unemployed in England and
Germany just before the outbreak of
war and has been observing conditions
in this State since. He has reached
the conclusion that start on work that
must be done will help amazingly. DR..
Jackson gives his ideas in the follow
ing statement:
Though every indication points
toword a renewal of confidence and
improvement of business in Pennsyl-
vania and throughout the country,
nevertheless there will be this winter
undoubtedly much shortage of en-
ployment in this State. This will oc-
cur partially through willing employees
being actually unable to obtain any
work, and, second, by the short num-
ber of hours per week large part of
the industries are now running, and
must for some time continue to run.
IF corporations, such as street rail-
ways or railroads, would at once set
iabout making such repairs, improve
ments or other changes as must be
made within the next few months and
for which there is money available,
and if individuals throughout the
State will at once set about making
repairs, changes, etc, in their homes
or business, which must be within
reasonable time carried out and for
which the money is now available, n
large part of the suffering through
Unemployment and loss to the Com
lmonwealth occurring through this lack
of production will be avoided. 1t will
be noted that the above statement re-
fers to work which under any condi-
tions must be started between now
and next summer, and, therefore, Goes
not in any sense sanction either eX-
traVagance or the weakening of rigid
economies. The latter are now un-
ldoubtedly demanded.
Such a moving forward of neceS
sary work at a time when labor is
available and in need of employment
will establish confidence among us by
putting money into circulation and
bringing back more nearly our nor
| Nal labor productiveness. Thus, the
street railway corporation which now
arranges to renew the half n mile of
worn -out track starts the wheels of
the rolling mill, the fires of the open
hearth and blast furnaces, moves the
shovels of the iron mine, stirs up ac-
tivity in many other directions, and
when the rails arrive, causes direct
| employment to many men. The
farmer who at once has his harvest
ing machinery put into good repair
for it's duty next summer, or the pri-
vate householder who papers a room
pies of activity which reach out in
many directions through Industry
| There seems no reason why cor
porations and individuals should not
assume some personal responsibility
/ for quick relief of industry and busi-
ness in time of industrial depression,
such as that which we have been
passing through. The tens of thou
sands of small activities which could
be at once started by our people, were
they to give study and consideration to
the problem, might each individually
be of comparatively little value. but in
the aggregate they could be made to
which would materially improve in
dustrial and business conditions.
"In consideration such a PROPOSE
ton, it should be remembered that
| each days labor of man upon neceS-
sary work means a distinct addition to
the wealth of the commonwealth.
while each days idleness results not
only in nonproductiveness but in addi-
! tional loss. due to the fact that the
worker and his family must continue
to eat and be clothed. The people of
Pennsylvania deserve high commenda-
tion for the numerous instances where
aid has been given along the lines in
dicated above during the past few
months. Many great employers have
taken the opportunity of slack times
to do what has been suggested above
and have thus materially reduced the
suffering and stress which would
otherwise have occurred. It Is be-
| lieved. however that much greater
and quicker results could be obtained
liz such methods were more wide
spread. If those with Job to be done
! and the money to do it would begin
business rather than permitting delays
to occur through lack of confidence or
appreciation of the value to business
of immediate action, the new year
would start out auspiciously."