Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-10
UNEMPLO OYMENT in PHILADELPHIA
Hundred Thousand People Work Unusual Con
LONESOME False Ideas About Present Situation.
BY R. M, LITTLE
General Secretary, Society for Organizing Charity.

feet upon that industry. Most people do not
know that the printing and publishing busi-
ness is one of the leading industries of Phila-
delpha. II is now quiet, but most employees
are at work. Some tobacco manufacturers
very busy. Activity in the building trades
is SO per cent. to 90 per cent. normal. The
sugar refneries were at maximum but have
recently reduced their force The Welsbach
Light plant is in full swing.
After determining the number of unem-
poyed in various lines, it Is still misleading
to say that the workers have no employment
in other lines There has been a great
shifting of labor in the last two years. Bald
wins has not been working at maximum ca
pacity for more than two years, many of the
men have sought employment elsewhere and
some of them have been successful. This
practice holds for all other wage-earners.
Common Misconceptions
In normal industrial conditions, there are
employed six to ten per cent, less than the
total of wage-earners in the city. Because
OF irregular employment, sickness, changes
in business and other Interruptions at least
$4,000 or $4,000 wage-earners should be exc
pected to be out of employment in Phila-
delphia under good industrial conditions at
any one time, but the same wage-earners
will be out of employment only for brief in
runs at capacity. We could not stand the
pace any more than an automobile could en-
dure being run constantly at its maximum
speed. When men figure on Industrial de-
preston and unemployment, they usually de-
duct the number employed from the possible
maximum, which is not normal-hence the
frequent eXaggeration of conditions.
From reports received from leading busl-
ness enterprises. charity societies and other
sources, It Is evident the present depression
is not more than 30 per cent. below the maxi
num- or 20 per cent. below the normal, which
would mean possible 1750O0 people out OF
work in Philadelphia, 100000 of whom would
be irreguarly employed at this time of year
at best, leaving, therefore, not more than
100000 specially unemployed at this time. OF
course not all unemployed people of the
wage-earning class need charitable assist
ance In fact, small proportion OF them
do The established charities of Philadel-
phia care for about 100000 people each year.
out TINS number Includes great many
others than the wage-earners.
Recent reports from the great savings in
stitutions OF the city indicate Improvement
In their deposits Within the last few months
Deposits for October and November are
larger than for May and June This indicates
large measure OF remunerative employ
ment In Philadelphia, All classes are feeling
the pinch Of hard times. The financial inter
ests, the big corporations. the middle class.
the wage-earners and the poor are now an
suffering together, and there needs to be
effective and charitable service ana wisely
distributed relief, but there should not eo
out from the city alarming reports Indicating
'at conditions are worse in Philadelphia
than elsewhere throughout the country.