New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-14
Unjust Criticism Will Not Help
the JOblcss.

Criticism OF Mayor Mitchels Committee on IN
emplovmert such as Mr.. Amos Pinchot voiced IS
not helpful in handling the serious situation
which confronts this city Ii benefits neither tne
committee nor the job.ess. Judge Gary and Mr..
Perkins arc. assuredIy. men who have played an
important part in big business for many
wear and have been p'entifully assalled 10y labor
for that part. So are some Of the other members.
That is no reason for rejecting their views no"
or their work on any serious effort TO better a
condition which, threatening as It Is to the entire
community has grown year by year steadily
worse until IL is chronic. II would be just as
logical TO eect the contribution Of John Mitchell
and the other labor men in the committee, or OF
Mr.. Bruere. whose ideas have frequently been
termed "idealistc" and "Socahstic.' Unempoy-
rnent is essentially a community problem, to he
attacked by all clements in the community. The
Mavor's committee If one of the first official
bodies representing varied interests and angles
of vision TO tackle the problem. Attacking Its
members viii not aid in their work. Rather
should We welcome the spirit which brings their
ability to the service Of the city.
This is not TO say that the committee should
he held superior 10 criticism-far from IL What
il does and what it fails 10 do are matters OF
vital interest and ought TO bring out comment,
favorable or unfavorablc. To be valuable, though,
such comment should be based on the merits and
effect Of the committees actions-not on the per
sonalitv and past performances Of members. So
far as it has gone. the work OF the Mayors COM
mittee has been entirely commendabe. 1t has
organized for survey Of the existing situation
A collection of facts. so far as facts can be col
lected about these conditions-to make basis for
,f ont
value. This is the long distance or theoretic side
On the immediate practical side 1t has urged en-
ployers TO make work by undertaking business al
terations, extensions, Improvements wherever
possible. It has recommended that the city itself
undertake now Improvements agreed on but not
contracted fora policy which seems so reason
able that its fulhlment ought 70 be expedited IN
every conceivable way. yet which meets official
opposition in the corporate stock budget com
mittee. What more II could do at this time 1t is
difficult TO see except 10 undertake TO raise
fund for aiding the needy. To that course there
are numerous objections, one Of the chief being
that the existing charitable organizations are
endeayoring 20 do just that and probably are &C
compishiug about all that can be done. without
the duplication Of effort and waste of funds
which would result from similar action by the
Mayors appontees.
Unemployment. brought home TO every think
ing person this winter through its wide range
and accompanying misery, Is an evil inherent in
the existing economic system. Whether anything
short of unemployment insurance will meet this
evil is a question which the Mayors committee
after Its Investigation can do much 20 answer.
But that answering will take time Meantime 1t
is certain that nobody IN the city administration
can have real desire 20 deny any temporary aid
TO the suffering. There is no need this year for
church raids and parsdes of the unemployed.
There IS a better public and official understanding
Of these unfortunates, despite unthinking growls
at the !. ". ". Public sympathy goes out to the
friendess and jobeSs. New York doesn't fail TO
answer appeals for help. and its citizens and its
administration may be relied to maintain its
reputation in that respect. The results will be
better if all interested cooperate in the relief
work rather than divide and bicker.