Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-30
To the Editor of the Evening Ledger:

To the Editor of the EUening Ledger:
Sir-One of the reasons for the scarcity OF
help for basic American industries, is the
unwillingness of the boy and girl of today to
enter the industrial field of employment. Sew
cnty-fve per cent. of the boys and 80 per cent
of the girls, of the present generation, seek
commercial opportunities, with the consequent
result-a surplus of help in the commercial and
mercantile field of employment, and scarcity
in industrial lines. Another reason is that near
ly 60 per cent. of the wage earners in the United
States employed in n productive capacity are
foreign born, and more than 60 per cent. OF
this number are natives of Western and South
Europe. For the first eight rtonths of this
year the net increase in the population of the
United States, due to immigration, was 73,OOO
as compared with yearly average of about
$4,000 for the preceding 10 years. If the num-
Der of bclligerent countries increase, and for
other perfectly obvious reasons, this condition
is not likely to change for considerable period
of time. New York State each year is the
destination for about % per cent. of the alien
immigrants. and New York city gets about 60
per cent. of this number
There are two fundamental causes for the
present decrease in unemployment first, the in
creased production, as a direct result of the
war; second, the tremendous reduction in the
number of alien immigrants coming here The
seasonal weather has helped the retail trade
considerably. Holiday and other goods, for
nerly manufactured abroad now being
produced in this country. The increased trade
with South America and other countries has
helped considerably. Prior to the war Ameri-
tourists spent millions of dollars abroad
annually, and they spending their
money in the United States with correspond
ing benefit to u.s. While at the present time
there is considerable activity in the garment
and other seasonal trades, there is likely to be
less employment as soon as their seasons end.
According to the most reliable information
there were approximately 100000 unemployed
last winter in this city, about 20 per cent of
the total number of wage earners and salaried
people, emitting Government employees. Today
| should say it is less than 10 per cent In this
10 per cent. should be included the increasing
army of inetlicients-men and women who can
do anything, but who really do nothing
that requires any considerable amount of ex-
perience training Then we have the usual
army of parasites (willingly unemployed) who
inhabit every large city, and who are not af-
fected to any appreciabe extent result of
increased commecal or industrial activity.
Many of these parasites would never become
our guests If proper work-test was applied,
and well advertised. Perhaps a workable farm
colony would suffice.
I do not believe in giving publicity to
tivites in caring for the worthy poor of the city,
for the reason that 1t serves as n magnet to the
unemployed from elsewhere and the deserving
people of city sacrificed to just
that extent WALTER L. SEARS,
Superintendent Public Employment Bureau.
New York, October &c.