New Britain herald., 1915-01-13
Muddling the Situation.
(NeW York Times.)

NANC" Io1h llIleS)
 The gravity of the problem facing us in the unemployment of so many thousands of men, willing to work and competent to earn decent wages if work can be provided for them, is so
 well understood in this city that the
 most thoughtful and best informed citizens have waived their objections,
 based on clearly understandable eco-
 homie considerations, to having the
 municipal government incur obiga-
 tions which might be postponed in
 order to give work immediately to
 many. The plan of the Citizens
 Union, approved by the City Club, has
 been favorably considered by the
 mayor and the board of estimate.
 But there are social reformers of
 both the sentimental and the rabid
 type who are not satisfied to have a
 condition which affords them so large
 opportunities for rhetoric easily and
 practically relieved Professor Henry
 Seager, who always means well, sug-
 gests monster parade of the unem-
 ployed, which would doubtless call
 into action all the elements of agita-
 tion, and Dr. Moskow goes further
 and suggests that the trades unions
 should organize the demonstration.
 If the unions should be led to follow
 lis advice, they would soon find them
 selves again in violent opposition to the I. W. ". anl varioLs anarchistic
 organizations that are eager for chance to get vast crowd together for their own purposes
 This proposed parade should not be permitted. There is no occasion for
 it, as everybody knows that many men nf also know, if the parade takes place
 that most of the men in line are not
 those who are actually seeking work.
 Tc the efforts of Prof Seager and pr. Moskowitz to confuse the pitiable situation and hamper the good work
 that is under way, that eminent so ciologist and publicist Amos R. Pin chot lends his assistance. Persons 1 of this sort are not evil, but their in l fuence is often evil. They have
 obsessio ons, they lack a true sense of { proportion, their comprehension of
 grave economic problems is small | What has MT. Pinchot's fancied dis 1 trust of Judge Gary, for instance, to do with the matter of city employ i ment for the unemployed? Judge
 Gary has approved of the plan of the l Citizens Union and his approval has | been regarded as Valua Die and en- l couraging because of his large prac- | tical knowledge and experience. ]. Professor Seager iS of the opinion i that there are triShtcr times ahead
 We are glad to have that expression | of opinion from a professor of econ
 omics. But we can assure him that
 he will not hasten the coming of the
 good day by initiating a public parade 1 of the unemployed. which would 1 inevita bly, turn out to be a noisy | demonstration of professional malcOn-
 tents who live on the sufferings of l their fellow-men. and give the police
 a great deal of unnecessary work. With better times in prospect. too, there is little danger that Prof.
 seager's plan for unemployment in surance will have an carly hearing. l All that he can do practically as economist or private citizen to relieve
 the present distress. however, will be l heartily cornme nded, and it is we'll to
 say that much to this end has been | done this winter with excellent results
 by many private citizens and organi- | zations, and that without needless l ostentation.