New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-19

lie through mass meetings. big and
little. They. however. have an advan-
tage over the socialists i'm not waiting
until the people starye before they
give them their remedy, which is, OF
course, the same in both cases men
tai pabulum.
The suciologists also have ideas; but
those ideas. so far as | can discover,
have no relation TO the present enher-
gency One of their proposals. which
they are advocating as II u were 4
brand new idea. is the organization by
the federal. state and municipal gov
ornments of cooperating chain OF
employment atencies "ncer the control
Of the Department of Labor.
The trouble with the employment
agency theory is that this institution
does not create work, unless il be for
political officials TO manage the agency
plus a little Office machinery. But in
a time like this employers are not hav-
ing trouble 10 find all the workers they
need. In fact, almost all employers
have a waiting list Of their own en-
ployes whom they have had to let 90
during the depression, and If there
were an employment bureau on every
corner it would cut very little figure
in the present situation.
Another suggestion that is being
made is for the establishment of an
unemployment insurance system, based
upon foreign experience. Even If this
were n practical solution Of the prob
lem and all the political forces that
control the forty-eight legislatures OF
the country were in favor of it, il
could not be brought into operation in
time TO help the situation. But the
students of that problem are far from
being agreed upon the effectiveness OF
such a system. II the much Wanted
English plan were transplanted to this
country bodily it would mean Only that
i'm certain industries the workers, while
out of employment. would receive fro.
the state at most less than % cents a
day for fifteen weeks only, and such a
scheme is Furthermore hedged about by
so much red tape and so many un-
pleasant personal restrictions that
much discussion and much iavestiga-
ton would be needed before the wage
earners of this country would accept i
as an effective means for meeting en.er-
gencies and it is only in emergencies
that unemployment is a serious matter.
When "the wheels go round" there is
10 unemployment except of the unem-
bloyable
Therefore ! contend that the social
lists and sociologists have nothing
tangible 20 offer 10 meet the needs of
to-day, which are bread or Job. The
Jobs are rapidly increasing IN number.
Only ve ';erday | saw the figures in one
industry where there are 5000 en-
ployes. Three weeks ago 800 of these
men were being carried by the union.
To-day there are fewer than fifty Of
these employees being so carried. III d
they are the older men. An example
has been set them by the Brewers AS
ISOLATION. which is giving every en-
ploye five days work instead of SIX
days. running the plant the six days.
The building trade unions are meeting
with the contractors 10 get them 10
take or the men in relays. thus follow e
ing the example set by the brewers.
Through the mayors committee the
employers. | am told, are pretty gem
orally adding to their number of en-
ployes here and there where they
can, and they are also thus following
the example of the brewers. All the
municipal work which, under the law,
can be forced at this time We are as
sured will be started. but this still
leaves a very large number OF people
who must suffer during the next three
months.
So ! repeat that this is an emer-
rency which can only be met "a we
meet other great emergencies. such as
earthquakes. fire, floods CT cyclones. o.
as We are doing now for the starving
people of Belgium.
RALPH NJ. EASLEI.
New York. Jan. Is. 1915.