The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-01-21

CISCO ldSC november, OH Jne recon
mendation of the executive commit
tee, ordered President Gompers to ap
point a committee similar to our own
to investigate the vagrancy laws and
unemployment, which Brother Com
ment of Labor and immigration of
the federal government has and is
making extensive investigations into
the extent of unemployment; some of
its findings are used in our report,
and the governor of Illinois has ap-
pointed a commission to investigate
unemployment in that state, upon
which John H. Walker, of the United
Mine Workers, and John j. Fitzpat.
rick, president of the Chicago FEEDER
alton of Labor, have seats.
RECOMMEND A COMMISSION
While the extra data we have been
able to gather shows considerable
variation, we must remember that
hardly any two investigations use the
same formula or system, some of the
irregularities being noted in the sta
tistical part of the report. However,
we think they bear out our last years
findings, and the sustained interest in
the problem shows it is far-reaching
and that our conclusions and recon-
mendations were fully warranted, and
as further carrying on of this work
we recommend that this committee
be continued and endeavor to have
the American Federation of Labor at
its next convention have a commits
sion of say 20, selected from the men,
bership, whose duty will be to ascer.
tain or devise a solution and plan
method by which we can make it eff
fective.
While the present American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor committee on va
grancy laws and unemployment is a
great step in the right direction we
feel that, considering the Importance
and magnitude of the task, the pres
ent committee is not only entirely too
small, but is composed of executive
officers whose attention is so taken
up with their official duties they can
not give the question the cOnsidera-
ton. and attention the subject re
quires; besides their Instructions as
embodied in the executive commit
tees recommendation are neither
comprehensive nor definite.
LABOR MUST SOLVE PROBLEM
In our opinion it is up to labor to
solve this problem Of unemployment,
and while statistics are valuable they
are of really minor Importance in the
consideration of this problem to the
pressure, ability, ideas and attitude
felt and expressed by the great mass
of workers; for that in the end must
be the determining factor in the So
luton of any problem affecting them
and depending on their mass action
and cooperation for it's solution
which the problem of unemployment
requires.
We feel that this can only be as
certained by a personal visit and talk
ing to and asking questions of the
workers themselves in the countries
where the American Federation of
Labor holds membership. Such a
commission as is herein proposed
could do this very nicely they could
meet and formulate a plan of proce-
dure and then split up into four or
five committees, each to cover a GER
tain territory, and when they get
through they could meet again and
determine a plan of action in accord
.ance with the possibilities as ascer-
tanned in their findings somewhat
similar to the procedure of the FED
eral Commission on Industrial Rela-
tons.
Such an INVESTIGATION would give
the American Federation of Labor a
commanding position in the solution
of the problem of unemployment, and
give hope and encouragement to the
millions of discouraged and helpless
workers, for in the solution of this
problem lies the solution of most al,
other problems confronting us at this
time-militarism, low wages, long
hours, crime, etc
Such procedure would bring the
American Federation of Labor to the
homes and hearts of the whole work
ing class, and the whole world would
wait with eagerness and impotence
for its conclusions.