The labor world., 1917-04-14
Preparing for the
Deluge After the War
BY Scott Nearing.

BY Scott Nearing.
When the people of the United
States cease manufacturing munitions
and war supplies for the nations of
Europe, the country will be overrun
with an army Of the unemployed,
variously estimated at from five to
ten millions.
The expected may not happen. The
end of the war with it's cessation of
munition manufacturing, military
contracts and wartime prices may not
call the industries of America to a
temporary halt. The probabilities
are, however, that prices must como
down. that industrial readjustments
must take place and that in the pro-
cess a menacing army Of the unem-
ployed will be forced to take the
street,
With this ominous probability
hanging over the country in the near
future. city, state, and national gov-
ernments should work out thorough
going plans to meet the danger. The
preparation for their impending un-
employment must take two forms.~ In
the first place jobs must be made
where none can be found.
The first problem is solved by g.
system Of public employment Offices.
The second problem can be met only
through a great system Of public
work for the unemployed.
The United States has taken few
hesitating steps toward SYSTEM of
public employment offices. The Fed
eral government has divided the
country into twenty areas, each with
an employment office headquarters,
and has opened 62 additional sub
branch Offices, so that there is now
on an average nearly two offices for
each state. No one can help feeling
that two employment Offices might
readily be overlooked by the Vnen1-
ployed in a state like California or
Texas.
During 1916 these Federal employ
ment offices secured jobs for 1916
applicants. The total number of ap-
plicants for jobs was 1s4,4S1, so that
two jobs were secured for each five
persons who applied.
In addition to the Federal employ
ment Offices Is states and cities pro-
vide public employment Offices. New
York state has five Offices, Indiana 3,
Connecticut S, Pennsylvania 6, Ohio Z,
Wisconsin 4, and Michigan 10. This
is the largest number reported from
any state. Some of these offices were
quite active. Thus, in January, 1917,
the California offices secured jobs for
3,138 persons; the Michigan offices
for $3.50 persons; the New York Of
fees for 7,76S persons and the Ohio
Offices for 13,020 persons.
A student of the employment prob
lem, familiar with the work done by
the more progressive European coun-
tries, is appalled, at the tiny begin
nings which have been made in Amer
lea. If this country is to face sue
cessfully the economics crisis which
will probably succeed the great war,
it should take at least the price Of one
battle cruiser per year GO millions)
to extend and facilitate tho work in
this direction. The returns in social
stability on such an investment. will
be a thousand fold.
On the second head, provision of
public work. there is little or nothing
to say. No steps have been taken,
and apparently no general plans have
been made for a development of pub
lie work to meet the unemployment
crisis.
Still Americans insist, with anxious
pride, that the democracy is proving
a success. The largest and most pow
erful bird in existence, the ostrich,
when it faces a danger is said to bury
its head in the sand.