The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-04-20
ARE YOU PREPARING
FOR THE DELUGE?
(BY Scott Nearingl

! WHEN Une people OF Jne united
States cease manufacturing muni-
tions and war supplies for the nations
of Europe, the country will be over
run 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 con-
tracts and wartime prices may not
call the industries of America to a
temporary halt. The probabilities
are, however, that prices must come
down, that industrial readjustments
must take place and that in the pro-
cess menacing army of the unem-
ployed will be forced to take the
street.
With this ominous probability hang
ing over the country in the near fu-
ture, city, state and national govern
ments should work out thoroughgo-
ing plans to meet the danger. The
preparation for this impending I'M
employment must take two forms.
In the first place jobs must be found
for people who do not have them.
In the second place jobs must be
made where none can be found.
The first problem is solved by
system of public employment Of
fees. The second problem can be
met only through a great system of
public work for the unemployed.
The United States has taken a few
hesitating steps toward a 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 81 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 unem-
ployed in state like California or
Texas.
During 1916 these federal employ
ment offices secured jobs for 1876
applicants. The total number of ap-
plicants for jobs was 184,481, so that
two jobs were secured for each five
persons who applied.
In addition to the Federal Employ
ment offices Is states and 8 cities
provide public employment offices.
New York state has five offices, In
diana three, Connecticut five, Penn
sylvania six, Ohio seven, Wisconsin
four, and Michigan ten. 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 6,S83 persons; the New York Of
fees for 7,768 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 economic crisis which
will probably succeed the great war,
it should take at least the price of
one battle cruiser per year go mil
lions) to extend and facilitate the
work in this direction. The returns
in social stability on such an invest
ment will be 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
success. The largest and most pow
erful bird in existence, the ostrich,
when it faces danger is said to
bury it's head in the sand.