Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-08
SAYSU. S. DANGER
IS |SUNEMP[OyMENT
N. A. smyth Tells Recon-
struction Conference Next
Four Months Critical.
OUTDOOR JOBS FEW NOW

NEW 4Ohh, DeCeihooh -
ployment is the greatest danger con-
fronting the United States during lhe
next four months. the 1aror recon-
struction conference Of the AcaoeiliS
of Political Science was told at lts
meeting here today by Natnan "A.
Smith. assistant director general OF
the United States employment service.
Thousands Of soldiers are being
discharged daily, he said, at the pe-
ginning of winter, when outdoor JOBS
are few; wartime plants are beng
closed because of Army cancellation
Of contracts, and manufacturers are
hesitant in employing more LABOR De-
cause of uncertainties Of taxation
high prices of materials and "timld-
ity" of credit.
Emigration Seen as Help.
Eventually, Mr.. Smyth said, the
problem Of placing Americas soldiers
and war workers will be solved
through an abnormally high emlgra-
ton of Europeans to their native
lands, the probability that immigra.
ton will continue to be slight, ana
especially by cooperation OF Amer
lean agencies in connecting ]obless
men with manless jobs. lie warned
the members of the conference. now
ever, that these agencies could only
enable men to find open JOBS and
could not create WORK.
Soldiers are being discharged by the
thousands daily on the basis of military
units. with no reference to whether OF
said Mr. Smyth. '"rhey are being mus
tered out on a few days notice and
given in money the cost OF transporta-
ton to their homes, free to BUY tickets
wherever they please. Already they are
turning up in the cities, improvident,
broke away from home without work,
applicants for civilian relief. Many
others are unwilling to undertake the
day labor jobs which alone they can
find. There is every prospect that un-
less remedial measures are promptly
taken the sight of stranded, workless,
moneyless soldiers will be common
throughout the land.
More Workmen Than Jobs.
1.-The great danger in the coming four
months is that there won't be jobs
enough to go around; that unemploy-
,nent will come with attendant misery
and social unrest at a time when an
archistic tendencies are contagious.
1.-The remedy of building public
works is not available on a large
scale until spring. The farms will not
call urgently for men until frost
thaws out. Chiefly must we look to
our manufacturers to carry the bur-
den. But they are hesitant. Taxes are
not yet determined. The. cost OF
money is high and credit tamid for
while. The prices of raw material
and labor are high. The producer
tendency to wait till they do. To meet
each of these deterrent features is all
| immediate national task
| Mr.. Smyth urged that the manuSac-
the utmost speed, even if there be a
remote chance of lower COSTS"
Speak on Labor and Wages.
| Every effort must also be made, de-
clared G. H. Sines. chairman of the
board OF railroad wages and working
conditions of the United States Rail
road Administration, to prevent a de-
crease in wages which, he declared,
ards.
| The present wages of railroad work
ers, he said, while so per cent higher
than heretofore, will not buy as much
as the former wages because prices
have increased 65 per cent.
| 1.-THE forces of true democracy" will
resent any tendency to lower the stand
ard of living, declared William j.. Co
burn, director of the cost of living de-
partment of the War Labor Board.
Democracy in the last analysis
means the right to choose ones stand
ard of living" he said, "and a high
or low standard of living means on
one hand death, destitution and bro
ken spirit, and on the other health.
comfort, courage and a spirit of inde-
! pendence."
Henry r. Seager, secretary of the
shipbuilding labor adjustment board,
urged the creation of a permanent in
dustrial relations commission to pro-
mote efficient collective bargaining.
! The certainty of industry" was the
. factor which made possible the high
/ wages during the war, said G. S.
| Arnold. member of the war labor poll
| cies board. Although this certainty
| has vanished with the close of the
war and the cancellation of war con-
1 tracts. he asserted, some means must
be found to keep factories running
and to maintain present living stand
ards.