El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-03-07

T-oPFFP district Judge Ernest ". Lewis Of Arizona the
conservative Of Gov Thomas E Campbell and mayor
5onb NJ Ssn Francisco have enlvened the Washington
conference Of governors and mayors by demanding that
Inc government take the lead in relieving unemployment
conditions which daily become more critical Mayor Rolpn
Oh Wednesday became somewhat oaustc
sWih all due respect to the gentlemen who have ad-
dressed Us" he said hey have not told Us word that
We did not already know. We have Travelled 5000 miles
not to hear that every American ought to home or
that good roads ought be built but to find out how the
Door American hero begging the streets Of New York
IS going get job Most Of the trouble with the labor
situation right here IN Washington and we want TO know
what's going to be done
Judge Lewis had previously created some commoton by
calling attention TO widespread unemployment in the
southwest and urging that the government take action to
remedy conditions These conditions are becoming worse
through the return or thousands OF soldiers and sailors 10
civilian life Indeed, 1t is getting hard IN many places
discharged soldiers 70 get Jobs that not only they
begging the streets in New York and other large cities
out they also reenstng IN the army from which they
were recently so anxious to be released.
That these discharged should suffer for lack or
work in big rich busy country like the United States
almost untouched BY war as It IS IS wrong It does not
square with the message president Wilson sent Just be
fore leaving the country this last time to debarkahon hos
pital No. g at New York in which he told the wounded
men:
81 prefer to remind you that the wounds you bear
the nobest bands Of honor any has worn that
they eZst you 70 supreme place IN the minds and hearts
Of your countrymeu and Of al the world
Il prefer to you that America realizes she has
solemn obligation, moIe patriotic duty than to
express in practical the gratitude that every Ae
csn-man, and child-feels for every Of you
America VII not forget
Back Of all these fine sounding words there IS the plain
mphcaton-at least the soldiers VIII consrue itthat
America is obligated 70 that her who went to
shall not lack the Of earning living. What else
expression Of gratitude In practical terms means
In places ike FL Paso where unemployment Is at
minimum il is not difficult to place returning soldiers and
sailors at work In fact they getting work here about
fast they return and employers have shown COM
sndabe enterprise IN either putting these men back into
their old Jobs making places for them But where
there is business stagnaon where from whatever
there is heavy unemployment It is hard to place the
turning service
That Is true On the coast and IN Arizona Nevada and
Utah. Il also becoming the condition IN most Of Texas
although the oil boom has been wonderful stabizer by
creating work for thousands Of and stimulating bust
IN almost every line.
And what about the idle civilian lsbOr2 Tacoma has
go idle men, Spokane 1000 and the total Of
Washington is 1900 Portland, Oregon has 1000 to TO-
600 unemployed The cancellation Of wooden ship con
tracts has placed 5000 out OF work there since De-
ceber T. About $500 soldiers and sailors have returned
to Oregon Of the $500 Of these who listed themselves
with the United States employment service for work.
about one-fourth still idle.
Aside from thousands Of strikers there are 1000
unemployed San Francisco and about 5000 in Los An
gees and 25o0 IN Salt Lake City There are about 1000
miners and 25o soldiers and sailors Nevada who are
out OF work and the number Of unemployed IN Arizona
estimated at 10000 by the United States employment ser
wee Little wonder that the governors and mayors Of
western states their representatives, worried about
conditions and calling TO Washington for relief
They demand that the president reconvene congress
the puEpose Of taking measures to relieve UNEMPLOYMENT
congress could pass departmental appropriations which
would permit engaging in work larger scale and
gess could make federal road funds Immediately avail
able with OF without being matched BY the states thus
permitting road projects to be undertaken in every state
Inc government could authorize the resumption OF