Evening journal., 1919-01-30
ASSERTS BUSINESS 4
men FEAR PANIC.
Secretary Wilson Says De-
partment Seeks to Re-
move Nervousness
MUST GIVE WORK TO
STOP eOLSHEVISM
Bv The limited Press.

BY The United Press.
WASHINGTON. jan 30.-Congress
must leg.slale at once TO provide work
for the unemployed II the serious
spread OF Bolsheyism in the United
states is TO be stopped.
This was the answer today OF Secre-
tary Of Labor Wilson to the soft
pendaling" OF the labor situation being
adN ocated by some members OF Con
gress.
The unemployment problem would
instantly solve itself II American busi-
ness would forget their fears Of q panic
and resume normal activities, Secretary
Wilson told the House and Senate
labor committees today.
Abnormal profits must be eliminated
before we can get back TO normal.
said Wilson. But those making them
are afraid 10 reduce prices. lndi-
vidUally they are afraid that reduc-
tion Of prices will cause the bottom TO
drop out OF business. Collectively they
are afraid TO agree TO reduce for fear
Of running foul Of tho antitrust law
The Department OF Commerce, VIII
son said, is now trying 10 remove the
business nervousness, which, Wilson
sad, Is causing business men 10 hold
or from a return TO normal peace ao-
tivties until prices OF material and
labor get 10 the lowest working basis
This holding of, Wilson asserted, VIII
be only temporary and when Il ends,
the unemployment problem will also
end.
Unemployment today is not alarm
ing so far as the number OF men out
Of work Is concerned" said Wilson.
But 1t Is a condition showing the
need OF some buffer employment TO tide
US over. It Is the tendency which IS
alarming
The fear afflicting business men, VIII
son said, Is that cost OF materials will
decrease but that labor costs won't
This. he said, Is construed by business
as meaning that prices OF finished pro-
ducts may 90 down 10 a point whe.e
the maintenance OF present wages
means o loss
~ do not believe that wage rates will
be much reduced for some time TO
come" Wilson said
"The cost OF living has gone up, and
the wage increases on the average have
Just about kept pace In some in
stances, the wage raise has not kept
pace @
Immediate resumption by the Federal.
state and city governments OF public
works such as are usual in peace times
was urged by Wilson as one sort Of
'buffer employment!
He cautioned. however, against do
ing anything that is not needed simply
to create Jobs" That, he declared.
would be national folly.
Wilson declared: Action should be
taken now, for II there is not an extra
session Of Congress, and II we do not,
through good fortune, tide over the
present serious period, the storm may
break upon us.
II am not an alarmist and / do not.
expect a social revolution IN this coun-
try. but that does not prevent me from
seeing the true situation. Unless we
meet the problems there Is a strong
prospect that the Bolshevist philosophy
will get a foothold in America.
1t Is hard 10 convince a jobless
man that he has a common interest
with his employer in creating the
maximum production"
Outlining a plan for providing what
ne called buffer employment to bridge
the transition between war and peace
Wilson warmly indorsed the
principle OF Senator Kenyon's, creating
a public works commission TO stimulate
Federal, state and city work and thus
provide employment for demobilized
soldiers, sailors and war workers.
He recommended in addition that a
be named TO include rep
Of the various departments
OF the government
This appeals 10 me as method Sc
curing prompt action" Wilson said.
Wilson submitted figures showing
that yesterday 262.OO0 men were out Of
work. Last week the number was 235,-
900 he said.