Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-26

v in this country today is a
question on which there
recently has been expressed many con-
ficting opinions. Frank Morrison,
secretary of the American Federation
of Labor, submitted statement to the
House committees on immigration
showing extensive unemployment in
a large number of cities. In connec-
ton with this settlement Mr.. Morrison
| would be SO serious by May / that
bread lines would have to be inaugu-
| rated.
This statement brought forth de-
malls from a number of the cities
named by Mr.. Morrison and there were
| indignant protests by members of
| Congress that conditions in their
home towns were being misrepresent-
ed
MIR. Morrison's Schedule.
pioyment by cities was as follows:
Los Angeles, 5000; New Britain, Conn,
| 1000: Chicago, $4,000; Louisville, KY.
$500; New Orleans, 10000; Boston.
| 10000; Grand Rapids, 5000: st. Paul,
| 5000; st. Louis, $4,000: Kansas City.
1000: Trenton, 2,5oo; New York city,
10000; Cincinnati. 5000: Cleveland,
10000: Portland, Greg, 5000; Toledo,
1900; Youngstown, 5000; Aberdeen,
| Wash. 5000; Milwaukee, 1000.
In view of proposals that Congress
| shall provide against widespread un-
employment through the appropria-
| ton Of large sums for public work,
| correct information as to the extent
and growth of unemployment becomes
of primary Importance. AS contrf-
| button to the obtaining of this correct
| information, The Star sent the follow
! ing telegram to the editors of leading
newspapers in the larger cities and in
dustrial centers In all parts of the
country, from the Atlantic to the Pa
cif1o seaboards and from ST. Paul in
| the north to New Orleans in the
| south:
viii you wire US the most re-
| liable estimate Of the number OF
| men idle in your city due to lack
| of employment and the number idle
| due to strikes?
Replies were received from more
| than a score of cities, and the condi-
| $4,000 men idle in Cleveland, Ohio, to
| nobody idle" at Atlanta, Ga. The
estimates OF the newspaper editors
| while differing in particulars from
those of Mr.. Morrison. would seem, In
the main, to justify the figures he sub.
The replies received from tho sew
eral cities are as follows. the names
| of the newspapers making them being
| inclosed in parentheses
| May Become Alarming Soon.
| New York city (Trfbune)-Forty
| thousand men just out of the Army
| and Navy are looking for jobs in New
York. Fifteen thousand of them are
| strangers who decided to stay here
| instead of going home to look for
work. The number of unemployed in
| the city almost doubles every week.
| 1.-The situation is serious. and 1t soon
| may become alarming" is the way DIR.
George w. Kirchwey. state director Of
! the United States employment serv-
| ice. described it. The number of per-
sons idle because of strikes is con-
| siderably larger. In one trade alone,
| waist and shirt workers, $4,000 are on
strike.
Boston, Mass. (Globe)-It is esti-
| mated that at present there are 10000
unemployed men in Boston. Very few
are idle now due to strikes, but big
strike is threatened at Lawrence. and
| if. it eventuates it will mean a large
number out Of employment.
1900 Idle at Buffalo.
Buffalo. N. 7. (Express)-The cham
Der OF commerce estimates the num-
Der of unemployed men in this city at
1900. There is only one strike on at
present, affecting probably $50 men.
Newark. n. J. CNews)-Director Jo-
seph A. Spite of the federal, state and
municipal employment bureau is au-
thortty for the statement that assim-
ilation of the returned soldiers and
munitions workers in their old or new
jobs has not been as sure and rapid as
was anticipated. He expresses the
hope, however. that this period is
transitory. While it is not possible to
estimate the number Of men in New
ark out of work there Is evidence that
much unemployment exists. An ap-
parent proportion Of five applicants to
one job has been stated as existing
hero generally. Mr.. Spitz explained
that this applied only to the men who
appeared at the local bureau. The
proportion OF unemployed might be
many men out of jobs have not ap-
piled. and because many who do apply
are "pickers and choosers." Many ap-
plications also are received from non
residents.
Habitual Loafers Included.
Philadelphia, Pa, Bulletin)-H J.
Canine OF tho United States employment
bureau here says he has no exact
figures OF unemployment in Phila-
delphia. but insists that If there are
habitual loafers who would be idle
anyway. We have some threatened
strikes here for eight-hour day and
among woman shirt waist makers, but
nothing serious.
Pittsburgh, Pa. (Dispatch) - There
are no men idle due to strikes
in Pittsburgh or the Pittsburgh
district. Labor organizations estimate
that there are 10000 men idle in the
Pittsburgh district, which includes
eighteen miles Of tho city proper. This
idIeness is duo chiefly to the suspen-
sion OF munitions and other war con-
tracts within the city limits. The
number of men idle because they are
unable to obtain employment is
negligible.
Many Idle in Cleveland.
Cleveland, Ohio (Piain Dcaler>-
There are between $4,000 and $4,000
men idle here, due to lack Of en-
ployment. There Is no idleness due
to strikes.
Cincinnati, Ohio (Times-Star)-Supt.
Rice Of the United States employ
meut service estimates there are 5000
men idle hero. duo to lack of en-