The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-06-06
THE PROBLEM OF
UNEMPLOYMENT

sion Of the subject of unemploy-
ment, appointed Delegates E. B.
Ault, J. G. Brown and John Downie
to make a study of it and recon-
mend a cure.
Though during the world war
the unemployment problem was
temporarily shelved, the Commit
tee continued its Investigations and
reported progress at every conven-
ton since 1914.
At the coming convention to be
held in Bellngham, beginning June
| / G, the Committee will make rec
concentrations. Below will be found
excerpts from the report of the
Committee, to which the delegates
to the coming convention will do
we'll to give some thought:
In the four years, 1912 to 1915. the
] exports Of the United States increas-
/ ed from S2,362.230,532 to s3,493,-
] -'Ns''-' an lllNi case VI . per cent.
| our imports We're only about two
| thirds of our exports, vet, notwith-
/ standing the great increase in our
! exports, those were years of acute
unemploym What will happen
when the trend of commerce is
/ changed and those immense quaint
ties of goods come from Europe to
pay the credit due the federal gov
Iernment
To change the basis of the work
day from the present basis of the
workers ability to produce wealth.
to a day based on the energy and
time necessary to produce the work.
ers' individual and social needs, is
| the only really revolutionary act
Many people demand the full pro-
| duct of their labor. This sounds
very fair and just, but let us reduce
this also to something specific.
| Does the demand mean that the
workers on the job will get all the
product? If so, unless they divide
the work with those crowded out of
! industry they could become very
wealthy while the poor wretches
who were crowded out of industry
would have to depend on their char
ity or face starvation. The fact is,
there can be no Just distribution of
wealth until there is a just division
of labor
It is no longer question of
WHAT will solve the problem of un-
employment, but of working out the
details and getting the necessary
parts working together to common
end.
To this end we recommended in
our report Of 1916 that we endcaNor
n iD ! 4
of Labor i'm the question, and have it
select from the membership a COM
mission Of twenty or more. whose
duty it would be to work out the
details and line Of procedure.
Unemployment stands as a spec
tacle Of horror in virtually every
country in the world. The more
highly developed country. the
more intensely does this problem
press for solution. Workers who
fought in the army of liberation
may. if a speedy remedy he not APP
piled, die in the army of tho unem-
rloyed. or what is still sadder. kill
their fellow workers as they fight
in the army Of oppression, for the
discharged and usually penniless
! soldier must either prey on society.
! dtSpIace some other poor worker,
/ IA.
Therefore. we appeal to all work
ers to form Hour Day Clubs
where there are no local unions. and
| for local Unions to select committees
| who viii agitate and boost for the
/ foUr-hour day in every possible way
| Pass resolutions urging its import
ance on all delegated bodies, elect
! delegates to Central Labor Councils.
state and International Union Con-
IVentions, who are interested in this
/ question and who realize the urgent
need for action.
The four hour day is in harmony
with all our interests, and herein
lies the secret of working class SOL
idaritN. It makes immediate provi-
sion for all human wants, and that
is the only basis upon which workers
can unite. SO long as individual
workers are in want or fear want we
can never attain working class SOL
ldarity. To divide the work is the
only possible way labor can protect
its individual members from want
and secure them in their livelihood.
Those who have work could go to
work as usual and after working
-four hours let those workers who
have been crowded out of industry
take their place, each in turn work.
ing IOur hours each day would Sc
cure the consecutive operation of in
dustrY and assure a steady supply of
human needs.
1t is true any one of the So-called
evolutionary movements might get
sufficient support to muddle through
a bloody revolution. But they are
so permeated with personal animosi-
ties and inconsequential issues that
they can never get the undivided
support that the simple direct issue
OF dividing the work can obtain.
Let us solve the problem of un-
employment: it is the one issue that
can command the support of all the
best elements in society.
Let us rally to the four-hour day,
not necessa rily because it has any
revolutionary significance, but be-
cause the four-hour day will solve
the problem of ployment
The moves necessary to get unity
of action are as suggested, each
union, city, town or village select
committees or form Four Hour Day
Clubs. Elect members to the central
bodies, state and international union
conventions, who realize the import
ance of the four-hour day and will
do everything to hasten its coming.
When majority of the delegates
to international conventions are
elected who are favorable to the
four-hour day they will elect dele
gates to the American Federation of