Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-01-31
SECRETARY WILSON
TELLS BUSINESS ID.
FORGET PANIC FEAR
Unemployment Pro Bile m
Would Instantly Solve It.
self Then, He Says, Scor-
ing Abnormal Profits
tBY LAST MINUTE TELEGRAPH

WASHINGTON. Jan. 3O.-The I'M
employment problem would instant
ly solve itself if American business
men would forget their fears of d
panic and resume normal activities,
Secretary Of Labor Wilson told the
house and senate labor committees
today.
abnormal profits must be elimt-
normal" said Secretary Wilson But
those making them are afraid to
reduce prices Individually they are
afraid that reduction of prices will
cause the bottom to drop out of bust
ness. Collectively they are afraid
to agree to reduce fer fear of rum
ming foul of the antitrust law" -'-
The department of commerce, he
said, now is trying to remove the
business nervousness which is caus-
ing business men to hold off from a
return to normal peace activities,
until prices of material and labor
get to the lowest working basis"
serted, will be only temporary and
when it ends, the Unemployment
problem also will end.
Unemployment today is not
alarming so far as the number of
men out of work is concerned said
,c:ond ition shawtngs the need Aef .sone
buffer employment to tida DIS over.
ut is the tendency which is alarm
:ng''
The fear aff1ictirg business men.
lie said, is that cost of materials will
decrease, but that labor costs wont.
This, he continued, is construed by
business as meaning that prices of
finished products, may go down to
point where the maintenance of
present wages mean a loss.
I do not believe that wages rates
viii be much reduced for some time
to come" said the secretary.
THE cost Of living has gone up
and the wage increases, on the aver
age, Rave just about kept pace. In
some industries the wage raise has
not kept pace"
Immediate resumption by the fed
eral: state and city governments OF
public works as are usual in
peace times was urged by Secretary
Wilson as one sort of buffer en-
ploEment."
He cautioned, however, against
doing anything that is not needed
SIMPLY to create jobs" That, he
declared, would be national folly.
Senator Lewis Views
Despite figures showing serious
unemployment laid before congress
by Frank Morrison, of the Fedora
ton of Labor by Senator La Fol.
lette and others who obtained them
from OFFICIAL and separate sources,
there is persistent effort in con-
gress to minimize the danger.
The latest effort was a speech
by Senator Lewis, Illinois, admins
tration whip, who scolded senators
for being Reds. He declared there
is no danger of widespread or CON
tinued unemployment. Under oues
tioning by Senator Kenyon. Sena-
tor Lewis admitted that during the
transition period from war to peace
many will be out Of work.
But" he said, Sound the real
truth to the country-all is we'll"
If Senator Lewis I'D others who
have been preaching the same doc
trine are right. and Unemployment
Germ itself, Senator Kenyon. of the
senate labor committee. said today.
Congress has too much real work
to do to bother with any magma ~
problem" said Senator Kenyon.
'Some say the unemployment prob
lem is imaginary. In the face OF
official figures showing that be-
tween the week Of December 10 and
last week eek une en- ! 10y increased
bers Of congress refuse to see
a menace to the security of our ma
ton. 1t is to find out whether these
congressman or those who say there
is unemployment are right. that we
are going to hear Secretary VIII
sc II. ="