New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-01
Public Works Urged TO Ciue
Jobs TO Returned Soldiers
Labor Leaders Say Conditions in New York Are
Near Crisis but That State and City Authorities
Can Prevent Amy Danger by Quick Action

sentiment among employers to give the
laborer square deal. and think that
I things will adjust themselves naturally.
There is certain amount of idle
ness, but we must sit tight and not get
/ hysterical.
The machinsts of New York are not
as hard hit as has been generally SUP
posed. according to f. ]. Deering, bust
ness agent of the New York districs
Of the lnterna tional Association of Ma
chinists. who said
There is plenty of unrest. but no
very serious situation exists. The large
number Of qualified machinists that had
been thrown OF. of work by the armis-
tice have, to a great extent. been alb
sorbed. and no good maohinist need now
be without a job. Our problem is now
to make the transition as gradual as
possible with a view to preventing
Mr.. Baker will 90 far toward this end.
Wants Work Awarded
Employers. too, should distribute
work to IS many employees as possible.
even if this means the cutting down of
the working time to three days a week
Ernest BONN, secretary OF the Cen
trail Federated Union, emphasizing the
effect on labor of the recent prohibition
wave, said:
"The prohibition amendment has
given the solvers of the labor problem
their hardest nut to crack What Is
going to happen to the thousands of
bartenders and brewery workers is
more than I can say. There are many
craftsmen in the carpentry trades idle
as the result OF strikes or natural
slackness, while the wakouts in other
Industries have added to the general
unrest
"a shorter working week will help
materially, and the demands for the
4s-hour time by the textile workers
should be granted at once The ma
tional state and municipal govern
ments should start on public improve
nents and keep all workmen busy. at
least until the spring activity in the
building trades creates a wider field"
Women Demand Rights
The situation of women in industry
is serious in the view of Miss Rose
Schnelderm president Of the Wom-
ems Trade Union League She told
The Tribune yesterdays:
Il must point out that a very serious
situation has arisen with regard to our
girl workers. Thousands of them had
positions in warworking Industries,
making from Sl5 to S25 week These
/ e'c nv" Oul "a WOfk ana the places
offered them in most cases range from
SO to $12. How these girls are going to
dress and feed themselves in these times
of high prices | don't know. Many of
| them refuse to go back to their former
jobs. They have become accustomed to
better things.
The servant girl problem would not
4 be so bad if that field were put on an
industrial basis and the girls allowed
to go home and have regular hours like
! workers in other walks of life.
There is but one solution for the
girl problem, and that is the passage
OF the minimum wage and eight-hour
pills now pending in the state Legis-
lature. Decreasing hours would widen
me held OF employment. The begin
nlng of public improvements to supply
work for the idle men and the reduction
OF prices in commodities would assist
materielly.'
William Kohn, chairman of The
American Labor party, said:
THINK that our workers are being
lalfiy we'll absorbed by industries ex-
cept in the case of the building trades
employers apparently don't wish to
hazard an early start. They are watch
fully waiting on the wage question. and
until that becomes stabilized greater
portion OF the men in the building
trades will have to go without work.
IN New York alone there are from co.
900 to 10000 men idle in this industry
me latter part Of spring will probably
see them all occupied
>, But the unemployment among sol
dlers IS rapidly increasing. These Non
oon want charity They want lob
and think the early COMMENCEMENT
OF pubic improvements would aid in
solving that phase of the problem
The strike situation, of course. has
complcated matters. but it is plain
mat this condition must lead to liberal
legislation favoring the working people
or give uS no and ~tte