Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-12-05
SITUATION DUE
TOLOW EBBOF
FARMING WORK
High W ages Cause Influx
to Cities Adding to
Increasing Hardship.
Conditions Darkest in
New England, East and
South, Says Report.

New York, Dec. 4.-Official re-
ports, from As states, represent
ing 95 per cent of the nations
population, reveal widespread
industrial depression, in spite of
which no serious or general un-
employment has as yet develop
ed, the national industrial con-
ference board declared in state
n1ent made public Saturday
night.
This situation, apparently paradoxial
mas developed when seasonal agricultural
employment is at its lowest ebb in most
sections Of the country, with indica-
lions that unemployment slowly is in
ereasing, it was stated.
10 make plain the apparently con-
Trajectory situation of unemployment the
board asserted
Super-Produotion Period.
''It is necessary to recall that the
industries Of our country arc just emerg-
ing from period Of intensive operation
that may, without exaggeration, be called
a period Of super production In many
localities there has been a chronic short
age of labor for several years. Over
time work has been general. The entire
agricultural work Of the country has
been carried on short handed and farm
ers have been going without all-year-
round help, which most of them sorely
need.
High wages have brought great
inflow from villages and rural districts
to the industrial centers. The country
has never fully realized the labor short
age in minor employments which this
condition brought about
Cuts Down Overtime.
"The recent depression has cut out
most of the overtime that has been the
familiar concomitant of industrial work
IN the war and postwar year. For the
time is in evidence in many industries
Complete shut-doWnS have occurred and
are occurring, but not in great num-
bers nor for any length Of time.
''The labor. therefore, that has been
released has. for the most part. drifted
back to the less attractive employments
from which it was drawn to the high
wage. intensiyely operating industries.
and is not always unemployed, even when
so reported. In some districts the back
drift has not as yet been sufficient to
make up the loss due to the wartime
emigration to industrial ccnters In
these sections an actual shortage of
labor is reported"
New England Darkest.
In New England the unemployment
situation is darkest. the board reported
half of the depression in textile and
other industries peculiar to the section.
In the eastern states employment is
decreasing but it still above pre-war
levels
Conditions in the south vary consider
ably. but unemployment is reported and
growing generally.
The middle west reported severe de-
preston in automobile centers, with
other industries nearly normal.
On the Pacific coast less unemploy- |
ment is reported. There is unem'oy-
ment in the logging industries. but either
normal situation or labor shortage for
the rest.
JohIess On Increase
Closing it's statement. the board said |
Reviewing this picture Of our conn |
try in all its extent, it appears that there |
has been a decided drop from the peak |
Of activity and that some few indus |
tries and the districts dependent on |
them are suffering from industrial un-
employment is gradually increasing In |
other districts conditions are normal or |
super-normal and in some there is an ac- |
tual shortage of labor.
"A resumption Of industrial activity
would probably show shortage of labor
throughout the country"