The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-05
WIDE INDUSTRIAL
 DEPRESSION HAS !. ENVELOPE NATION
Unemployment Increasing, But Has Not Yet Become Gen. eral, Says Industrial
 Conference Board
By Associated Press

New York. December 4.--Officiai re- ports from 45 states, representing 95 per cent of the nations population. re- veal a widespread industrial depres- sion, in spite of which no serious or general unemployment has as yet de- veloped, the national industrial confer ence board declared in a statement made public here tonight.
 The situation apparently paradoxical has developed when seasonal agricul- tural employmecs is at its lowest ebb in most sections of the country, with indications that unem ployment slowly is increasing. 1t was stated. To understand that apparently con- tradictory situation of employment the board asserted:
 Tt is necessary to recall that indus tries of our country are just emerging from period of intensive operation. that may without exaggerat tion be called period of superproduction. In many localities there has been a chronic shortage of labor for several years. Overtime work has been gen eral. The entire agricultural work of the country has been carried on short handed and farmers have been going without all-year-round help, which most or them Sorely need.
 SHORT TIME IN EVIDENCE
 'High wages have brought a great inflow from the villages and rural dis tricts to the industrial centers. The country has never fully realized the labor shortage in minor employments which this condition brought about. The present industrial depression has cut out most of the overtime that has been the familiar concomitant of in- dustrial work in the war and post-war years. Short time is in evidence in many industries. Complete shutdowns have occurred and are occurring but not in great numbers nor for any great 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. intensively operating industries districts the bac drift has not as yet been sufficient to make up the loss due to the wartime migration to in dustrial centers. In these sections an actual shortage of labor Is reported, because of the depression in textile and other industries peculiar to the section.
 "In the eastern states employment is decreasing, but is still above pre-war levels
 UNEMPLOYMENT IN SOUTH 'Conditions in the south vary consid- erably, but unemployment is reported growing generally.
 The middle west reported severe de- precision in automobile centers with other conditions nearly normal.
 ''On the Pacific coast less unem- ployment is reported. There is unem- ployment in the logging industry, but either normal situation or labor fnr E Closing it's statement the board said:
 Reviewing this picture of our coun- try in all It's extent. 1t appears that there has been decided recession from the peak of activity and that some few industries and the districts dependent on them are suffering from consider able unemployment. Also it is apparent that unemployment Is gradually in- creasing. Tn other districts. conditions are normal or supernormal, and in some there is an actual shortage of labor.
 "A resumption of industrial activity would probably show shortage of la bor throughout the country"