New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-15
Davis Declares
Labor Situation
Is Improving
Asserts 100000 Fewer
Are Out of Work To-day
Than in 1917; Many Not
Actual Bread Winners
II Million Still Employed
Tells of $5OO,OOO,O 600
Fund for Public Works;
Factories Are Reopening

WASHINGTON. Sept IL. Those
who are disturbed over the 5,7s5, 900
unemployed OF to-day overlook that
in 1914 there were 100000 out of
work, larger percentage of whom
we're men and actual breadwinners
than in the present unemployed, Sec
rotary Davis said to-day.
Declaring that the country has Just
passed through q period when every
effort was made to induce women and
others who had not worked for wages
or salaries before to work and save
starving Europe" Mr.. Davis said pres
cnt unemployment figures include great
numbers of persons upon whose earn
ings no one actually is dependent.
while we have our unemployed, let
US not forget the 10000, 600 who are
still at work. the statement said.
"A further encouraging fact is that
100000 is now available about the
country in the form OF bonds already
issued or appropriated by the state
county and municipal governments for
public works. Undoubtedly this will
be utilized intelligently."
Positive signs of business recovery
have been furnished by the Commits
sioner of Labor Statistics, Secretary
Davis declared, adding:
Silk Hosiery Prevalent
"Some of these signs have an aspect
of their own. l put them out for
others to interpret as they please. But
one must have his head very much in
the ar. these days, not to notice the
growing prevalence of silk hosiery and
the use of silks in general"
"A stir was caused all over the coun-
try" the statement said, when Sena-
tor Mccormick called for the actual
figures on current unemployment, and
these figures, as supplied by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics in tue De-
partment of Labor, were found to be
5,735,0O0. Those figures stand as the
best estimate available, but they need
to be read in relation to the situation
OF seven years ago, as we'll as in the
light Of the facts of to-day.
Take this fact, for instance: In
1920 the number of persons in the
United STATES employed as wage-earn-
ers, or working for some one other than
themselves reached the total of 10000
600 or 100000. This was outside of
agricultural occupations. The ratio of
unemployed to the total of workers to-
day is thus less than the ratio of un-
employed to the total of workers in
1914. And by a wide margin.
"The statement has been constantly
made, in the news and in the editorial
columns of the newspa pers, that the
Department of Labor has reported
5,735,000 men assbeing out of work. The
Department of Labor has reported no
such thing. 1t did report that accord
ing to the best estimate that could be
made there are 5,735,000 fewer men,
women and children on the pay rolls
than there were in March, 1920. There
is difference with distinction. 1t
is a very different matter from saying
that there are 5,7S5,000 men unem-
ployed.
No Profit in Exaggeration
Nothing is to be gained by sticking
our heads in the sand and Ignoring the
gravity of the present unemployment.
situation. Neither do we profit by dis
torting the facts and exaggerating the
figures estimated. Here is one salient
moro than third of these 5,735,000
are the principal bread winners of the
family.
"Taking ell the families of the
United States, shere are On the aver
age over two bread winners to every
family If one of these bread winners
is unemployed it seriously cripples, but
1t does not necessarily impoverish, the
family"
Discussing efforts to relieve the stu
alton, Secretary Davis said that the
employment service of the Department
of Labor was doing all it could tc
place workers in positions. During
the harvest" he explained, sit sent be
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