The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-10-01
STRONG, UNITED PULL
BY WHOLEU.SURGE
/ TO GIVE JOBS TO ALL
Unemployment Conference
Advises Manufacturers and
Wholesalers to Read
just Prices.
CUTS IN PAY IGNORED
Revival of Construction and
Federal, State and Munic-
ipal Improvements.
Favored.
VIEWS OF LEADERS GIVEN
Secretary Davis, Asserting
Army of Idle Totals $685.
600, Assails Figures Of
100000.
VIEWS OF LEADERS GIVEN
Special Despatch to THE New York HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., Sept. 30.

'Peo1es DcSPotCb 70 IHh NEW YORK tdERALn
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., Sept. 80.
The unemployment conference to
day adopted sweeping programme o
emergency measures intended to re
store American industry to normal.
All local communities throughou
the nation are called upon to put /
into force in the hope that business
revival will result and that jobless mel
ana women everywhere will be pu
back, to work. The programme repre-
sents the composite view of leaders Ii
every walk as to the steps that shoul,
be taken at once to relieve commercial
Stagnation. Here are the essentia
recommendations:
That manufacturers and whole
salers readjust the prices Of their
commodities to replacement values
in terms of efficient producing and
distributing cost plus reasonable
profit, and that retailers follow this
lead in price reduction so that the
confidence of the buying public
may be restored.
That the construction industry be
revived to reduce the shortage of
homes and to cut down unemploy-
ment in the building trades by con-
certed action in the States against
those factors, such as undue costs"
and malignant combinations"
which have been making proper ex-
pansion impossible.
That the Federal State and mu-
nicipal governments proceed at
once with the expansion of their
school, sewerage and repaid work
and with public buildings and road
construction. ... ..-..
Wage Reductions Avoided.
Throughout the report, which COW
cred thirteen typewriter pages. there
was not word about reduction oi
wages, which many economists insist is
essential before conditions can return
TO normal. The conference avoided
this question as far too controversial
to be considered with the emergency
measures, but it is to be taken ur
later as one of the fundamental issues
that must be settled before there car
be any real assurance OF permanent
prosperity.
To take UP this and other matters of
a permanent character the conference
took a recess until Monday. October 10.
The personnel of the committees will re-
main the same. but a new committee or
two will be created along a plan to be
worked out by the steering committee,
which will remain In session during the
recess.
The emergency measures recommend
ell by the conference took the form of
a report by the steering committee. to
which the reports OF the various emer-
gency measures had been submitted.
The report, read by Chairman Henry
NJ. Robinson of the steering committee,
was adopted section by section.
The only flash Of fireworks came In
the consideration Of one of the least i'm
portant sections of the report, but It
brought to light complete disagree
ment between the committee on unem-
ployment statistics OF the conference
and Secretary of Labor Davis over the
extent of unemployment In the United
States.
Clash Over Size of Idle Army.
The report submitted by Mr.. Robin
son stated that the committee on unem-
ployment statistics had found that there
we're approximately 100000 men and
women out Of Jobs In the country. This
Mr.. Davis challenged, insisting that the
figures submitted to the Senate six
weeks ago by the Department of Labor,
stating that 5.735.000 persons were out
OF Jobs. should be accepted as more ac-
curate.
Mr. Davis said the Department of La
Dor figures showed that since the Sem
ate received the report the extent OF
unemployment had been cut down by
about 100000. and that therefore II
should be held that 5.535,000 were out
OF work.
'I have brought the Department Of
Labor statistician TO this meeting to ex-
plain these figures" Mr.. Davis said
with some vigor when Mr.. Robinson
declared that the evidence obtained by
tne committee showed 4.000,000 unem-
ployed 20 be more accurate.
Secretary Hoover, serving as chairman
OF the conference. stepped into the con-
tr0versy with suggestion that the re-
port be adopted without statement as
90 the number OF unemployed.
Let us say that several millions are
unemployed" Mr.. Hoover suggested.
NO" flashed Secretary Davis. That
means 100000"
'Then," returned Secretary Hoover
Tets make II many millions"
Hoover DisentansIes snarl.
There followed a general debate In
which half dozen members of the con-
ference. including Samuel Gompers, par
ticipated. II wound up finally In a par
Continued on Fpth Pogo.