Evening journal., 1921-04-19
SAYS STATE
CAN KEEP ALL
WORKERS BUSY
Continued from First Page.)

1914. so obtuse were we as a nation
to the fact that these crises came
upon us with disconcerting regular
ity.
1T is only when the employed be-
come so numerous as to increase the
burdens OF public and private char
ity that the community as a whole
realizes that something must be done
to mitigate the ravages of this tre-
mendOus evil. Then there is a
hurrying and scurrying about, may
or's committees. citizens's relief
funds and various public bodies. be-
stir themselves. What II. G.. Wells
described as the "Godsakers" get
busy; those who cry For Gods sake
do somethingi"
Practical men soon learn. or
ought TO learn, that the only way to
insure wisdom in action. or adequate
treatment of any great question. is
by preparing before the event. We
need a preparedness policy in this
field just as surely as in that Of war
preparedness. Take, for example,
the financial losses due to unemploy-
ment, as a point of departure.
Census Of 1870. says a former chief
statistician OF the Tariff Board. the
total wages paid in all Of the manu-
featuring Industries was 50 ,427OOO.- p
OOO' the value of the products turned
out equalled $2O.672, ,OOO. 900: the new
values creacSd after the cost Of mate
rails were deducted, equals $3.50
100000. In short, for each dollar
paid in wages Sc worth of product
was put upon the market and about
two and one-half dollars OF new
wealth added to the nations total
wealth as a new creation. At retail
value one Of the recent unemploy-
ment crises involves a loss of approx
imately three billions of value and Of
approximately one billion dollars in
wages. figuring wage loss on the
average as only ten dollars a week
for the amount Of time less.
Remedies Suggested.
what can be done about II is our
problem First, the responsibility is
primarily one for industrial states
manship to grapple with; second.
governmental bodies have their op-
portunities and responsibilities; third.
the consuming public has its share
Of responsibility.
Certain OF our leading industries
have done much to maintain regu-
larity Of production and. therefore.
OF employment. which are indicative
of one way out As seasonal indus
tries as meh's and women's clothing.
paper goods. much OF the latter
trade. and a large shoe business,
have. by using intelligence and per
sistence. reduced the fluctuations OF
employment in their plants to a
minimum. Two mems clothing and
ono women's clothing factories en-
ploying large numbers OF workers
have succeeded in eliminating sea-
sonal layoffs The women's wear
concern has now a selling. adver-
tising and production policy which
enables them to employ tho same
mum Der Of workers for fifty-one
weeks in what was formerly about
six months industry.
"The Dennison Company OF Fran
ngham. Mass. formerly was shut
down from December to May, in
large section of its highly seasonal
business. Last week when I visited
their plant the percentage Of unem-
ployment was less than one-half OF
one per cent. This company in
sists that when other employers tell
them that it cannot be done in their
business that the answer is that it
can II the same trouble is taken
and the same careful planning is
made part Of the firms policy.
Products have been standard
lied. selling and production policies
co-ordinated, duh season lines in
troduced and the whole plant keyed
up to keep the workers busy on an
even keel.
Federal and State Aid.
THE Federal and state govern
ments can prevent unemployment
by the same means; by planning
their expenditures for permanent
improvements and engineering SER
vices on say a ten years program.
setting aside in each year Of good
employment A reserve OF projects
TO be undertaken when private en-
ployment threatens to slacken. The
railroads can do the same to their
great enoconmic advantage. buying
steel and undertaking upkeep in
/ greater measure when prices are
low and labor eager to work and
/ plentiful
The Federal and State govern
( ments also can do their part by
maintaining a well co-ordinated sys-
TEN of employment bureaus whose
chief function would be that OF or
ganizng the employment market.
There are other important ex.
pedients 10 provide against unem.
ployment. among which is unem.
ployment Insurance. know OF a.
least two large concerns which hav,
established Unemployment funds ou
OF which payments are made whei
their other policies to cut down un
employment have failed to oliminat,
an unemployment from their indus
tries. One pays so per cent. o
wages, the other 90 per cent o
wages out OF these funds. In on
case more than onc-half day is re
b garded as emitting "a worker to re
lief from the fund Both these firm
regard these measures as good busi
ness. and an unemployed worker a
distinct financial as well as mora
loss to their business.
. 1T must be remembered that un
employment is one Of the great men
aces to industrial peace and stability
O. lIt is the chief cause Of bitter strif
in many seasonal trades such as IN
building trades. the clothing indus
Itrv and dock cmplOvment Whe