Evening star., 1921-09-11


Nn/ unemployment conference
called by Secretary
Hoover Of the Department
Of Commerce at the instance Of Pres
ident Harding. much interest at
taches to the plans now on foot in
the various states and municipalities
OF the country to stem the tide of
unemployment. Governors of states
and municipal officials. it appears.
have been aroused to the danger Of
the situation and have begun to act
on their own hook-thcugh anxious
for the cooperation of the federal gov
ernment in meeting the problem.
A number of dispatches from these
officials have been received in Wash
ington within the last few days
which give more than an inkling as
to the manner in which the situation
is being met and plans that are being
developed to prevent suffering among
the people this coming winter.
Portlsnd's Comprehensive Plan. =
Not the least interesting and en-
Tightening Is telegram from
George L. Baker. mayor of Portland.
Ore. The officials and the business
men and workers in that city. have
taken hold of the situation appar-
emily with a strong hand and de-
termination to solve the problem
problem that is realized to be Sc
rious. Mayor Baker wires:
'"The Portland unemployment plan
provides for five directors Of various
phases of work. All directors are
influential business men. One has
charge Of public employment. getting
governmental agencies. including
state. city, county. state highway
department, school board. etc. TO do
all possible public improvement work
during the winter. At a recent
conference these bodies have agreed.
Another director has industries
and will organize plants to do all
possible winter work, and II neces-
sary cooperate in general plan for
dividing up employment SO that un-
employment will not be confined to
one group all the time.
still another has charge with as
sistance OF. the Red Cross of provid-
ing and creating work for women.
"A fourth director has charge OF
establishing emergency relief. inelud-
ing q public fuel wood yard, where
men without families will be given
work, chopping wood for board and
room. We have selected an abandoned
shipyard all equipped and 1t win be self
sustaining. ~
'-Ths mayor ID the NTH director
and he will be general supervisor. A
rock pile will be opened for the
Publicity will be used to warn
against influx of men. We have CO.
operation and support of govern
mental agencies, organized labor,
business and Industrial interests and
press which is absolutely essential
for success. Similar plans in other
cities would help usvery materially"
Massachusetts Autkorities Busy.
Gov. Claiming H. Cox Of Massachu-
setts, in a dispatch received here,
shows that the Bay state authorities
have put their shoulder to the wheel
and are making earnest efforts to
stem the tide Of unemployment. and
also holds out the hope that the sit
uation in the state is already on the
mend. The Massachusetts, governor
says:
state and municipal authorities
are cooperating to make plans for
starting necessary public improve
ments and works wherever possible.
Private employers have been urged to
give part-time employment to the
greatest number possible and indi-
viduals have been urged to begin re-
available show slight increase in
number Of employed and that busi-
ness In many lines is showing i'm
provement So far as advised. no city
has found it necessary to institute
detailed plans to meet unemployment
at present"
Plans in Connecticut.
From Gov. Everett J. Lake OF
Connecticut comes word that the big
cities of that commonwealth have
plans to meet the unemployment sit
uation we'll under way. He. too.
speaks of a certain amount of i'm
provement7 in recent weeks. But he
issues warning that because there
has been some Improvement. it must
not be taken as an indication to men
out of work in other states that there