Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-17
NEARS RECORD
REACHED IN 1914
Special 20 Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Nv ROEERT EARRy

by hO6E&I bAhh1.
WASHINGTON. aug. I'm response
to a Senate resolution, the Secretary of
Labor has sent 20 the Capitol an official
estimate that th8ne are 5, 49,, 900 men and
women out Of employ in the United
States.
Unemployment is climbing steadily
toward the record Of 1914 when the army
of jobless reached strength Of approx
mately 100000 and q war IN Europe was
necessary 70 prevent Industrial denorsli-
Eation il this county. The statistics
made public by SeG- etary Davis had been
familiar to Administration and Congress
siOnal leaders fYr several weeks and were
responsible for very grave concern They
inspird Republican leaders to special
e1ortsr % instu new life into Industrial
Aykerica, through whatever agencies of
Government which properly could be in
voked.
The Presidents social message to Con-
gress, urging credits for the American
farmer and financial adjustment In the
Interests Of the American railroads was
Que, in a large measure to his determine
ton 20 leave nothing undOne TO revive
production and restore confidence In
business.
At approximately the same time that
Secretary Davis figures were being ia
ken to the Senate. Capt James K. Robi-
son. chairman of the General Wage Board
of the Nay, was informing q group OF
labor leaders representing workers IN the
Navy Yards Of the country, that mothers
and little children would 20 hungry next
winter unless the workers accepted lower
wages to permit Of the employment OF a
greater number Of men.
MUCH WANT IN
INDUSTRIAL CITIES.
II the workers in the Navy Yard refuse
to accept wage cuts, Captain Robson
said, it would be necessary to discharge
some men 10 enable funds TO go around.
He said he had found much want" in
many industrial sections during he
gent tour, and that it was necessary to
take drastic action to avoid having hun
cry children next winter
4 further Capitalization Of Official at
tention on the industrial situation
throughout the country was brought
about by the decision Of the Erie Rail
road Company 70 terminate its actual
operation Of shops and roundhOuses at
Marion, Ohio. There was a widespread
feeling that the Erie. which had taken
the lead I'm reducing wages, might pre-
cipitate a serious clash between capital
and labor, especially as it affected the
strong Nachinists' Union. That view was
strengthened by announcement that VII
liam II. Johnston, president Of the Ma
chinists Union, had LEFT Washington for
Chicago to enter vigorous protest with
the Railroad Labor Board against the
action Of the Erie officials He indi-
Gated the workers would insist that the
board take action against the carrier for
step which he declared was merely a
IL Of
'boand.'
Following the receipt Of Secretary
Davis report, Senator MediH Mccormick,
Illinois author Of the resolution of in
curry which brought forth the estimate
OF unemployment, issued q statement urg
ing the necessity for prompt action by
the Government wherever possible.
''The unemployment is progressive"
Senator Mccormick said. referring 70 the
fact that the estimated number Of the
iobIess had grown from 100000 d'-s1n z
the incumbeicy Of the present Admin
fstation. At the present raVe Of pro
eression we shall have as many unem-
pIoyed next winter as there were unem-
plOyed IN the winter Of 1914. There can
be no immediate and radical cure in the
present economic depression, which is
world wide and from which some coun-
tries which did not even enter the great
war, are suffering more severely than
the United States Nevertheless. I be-
lieve steps can be taken to prevent OF
mitigate the actual want and suffering
which viii touch thousands with tie
coming Of cold weather, if nothing is
done"
BELIEVE BETTER
TIMES on WAY.
Other Republican leaders were not in
.cludsd TO take 50 pessimistic q view of
the future. They pointed TO the better
tone to Industrial reports now reaching
Washington from many sections which
suffered most severely from the depres-
sion two or three months ago. They
were Inclined 10 believe the turn in the
road had been reached a few weeks ago
and that general business conditions soon
Evould improve in j material way
throughout the country. The farming
and cattle raising sections were said to
have yielded 20 the influence OF more
elastic credits brought about by the
Administration.
Theme is no gainsaying the concern in
Official circles over the progressive in
crease Of unemployment and the state
ment has been made more than once in
competent quarters that failure of the
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