The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-26

4
Press - The text of President
Hardfng's address at the opening
OF the Unemployment conference
today follows:
Ladies and gentlemen of the con-
ference: 1t IS a pleasure to ex-
press 70 you in advance of your la
oors the gratitude Of the govern
ment for your service to the ma
ton. Perhaps it is not too much to
| say-a service to the world Not
so very long since l was receiving
The call OF a distinguished foreign
er and IN the course of our CONVEX
sation he alluded to the conference
which is met this morning and
said: Mr.. President, our people
are deeply interested in the Amer
can conference on unemployment,
because our problem is akin TO
your own and your relief in the
United States will be an added sig
nal OF hope from America to use
and other people who are likewise
depressed
Nations Influence Others
That remark of q distinguished
foreigner emphasized our response
bility. IL it be true that no citizen
Is without example to some one
among his fellows, which / believe
to be everlastingly true. then ma
tfons, great and small. are in.
ffuencing others in all they do.
You are invited together to con-
slider a condition which is no wise
peculiar to the United States. The
industrial depression which we are
feeling is war inheritance
throughout the world We saw hui
mainly stressed in that production
which is impelled by nations des.
perate in MISREPRESENTATION We
saw the industrial call to arms
which marshalled the family a.
well as the accustomed bread-win
ners, and we saw the spiritual
mental and physical might of the
people cast IN the scales measur
ing the might of the republic. From
such a test there is inevitable re
action. To such heights there i:
necessary ascent and inescapabl'
descent. With the world involved
there is no escape for any of thu
world from the valleys of depfes
sion. Though we suffered less thar
many of those with whom we were
associated. and less than any o
those against whom we contended
it was inevitable that we shoulC
experience the fever's aftermath
and come to know depression be
fore we could become norma
again.
Must Seek Firm Ground.
Liquidation, reorganization. re
adjustment establishment, taking
| account of things done and tn
sober contemplation of things L
be done, the finding of firm gfoun'
and the open, sure and onWar'
way-all these are a part of the in
evitable and he who thinks the,
might have been avoided by thl
, plan or that, or this policy or that
or this International relationship o
, that. only hugs a delusion5 Whel
reason is needed for a safe counsel
Even though the worlds store
, houses were depleted, at the sam
time the finances were unbalanc q
and none was ready to store a Wa
crop for the more deliberate con
sumption of peace. Momentaril
. there was citation. but IL was No
the glow of abiding health. w
mistook citation for restoration, te
; day we are met in realization. Yo
have been summoned to counsel a.
America TO apply your knowiedg
and your experience in relievIn
e condition which concerns a
Z America Specifically, you are I
d cal with unemployment, to sugge'
the way Of repairing the arteTia
= circulation which is the very lii
= blood of the republic.
Always Unemployment.
There is always unemploymen
Under most fortunate condition:
/ am told. there are a million an
= a half in the United States Vii
1 are not at work. The figures ar
astounding only because we are
hundred millions and this paTasit
percentage is always with US.
But there is excessive unemploy
K ment today and we are concerned
= not alone about its dimilution, b.
+ we are frankly anxious under tn
: involved conditions, lest it gro
i worse, with the hardships of tn
5 winter season soon to be met.
= do not venture TO quote tn
r statistieisns, whether the maximum
figures are accurate or the min
: mum more dependable. Owing
n the far swing from intensive er
n deavor and the effort to get dow
e to solid foundations, coupled wit
the difficulty of readiustiRg e1
d penditure-public, corporate an
!. individual, from abnormal to mol
q maI-the problem or unemploy
! ment is the most difficult wit