The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-09-23
HOOVER'S FAKE
UNEMPLOYMENT
CONFERENCE
Date Now Fixed For Next
Monday
(From "Labor")

(From "Labor"O
President Harding's much press
agented unemployment conference is
having a hard time getting under
way. The slow pace set by Con-
gress is perhaps a contributing in
fluence. The trouble is said to be
largely due to the difficulty Mr..
Hoover is having in securing &C
ceptances from delegates whose
minds travel along with those of
Harding and Hoover. They must
come pledged in advance to accept
the administration program.
First, it was announced in Wash
ington that the conference would
convene fright after Labor Day" in
order to gain the psychological in
fluence of good will engendered by
the national holiday of American
wage earners. However, the list
of delegates was far from complete
at that time and the date was push
ed up to around September Is
or 20" The latest inspired rumor
places the tentative date" at Sep
TENDER %, but the last report fixes
the date at Monday, September 26.
Some people are curious to
know why the Secretary of
Commerce is arranging for this
meeting instead of the Secre-
tary of Labor. inasmuch as the
conference is advertised to deal
with unemployment of labor.
Perhaps the best two answers
are. first. that this is strictly
business affair."" and, second,
that the Secretary of Labor does
not remain in Washington long
enough at one time to get ac-
quainted with the duties of his
office.
Sounds Note of Optimism
Preliminary to the conference,
however, an important discovery
has been made by the men in Sec
rotary Davis department. Mr.. Da-
Wis stopped off in town between
trains the other day and announced
that 100000 workers now are
on the payrolls of shops, factories,
mines and railroads" 1t sounded
good and made story for the
newspaper boys who grab at this
sort of bait during the dull season
when Congress is not in session.
This was proclaimed Gas the most
optimistic factor in the industrial
situation" 1t is said Secretary Da-
Wis and his subordinate officials are
studying the situation and prepar-
ing data for the conference. at
is intended to show" read the state
ment issued to the press by the La
Dor Department, that the indus
trial situation is not as bad as
pictured. Only the worst features
so far are familiar to the coun-
try" Hence Mr.. Davis leads off
with the statement that 100000
wage earners are actually working
at least part time.
Other Side of the Story
But look what follows!
According to preliminary esti-
mates of the Labor Department.
employment service bureau the num-
Der of persons who may be CLASH
fled as industrial workers now is
about 100000. Of these approx
imately 100000 were without
regular employment at the last can
vass of industrial conditions made
by the department" In order to
soften these figures the statement
goes on to say that sin normal
times between 100000 and 2,0OO,-
600 men, are out of jobs" There
fore the conclusion is reached that
the real unemployment at this time
totals about 3,700,0OO. This is
the sort of dope that is to be fed
to the conference
Confer Behind Locked Doors.
Mr.. Hoover is quoted in the
Washington papers as saying
that the unemployment confer
ence is to be a secret cOnclave of
master minds held behind locked
doors. 1t is none of the public's
business, and much less that of
the jObless men and women,
what transpires, and carefully
censored statements will be
handed out from time to time.
Every important key industry
and important semi-key branches
will have spokesman" Mr.. Hoover
is reported to have said. "Geo.
graphically the personnel of the
conference will be as nationwide
as possible" The number of dele.
gates is placed at forty in the
latest information obtainable. Pains
are being taken to insure the elm
ination of any delegate who might
plumb the bottom of the unem
ployment question.
President Harding has asked Mrs
Harriet Taylor Upton, of Ohio
chairman of the Women's Executive
Committee of the Republican Ma
tional Committee, to suggest tn,
names of five women who may b,
named as delegates. Of course Mrs
Upton will suggest woman wage
workers.
Among the several recommends
lions likely to come out of tn,
conference as helpful to the unem
ployed is the inauguration of ;
"Buy-a-Home Week" With nearly
100000 divorced from pay en-
velopes and the 100000 on job,
at wage cuts ranging from Is t.
80 per cent, the time is considered
propitious for such a movement. L
will hearten the iobless even if i
provides no food.
In addition to the arduous worl
of arranging the details for Presi
dent Harding, Secretary of Com
merce Hoover will organize the con
ference, appoint the committee anC
preside at the secret sessions. How
ever, Mr.. Hoover says if the dele
gates should express a firm deter
mination to open the doors to tn,
public he will automatically &C
quisce. In other respects his zen
cheering mind" will be the dom
mont fao+or