The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-27
BLAME WORKERS
FOR SPREAD OF
MUCH TDLENESS
Refusal to A ccep t
Wage Cuts One
Cause.


Press. THE workers themselves
were blamed for widespread idle
ness in the United States as the
national unemployment conference
started its investigation today
R F. Phelps. director of labor
statistics of the Massachusetts labor
department, told the commission
on unemployment statistics that re-
fusal of workers to accept reduced
wages was one or the Causes OF the
pr esent emergency.
Another reason why so many arc
idle, especially in Massachusetts,
is because workers won't take jobs
they don't like, he said.
Exhaustion of savings is forcing
idle men to take work now at re-
duced pay, Phelps said.
Last May, he testified there were
SO men for every job in Massachus-
etts, now the ratio is Is to 1.
3,500,OOO Now Idle.
Washington, Sept. 27.-tUnited
! Press.) - Unemployed throughout
the country now number fewer than
$500 900, a nationwide survey made
for the unemployment conference
| by the department of commerce
showed today.
This total is approximately 40
/ per cent less than the recent eSti-
mate of the department of labor,
| which stated that men out of work
/ totaled $3.50, 600
Figures collected by Secretary of
Commerce Hoover's department, it
was learned, are based on reports
from mayors of all cities through
out the country with a population
Of 10000 or more.
J0bless Numbers Reduced.
The reduced number of jobless,
as found by this method, caused a
distinct tone of optimism among
delegates to the unemployment
conference, when work was re
sumed today.
The two estimates as to urem-
ployed may cause a clash between
the department of labor and de-
partment of commerce. The labor
departments figures are based on
reports from 1850 leading indus
trial establishments throughout the
country These reports indicate a
reduction, of 25 per cent in the
working force as compared with
war prosperity years. The same
percentage was applied TO other
plants to determine the total.
Hoover Disputes Labor Figures.
This method, Secretary OF Com
merce Hoover believes, is entirely
inaccurate, because the percentage
is less in many other plants and
Imany people who usually do not
.vwork. including thousands of w0m-
en-, entered industrial plants dur
ing the war.
Hoover. who is chairman of the
conference. and other administra-
ton leaders have made it plain
that the first task of the conference
will be to determine the exact num-
Der of unemployed.
The big estimate of the labor de-
partment and the smaller one OF
the commerce department were be-
fore the conference with the open
ing of the public hearings. The
delegates will be asked to deter
mine which gives a more accurate
picture of the situation
Discuss Service Men.
Representatives of the labor de
partment will be put on the car
pet" to back up their figures. E. F
l. Jones of the labor department!
employment service and Ethelber-
Stewart, its statistician, will tes
tify.
These hearings undoubtedly vii
result in a clear sizing up of tht
unemployment situation" saic
= Hoover.
They may throw an interesting
: light on previously accepted est
mates" he added. significantly.
Idleness among ex-service mer
! will be one OF the first questions u
be discussed. Harry D. Jacobs
president of the ex-service men!
! Unemployment bureau, will testify
: Meanwhile. Urban Ledoux. whC
/. sold slaves" on Boston common
and attempted to do so in New
York, is knocking at the door o
+ the conference demanding repre-
sentation for the unemployed.
Ledoux will confer with Hoover
> late today.