The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-14
NEED JOBS
Unemployment Situation Rap
idly Clearing, Says Davis.
Nearly Two Million Less Job
less Than in 1914.

Washington, Sept. 14.-Those who
are disturbed over the 5,735.O0 unem-
ployed of today, overlook that IN 1914
there were 1000. 900 out of work,
larger percentage of whom were men
and actual bread winners. than in the
present unemployed, Secretary Davis
said today in a statement.
While we have our unemployed,
let us not forget the 100000 who
are still at work." the statement said.
"A further encouraging fact is that
$500. 600, 900 is now available about
the country In the form of bonds al
ready issued or appropriated by the
state, county and municipal govern
ments for public works Undoubtedly
th4s Will be organized intelliSently.
Business Now ConvaIescent
Positive signs Of business recovery
have been furnished by the commits
sioner of labor statistics, Secretary
Davis declared, adding:
t"Some of these signs have an aspect
Of their own. put them out for
others to interpret as they please. But
one must have his head very much in
the air these days not to notice the
growing prevalence of silk hosiery,
and the use of silks in general.
Il stir was caused all over the
country" the statement said, When
Senator Mccormick called for the
actual figures on current unemploy-
ment, and these figures, as supplied
by the bureau of labor. statistics in
the department of labor, were found
to be 5,735,o00. Those figures stand
as the best estimate available but they
need to be read in relation to the stu
alton of seven years ago, as well as in
the light Of the facts of today
Far Fewer TJneTnDIOyed
Take this fact, for instance. In
1920. the number of persons in the
United States employed as wage earn
ers or working for some one other
than themselves. reached the total of
eighteen or twenty millions. This was
outside of agricultural occupations.
The ratio of unemployment to the
total of workers today, is thus less
than the ratio of unemployed to the
total of workers in 1914, and by a
wide margin.
Nothing is to be gained by stick
ing our heads IN the sand and ignor-
ing the gravity of the present unem-
ployrnent situation. Neither do we
profit by distorting the facts and ex-
agzerating the figures estimated.
Here is one salient fact to be kept in
mind-probably not more than third
of these 5,735,000 are the principal
bread winners of the family.
Taking all the families of the
age, over two breadwinners to every
family If one Of these breadwinners
is unemployed, it seriously cripples
but it does not necessarily impoverish
the family. Mind you. I am not say
ing that there is not at this time, con-
siderable actual suffering among our
people, nor that this winter may not
bring more suffering unless something
intelligent and effective is done to re-
lieve the situation. L am simply call
ing attention to the fact that while
unemployment today is a grave mat
ter, there are nevertheless about ten
or twelve millions of our people at
work. And few families have had the
only bread winner put out of a job"
Situation Is Frightening.
Discussing efforts teHrelieve the sit
uation, Secretary Davis said the en-
pleyment service of the department
of labor was doing all it could to place
workers in positions.
Cotton and wooden goods already
show signs of recovery and there is
scarcely a plant in the country turn
ing out silk hosiery that is not work
ing fun or overtime. silk fabrics are
on the move. These things speak for
themselves and may be speaking the
same language as the figures showing
that more garages than houses have
been built in recent months. Here is
another fact with its own significance.
Shoe factories seem to be working for
the most part on fancy high priced
women's shoes.
This may be accounted for by the
further fact that men now out of the
hardy forms of employment are not
shoe buyers. The demand for these
win come when the railroads and the
factories are started on a more going
scale when the more staple grades of
shoes for men will come into larger
demand. That cannot be long delayed.
The situation begins to brighten"