Evening star., 1921-09-04
BY N. O. MESSENGER

! full, notwithstanding. There are
big projects ahead for the execu-
tive and the work of Congress is
but one item on the list. 1t Is not
: to be. forgotten that even though
the voice of Congress is silent for
the pending thirty-day recess; it is
still functioning in an important
way through the, Senate finance
committees labors on the tariff
and the new tax bill. This is a
case Of Congress being seen and
not heard.
President Harding is deeply in
terested in the forthcoming unem-
ployment conference to be held in
this capital. This. according to the
preliminary announcement by Sec
retary Herbert Hoover. is to be
triple-headed affair. in which the
government, labor and capital will
be represented. Its object as stated
will be to prevent suffering during
the coming winter among the un-
employed, but more important still.
to seek to get at the root of the
unemployment problem.
President Harding some time ago
foresaw the coming unemployment
situation and discussed with his
Official family the desirability of
the government taking cognizance
Of it within the limitations of fed
eral assistance. 1t can be said
with justification that since Presi-
dent Harding came into Office one
of the outstanding features of his
administration has been foresight
edness. visualizing situations like
ly to arise and taking steps to
forestall them. He has shown, also,
sympathy with and understanding
Of the problems Of ali classes, and
Of the people generally. with an
intense desire to render whatever
assistance legislation and adminis-
tration might make possible.
The chief executive was among
the first to sense the needs of the
farmers and at once put himself at
the head Of the movement for their
relief, which had already taken
form in Congress. So also was he
early to appreciate the demands
for the relief of the taxpayers and
the insistence OF the business In
terests of the country for reform
of the cumBtrsome system of taxes
built up under the stress of war
necessity. Likewise did he foresee
the opportunity to render service
of a practical kind and Of invalu-
able benefit to the world as well
as to his own country In an agree
ment for the curtailment of arma-
ment. and brought about the dis
armament conference.
President Harding considers the
unemployment crisis as a domestic
issue Of exceeding urgency and
fraught with all kinds of dangers
If not met and dealt with before it
gets out Of hand in magnitude. It
is not the thought Of the adminis-
tration to take an alarmist atti-
tude, but the fact of the existence
Of trouble cannot be evaded and
1t is thought that wise and judi
cious discussions. without any tend
ency to panickyness, will lead to
constructive action.
The latest estimates derived from
governmental and non-official
sources placed the total of unem-
ployed at about 100000, a serious
condition. 1t must be recognized.
With the present trend Of affairs,
this total would more likely be in
creased rather than reduced and
the winter months might oydina-
rily be expected to add to it.
\ -
To the thoughtful leaders in the
administration and Congress it is
inconceivable that a period Of dis
tress should descend upon this ma
tion spelling anything resembling
actual suffering for material Sec
tion Of the population. They say
that with good crops in sight, with
savings banks bulging with de-
posits, with neither famine nor
pesti1ence raging or impending.
some way ought to be found to
correct the cause Of the present
Stacking down Of business.
What is that cause? Is it mainly
to be found in purely domestic con-
ditions, susceptible Of treatment
and correction? Is it in part at
tributable to world conditions,
some Of them beyond control here7
The administration leaders feel
there has been NO lack of effort on
the part Of this government to
render aid to the world At large
and the work is still going on
through credit expansion for stim-
ulation Of foreign trade.
II q contributing factor Of com.
pelling importance exists in mis-
undertakings between employers
and employees. the administration
leaders feel that they must be in.
Quired into and corrected.
+ + + +
Tho men in the administration
who have this subject in hand and
who have been in close touch with
employers and workers are Of
opinion that there is fertile ground
for the sowing Of seed to ripen
into better understanding between
capital and labor. It is held that
there are no clashes between the
two classes Of such q vindictive
character a. to prevent calm con-
sidsration Of the questions in
volved nor forbid hope Of their
settlement.
In the coming conference to
which representatives Of the gov
ernmsnt will be party, the govern