The labor world., 1921-01-15

Pershings cline of glory" with noe
thought that soon after their return
home they would become candidates
for the breadline. These figures do
not include thousands Of agricultural.
employees who are idle by reason of
the sudden fall Of prices for farm
products.
Only three labor strikes Of conse-.
.quence prevailed at the dawn Of the
new year. In West Virginia and Ala
bama approximately 10000 coal min
ers are out contesting for a living:
wage and the right to Organize. In
New York city $4,000 clothing work.
ers are resisting a wage cut and a re-
fusal Of the bosses to renew union
contracts.
Hundreds of plants, large and
small, have closed to force a reduc-
ton in wages. scheme on the part
of bosses to starve their employees into
subjection. In other instances plants
have been closed to maintain high
prices of products and to dispose of
surplus accumulations at the prevail
ing rates. Labor is the chief loser.
What Labor Officials Say.
Frank Morrison. secretary Of the
American Federation of Labor, says
reports reaching his office from in
dustrial centers in all parts Of the in
dustry tell of increasing unemploy-
ment and he estimates the number
of workers affected as above 2,000,-
900.
The department Of labor is making
a survey Of unemployment with a.
view of gaining some idea Of whether
idleness promises to be temporary or
Of long duration. This report will be
made public about Jan. Is by the
United States employment service.
For the purpose Of the survey the
country has been divided into nine
districts. Field workers have been en-
gagged in making the canvass of the
principal industrial cities with in
structions to report to Washington
by Jan. Is. John B. Densmore, direc-
tor of the employment service, said
that while he had no authentic fig
ures at present, the state of unem-
ployment was growing at an alarming
rate and probably exceeded 2,000,-
OO0." +,
Building Industry Stagnant.
William J. Spencer, secretary Of the
building trades department of the
American Federation Of Labor, said
the volume Of idle men in the building
trades throughout the country is now
larger than at any time in ii years.
- NATURALLY at this season of the
year there is always a slump in the
building Industry" said Mr.. Spencer,
but within tho last month architects
have been Withdrawing plans for new
structures at a rate that has an omin-
GUS look. In many instances excava-
tions for large structures were made
and the building operations never
started. It would be impossible to
compute tho number Of unemployed
in tho industry, but it runs into the
hundreds Of thousands and II 1ncreas-
ing daily. About the only work now
being done is finishing. The present
great slump is unusual even for this
time Of the year. There are no strikes
in the building industry and thus far
no wage cuts are reported. We are
we'll organized and prepared to resist
any attempt Of employers to reduce
wages.
Iayoffs in the Metal Trades.
Thousands of men have been laid
off within the past few weeks In the
: ship industry and this line Of work
has virtually come to a standstill, =
said James O O'Connell, president OF the
Metal Trades Department Of the
lcqptinAaa On mara % --.......