Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-29
HARDING WOULD AID
NATION s IDLE ARMY.
Will Call a Conference to Rem
edy Unemployment in
This Country.

Washington, Aug. as.---Announee-
ment was made last night by Secre-
tary OF Commerce Hoover that Presi~
dent Harding will call National
Conference on Unemployment mt
Washington soon and that the De-
psrtmcnt OF Commerce had been ask
ed to make the arrangements
The purpose OF the conference Will
be twofold-the alienation OF the un-
employment situation SO that there
may be minimum of suffering dur
ing the winter months, and tho bring
lng about OF constructive effort at
a better understanding between en-
ployer and employe.
Recent reports have Indicated that
there are 100000 or more In the
ranks OF the unemployed. Some of
these reports have been from the De-
partment OF Labor and others from
surveys made by organized labor and
by industries.
Actual suffering among the unem-
ployed. IL is believed has not been
acute up to this time, but fear is ex-
pressed by some government officials
that the time Is coming when many
will have exhausted their savings and
that unless some action Is taken the
Winter months may bring an acute
situation.
The government, capital and labor
VIII be represented at the conference,
and while the principal topic mem
toned In Mr.. Hooyer's announcement
is the unemployment situation, a
general study OF conditions which
contribute directly and indirectly to
unemployment and the social ques-
TORS involved viii be made. Mr..
Hoover's announcement reads:
THE President has decided to cali
q national conference at Washington
on unemployment and has instructed
the Department Of Commerce to for
mulate the plans for IL. Its person.
mel viii be made up so as to repre-
sent the country geographically and
go far as possible TO embrace repre-
sentstiyes of the greater employment
industries The Department OF Com
merce VIII cooperate with the De-
nartment Of Labor on representation
OF labor
"It lis desired for working rea sons to
keep the number Of the conference as
small as possible. II is intended TO in
vite representatives of the greater
groups of industries and thought. and
the cooperation OF their national or
ganizations will be sought in their se-
lection.
The object of the conference will be
to inquire into the volume OF needed
employment. the distribution of unem-
ployment, TO make recommendations
as to measures that can properly be
taken In co-ordinated speeding up OF
employment by industries and public
bodies during the next winter, and in
addition a broad study OF the economic
measures desirable TO ameliorate the
unemployment situation and give inn
pulse to the recovery of business and
commerce 10 normal. Many construc-
tive suggestions have been made to
the department by employers, the
Governors Of States and city officials.
while the business situation is
steadily improving. vet some sections
of the workers may be exhausted their
savings by the coming winter, and
they must be a matter OF extreme
solicitude.
1T is inconceivable that America,
with housing though crowded-and
with an abundance of fuel, could allow
any suffering among those OF our own
people Who desire 10 work. II Is nee
essary that we should be forehanded
in the preparation OF such measures
as Will prevent any such suffering.
1T is expected that the full plan of
the conference will be ready for the
President within about ten days"
The Department OF Commerce. by
means of a series of conferences. has
been engaged for some time in an inti-
mate study of the industrial situation
and export trade. Representatives OF
a numter OF industries have been
called to Washington from time to
time and much information which
should prove OF great value in con-
nection with the conference on un-
already is available.
n