The New York herald., 1921-09-15
IDLENESS SITUATION
NOT HELD SERIOUS
New Survey Convinces Wash
ingtOn There Is Room for
Optimism.
RELIEF PLANS COMPLETED
President and Hoover Have
Programme to Present to
Coming Conference.
RELIEF PLANS COMPLETED
Special Despatch to THE NEW yoRx HERALD

CVIillHS COuIcrcHce.
Special Despatch to THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. C., Sept. II.
The Administration to-day looked
for an early solution of the unem-
ployment problem. High officials are
convinced that idleness is not so wide
spread as was indicated by preliminary
figures.
A new survey of the labor situa-
ton, particularly in industrial CEN
tres. indicates there is room for opti-
mism that the coming winter will not
find the nation with an unemployment
situation of any serious character.
1t is disclosed that former estimates
Of the Labor Department tending to
show that 5.735.oO0 men and women
were out of work were based on fig
ures showing the number Of employees
released from industrial plants and
manufacturing concerns after the
peak" business of the war period be-
gan to recede into the stage of depres-
sion.
| Officials find that those figures do
not accurately reflect the extent OF
| idleness, for they asserted that a sur
prisingly large percentage OF that
| number went back to the farms or the
small town pursuits of pre-war days.
| Secretary Davis in a statement to-day
attempted to set the country right In It's
| Interpretation of the figures sent few
weeks ago to the Senate by the Depart
| ment of Labor that there were at the
time 5.735.000 fewer women and children
On the payrolls than in 1920. He laid
emphasis on the declaration that this
does not mean tina. this number Is un-
employed.
Deductions Were False.
False deductions were drawn from the
statement. Mr.. Davis explained, due to
the fact the figures were a comparison
with those OF year when employment
undoubtedly was greater than at any
time In the history OF the country. The
United States. having just passed
through a war when every effort was
made to have women and others enter
employment 20 help" starving Europe.
found many of these still on the pay
rolls in 1920. Persons who ordinarily
are regarded as dependents. therefore,
and who have gone back to their homes
from the factories are included In the
figures.
While we have our unempoyed..' Mr..
Davis added, "let us not forget the
l2.000.000 who are still at work and that
In 1914 there were 1000. 900 unemployed.
further encouraging fact is that
$500 100000 IS now available throughout
the country In the form OF bonds. al
ready Issued or appropriated by the
state. county and municipal govern
ment for public work Undoubtedly this
will be organized intelllgently.'
With the realization that the unem-
ployment figures are not SO bad they
seem, with the reports from agencies
reaching the Administration officials
caily. and with the plans going ahead
rapidly for the coming conference to be
held in Washington TO relieve the situa-
tion In other ways, the President, Sec
retary Hoover and others who are anx-
ious 20 see the country return 70 nor
malcy" are not at all alarmed about the
outlook. 1t is their belief the country
Is slowly getting back on a solid footing.
Aid for Unemployed.
The final touches on the plan for the
unemployment conference are being
worked out by President Harding and
Mr.. Hoover on their cruise aboard the
Mayflower, and they are expected to be
announced tomorrow or Friday, soon
after the return 20 Washington OF Mr..
Harding. SO far date for the confer
ence has not been fixed. but its opening
Is expected to be the last few days OF
September or the first few days OF
October.
Mr.. Harding IL expected TO deliver an
address. II not at the first session. at
Continued or Nineteenth Page.