Evening journal., 1922-01-17
UNEMPLOYMENT
NEARLY ACUTE
Wilmingtonians Who
Cannot Get Jobs Feel
Situation Keenly.
L. G. EMMONS
DIRECTS BUREAU


mington which, up to the present
have been regarded as undeniably
serious, rapidly are approaching an
acute stage, according 70 the views
held by those In charge OF the Pub
Ire Employment Bureau. In the old
City Hall, the Mayors Emergency
Relief Committee. the women's
Emergency Relief Committee. the
Associated Charities, and other
charitable agencis.
While there has been a great re-
duction in the number OF idle work.
ers, both women and men. since the
Public Employment Bureau was
opened about October 10, the cases
Of those men and women who have
failed 70 obtain work is becoming
more and more desperate. Winter
weather too, has tended to close
down numerous outdoor Industrial
operations, thus adding TO the Sc
verify Of the situation.
Two men who visited the employ
ment bnreau yesterday afternoon
bluntly told Miss Katherine smith,
in charge, that unless they obtained
some means Of supporting their
families, they would turn thieves.
They did not speak resentfully. but
gave every indication they were
driven by sheer necessity to desper-
ate means OF obtaining relief
A case today also served to Illus
trate the increasing acuteness OF the
relief problem on the first day the
bureau opened. in october last, a
man registered. saying he was
I skilled mechanic and millwright,
/ and could furnish best references.
} He had been out of work. he said.
! for thirteen months. and prior TO
that period had been IN for four
teen months In his more prosper
GUS days he had saved a tidy sum OF
! money. But this was quickly used
UP. first by the expenses OF his Ions
illness. and then by his term OF idle
ness.
This man was the sole support OF
3 a wife who is a cripple, and OF a
youthful son. The bureau obtained
y a job as chauffeur for the son. which
o brought in IS a week. Today this
man again appeared at the bureau
I, and nearly wept as he recounted his
inability to find employment.
on the other hand. the case noted
n yesterday by The Evening Journa
e OF an expert accountant, who de-
= clared he was willing to clear
T cellars or haul ashes to obtair
I. food for his wife and children. was
= today relieved. Call was received a
7. the bureau for his services in Z
b clerical capacity, and he eagerly
= "got on the job"
= Miss Smith today began prepare
b tions for her departure for In
diana, whittier she has been ordered
Z. by the Employment Division OF tn
l. Department OF Labor. at Washing
Z ton. for a stay Of thirty days Leo G
d Emmons has been assigned by hi
j. rector Francis /. Jones' OF the Elm
y ployment Division, TO take her place
= He arrived in Wilmington thi
morning and began work under Mis-
Smiths direction. He will take owe
control OF the bureau on Thursday
when Miss Smith will start West.
= According TO an agreement mad
y bv Director Jones with DE. JoseDl
II. Odeil, director OF the Sefv.c
Citizens and the Public Employ
ment Service in Delaware. Mis-
Smith is TO return to Wilmington a
y the end Of a month Director Jonc
'e declared that the Wilmingto
>, bureau was. a model for the entir
" country. Vand complimented 1t high
q ~ on its efficiency in the face Q
severe difficulties.
g Thirteen men and four wome
= registered for employment up to
IN o'clock this afternoon. Three me
and fourteen women were referre
"a to possible positions, while three me
3 and ten women we're actuall
- placed One Of the men placed
IN a mechanic. AS his case was de-
's' perate and the bureau had no -cths
re openings except that OF a floor scrut
nc ber. he was offered. and prompt
accepted that job. This afternoo
ne is engaged in doing the wor
usually assigned 10 scrubwomen.
Three Of the women placed wei
given factory positions and one
IC lob as waitress. Clerical work WI
~ found for a woman who is a grad,
ate OF a well-known university. Tf
rest OF the women placed we're ger
>, eral workers.
u One Of the largest crowds OF me
III and women which yet has assen
s bled in the old City Hall, hopeful
~ obtaining work. fairly crowded Il
y lower floor OF the building today.
Overdue rent. the necessity
4, moving. lack Of coal. sicknes
y shortage OF food. lack Of money
buy shoes for the children to wei
as TO school are principal topi
"A discussed among the waitii
= registrants. who talk at all
apathetic silence is becomii
A. more common than conversation
No the waiting room. the men comiI
I'M up to the desk, asking mechanics
no ~ anything today" and when Il
A.. answer is in the negative, sittir
OF down on the benches Of the Off
L. to wait several hours sometimes q
Of day. for a possible summons TO q
desk, and a reference to an en-
ployer in need Of men.
A young woman, who is the mot
er or an eight-months-old child al
IN whose husband. formerly a locom
Dt tive engineer. has been out OF wo
afnna oro .trooly foffovvfnu fhafr n, q