Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-25
BY HARDEN COlFAx.
Snu,g.r ntap.tch 4, The Tribune

Copyright 1922, by The GREAT Falls Tribune
Washington, Sept. 24.-Almost over
night a labor shortage has come upon
American industries. There are more
jobs in the country today. than there
are men to fill them. The situation
is rapidly becoming acute in sucn grea5
centers as Chicago, Philadelphia and
Pittsburgh. and a national dearth of
skilled and unskilled labor lies lmme-
diately ahead.
So states the weeks reports from
many sections to the employment
service of the department of labor.
The unemployment of month ago
has vanished completely, Director
Jones of the service asserts, and IN
stead of having to seek jobs for appn-
cants. the service at present Is trying
to supply the demands of employers
Strikes Are Few
A survey of the industrial situation
shows there is virtually no unemploy-
ment in the United States and that
the number OF men out on strike mas
dwindled to the lowest figure since
the war. Reports to the department
of labor disclose that except for the
textile and transportation workers,
there is not a single strike IN the
United States today involving as many
as 1000 men. Such record has NOT
been approached for years.
Transportation difficulties with re-
spect to labor are clearing. Within &, a
fortnight these strikes either VIII
have been adjusted or will be IN a
fair way for immediate settlement.
'The only class of labor that is un-
employed to any extent today, Mr..
Jones said. lis the clerical workers.
There is surplus of clerks. There
is corresponding shortage of other
classes of labor. If the clerical
workers would be willing to take other
employment for a time no man need
be idle anywhere in the country.
One of the surprising elements OF
the situation is the nationwide short,
ege of common labor. The wages of
the common laborer have increased In
many sections as a result. Wages also
have increased in certain skilled trades
and further increases may De expected
because of the inadequacy Of the sup
ply. -,
In Philadelphia, for instance, there
were 10000 idle men last January
Today there are about 19,0oo ldle.
OF these, $500 are clerks. Thousands
of common laborers could be put 10
work at once in Philadelphia, accord
ing to reports TO the service ou'
cannot be obtained.
Pittsburgh reports similar per
centage of common labor. A sngnt
shortage exists also of skilled labor,
to sunnly which importations were
made recently from other cities. 1t
was with great difficulty that men
were found to fill this need. The
lumber interests on the Paclflc coast
cannot get enough skilled or -un-
sI;lIeS workers to fill all the orders
which they have received recently. In
Kansas where the harvesting is on,
there is still demand for farm labor
and this situation is reported as gen
eral in other agricultural states.
During the harvest season just
ended the employment service prac-
tically exhausted the supply IN Iurnlsn-
ing farm help. The farm labor bu-
rasu obtained men sufficient to har-
vest 3O,000,000 acres. Somehow tne
men thus employed, did not become
available after the harvest 1or otner
work, but were absorbed elther IA ayr
cnlture or other kindred industries.
At the present time the bureau Is en-
dpavoring to obtain farm help Tor tbe
Texas cotton growers and Is having
a hard time in doing so.
Prosperity Expected
In anticipation Of the new high
volume of business activity, the rail-
roads are making strenuous efforts TO
nut their rolling stock and motive
mower in condition. Thousands IN ex-
cess of the usual number OF shopmen
are at work on the country's chlef
carriers with rush orders 10 repalr