New-York tribune., 1922-03-05

Ihls enormous number %ZI&M
OF workers is unem- WME4Ksk@S#
ployed through no y Mz0
fault of their own \A&~
rive million workers are idle because man
agement has msmanaged as to close the
factory doors against them
1t is essential to the life Of our civilization
that a way be found to prevent unemploy-
ment That legislation such as is proposed
IN the Duell-M Miller bill will prevent unen-
ployment will be contended only bv those
whose vision is perverted and whose Judgment
has vanished
While there we're FIVE million American
workers unemployed by reason of the fact that
no employment was to be had, the figures Of
the United States Census Bureau for Septem-
Der, 1921 (the latest month available), show
tnat IN the three months preceding there had
been no strike anywhere in the United States
involving as many as 10000 workers
Unemployment is a condition wherein the
worker is unable to obtain the means of sub
slstence. 1t is a condition wherein our indus
trial organization deprives him of the means
of sustaining life. On the other hand, the
strike is voluntary cessation of work on the
CeSSS-
ton of work, they seek to register their pro-
test against wages, working conditions or
hours which they deem unjust and under
which they unwilling to render service
Unemployment is a cruel punishment of
workers merited by no offense, inflicted upon
them without their consent, working great and
acute suffering, loss of vitality and not infre-
quently death 1t involves millions and the
worker is absolutely without voice az TO the
term Of it's duration.
The strike is a cessation Of work entered
upon for the purpose of achieving progress or
preventing deterioration of standards, and
therefore for the purpose of making life fuller
and richer and more worth living. Except in
infrequent cases, strikes involve comparatively
few workers and are of comparatively short
duration. Invariably the strike ends the mo-
ment it is possible for workers and employers
to agree upon terms Of employment. Usually
1t ends soon employers are willing to
enter into conference with the workers re-
lating to terms which are in dispute.
Loss of production due to unemployment is
never recovered. That is to say, that unenl-
ployment inflicts upon society loss in produc-
tion of commodities which is permanent. The
energy of the 100000 workers now unem-
ployed, which has been lost during the period
of their unemployment, is lost permanently
Loss Of production occasioned by strikes is al
most always recovered within a short period
after the conclusion of the strike.
The whole Of the argument made for the
Kansas slave law idea, to the effect that its
purpose is to insure the continuous operation
Of industry, is huge fraud and a strangely
bold effort to mislead and deceive the people.
1t cannot succeed in any sense 1t cannot pre-
vent strikes, and if it could prevent strikes it
could not prevent unemployment, which is by
far the greater factor in the interruption Of
industry.
Another element in the interruption and i'm
pairment Of industry which is second in i'm
portance to actual unemployment is what is
known as labor turnover. There is no agency
which supplies adequate statistics to show the
extent Of this evil, but it is matter Of COM
mon knowledge that the extent is tremendous
and that the suffering inflicted and the loss Of
production entaed are amazing. An example
Of the enormous waste and injustice involved
in labor turnover is found in one automobile
plant, where it is said that approximately 49,
600 workers are hired and discharged each
year to maintain an average working force Of
$4,000.