The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-04-29

ton Demonstrations In New Eng
land States-SOme Wage Reductions.
CHICAGO, April -(Associated
Press. General Improvement in the in
dustriaI situation. described in several
instances as slow bat steady, particularly
over conditions as they existed in the
winter months, was indicated in reports
gathered by The Associated Press from
federal, state, labor and industrial lead.
ers in many states of the union.
Labor commissioners and other officials
in virtually every state irons which re7
ports were received. not only declared
that unemployment had materially been
lessened in the last few months, but
nearly all were optimistic concerning
the future. holding that the opening of
seaSonable lines of work. such as agri-
culture, and road and building construe-
ton would help greatly in absorbing the
surplus of workers.
While no definite figure on the present
number of unemployed was available.
approximately 1,350,0O0 persons were re-
ported idle in rs states from which esti-
mates were received. Large industrial
states such as New York, Pennsylvania.
and Massachusetts contributed more than
100000 to this total, New York leading
with an estimated 100000 out of
work The total population of the
16 states was in excess of 43OoO,O00.
Gompers' Estimate.
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American federation of labor. estimated
the unemployed at 100000. Miners
and other workers on strike were not
included in the state estimates The
miners strike which union officials eSti-
mated as involving nearly 100000 men,
was the largest industrial controversy IN
progress as May day approached, with
considerable number of workers affected
by textile and stone cutting strikes III
shutdowns in New England and IN minor
walkouts in other parts of the country.
In some cities there was declared to be
a demand for skilled workers, although
the supply of common labor, generally
was declared to be larger than the de-
mand Some state labor department of
ficialS definitely stated that the unem-
ployment crisis had been passed in their
states and that a move toward normal
conditions was in progress. Some locall-
ties reported that conditions already
virtually were normal. but from most OF
the states reporting there was declared
to be unemployment in many lines. Only
in a few isolated instances. however,
was it declared to be acute, and the gen
eral tenor of the statements was one of
optimism, particularly with reference to
the future.
Great Building Boom.
A program of intense building activity
and city and state improvement work
was outlined in reports from virtually
every state, and it was expected that
many idle workers would find employ
ment in a gigantic construction boom
which was indicated from many sources.
Monthly records of building activity
kept by the American contractor since
1914 were broken blythe total valuation of
building permits at leading cities for
March. and the aggregation of S262,2S"
2J4 for 100 cities was believed by that
publication to be the largest for all time.
The number of permits issued last month
III those cities was 62,444
reduction in wages was noted IN
statements from several states. along
with declarations that the efficiency of
labor was increasing, Several states
reported that the recent campaign OF the
American Legion TO place former sol
diers in positions had met considerable
success and had helped materially to de-
crease unemployment.
Condition in New England.
Improvement in New England states is
reported as follows:
Massachusetts State officials in close
touch with the labor situation estimated
the probable number of unemployed May
1 as a per cent of the wage-earners.
The unemployed in Boston alone will
number approximately $4,000, according
to the estimate of the state free employ
ment bureau at that city
Rhode Island: The situation, exclu-
sive of the textile strike, is fairly. en-
couragiug. Deputy Commissioner of La,
Dor Christopher Nc Dunn hefieges.g. The /
greatest nIleInployTnent aside from the
textile industry is-found IN the machine
and iewelry trades.
Maine: Roscoe A. Eddy, commits
sioner of labor, said that advices re-
ceived from manufacturers showed a gem
.eral Improvement in business in Maine
- a,l1iiiiiu liill iiiisf diaat