San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-14
LABOR DEMAND
FOR 1928 MAY
EXCEED SUPPLY
Shortage Expected as Plans
fer Expansion Are Put
Into Effect.
FEW ON STRIKE NOW
Situation Is Nest Serene in
Long Time Says Depart
ment Report.
FEW ON STRIKE NOW
BY HARDEN COLFAX.

Copyright, 1898, by inc san ANTONIO llsul.
Washington, ID. C.. Jan. 13.-An Old
time labor shortage seems on the way.
Government observers who have kept
their fingers on the pulse of industry
during the first ten working days OF
the new year fear the shortage may
be so acute as to curtail seriously some
of the ambitious leading enterprises for
expansion during 1923.
The shortage, according to the en-
ployment service of the Department OF
Labor is actually here ut present, but
its proportions are rot sufficient to
cripple business. The demand for ad-
ditional workers will come chiefly from
the following industries:
Automobile manufacturers who are
expecting TO eclipse last years record of
more than 100000 cars and trucks
with a production of nearly 100000.
These employers will need, it is Cs-
timated, at least 100000 more work
men.
The building trades which last year
did a $J.OO0,OO0,000 business, and are
looking forward to making 1923 So
OO0OOO.000 year. These interests will
need 100000 more men, mostly skilled
labor, if they succeed in their plans.
The railroads have on their payrOlls
at the present time about 100000
men. Executives of the carriers are eX-
pCcting TO haul more frcight-pOsSbly
10 per cent mOre--in 1923 than they
did last year, although that year was
the second highest on record. They also
are figuring on at least 2,OOOOOO en-
ploycs to handle the record traffic.
Can't Obtain the N'0rlmen.
As matters stand today it is impOSsi-
bic to obtain 100000 men to do this.
Department Of Labor officials say.
Every day makes it more difficult.
As an outgrow;h of railroad activity
comos the increased business Of the rail
road equipment shops. The Penrsyl-
yania railroads order for 800 loCOmo-
tivCS. one of the largest ever placed. II
not the largest announced during the
present woke. is rgarded rs the fore
runner of similar large orders from
other roads where active power needs
TcplCniShing.
During the coming year estimates
place the freight car orders ut about
100000. Where the extra mCn are
coming from to taIn care OF this I'M
usual volume of work, is something
no observer here could state.
The farmer too, is coming along, nc
COrdiug to recent reports to the Denart-
mcut of the Agriculture. Agents of the
department expect that more acreage
will be planted in cotton alone this year
than ever before in American history.
Tho lure Of big prices for cotton is
making IN the southern planters mind
for him. The entire south would be ono
big cotton field-if the planters could
get the men.
Others Want Additional Men.
Coal, iron and steel. petroleum and
metal mining industries are anticipat-
ing full year and are planning to put
on additional workers if they can get
them.
At the present time the labor situa-
ton is one Of almost unoQuallcd seren-
ity. The only strikes worthy the name
in the United States so far ms number
Of workers is concerned, are those of
certain coal mine employees in Mary
land and Pennsylvania and some Of the
railroad shopmen who have not vet
signed up. Labor Department conrilia-
tors are having a quiet time with hard
ly one-tcnth Of one per cent of the
workers in the country on strike.
Wages are rising end expected to rise
still further during the next few
months rs the shortage Of men becomes
more apparent. The peak probably has
hccn reached in the building trades. but
in other lines sizcablc increases are cy-
pcctCd.