The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-29

statement adopted by the Cen
trail Executive Committee of the
Workers Party.
TT UNEMPLOYMENT is a constant
~ scourge of the workers under
capitalism. 1t is ever present in
some degree, except in those Pc
RODS when rival groups Of imperial
lists whet the workers to numbering
each other and when production Of
war materials temporarily absorbs
the full labor forces; in normal
times" it is the so-called industrial
reserve army, while in times Of
acute crisis, unemployment throws
millions of workers upon the streets
takes on a mass character it bu.
brings into bold relief the inherent
problems that face the working
class at all times.
Mass unemployment, however,
does present its own distinctive
problems in the character of the
immediate struggle of the workers,
particularly of those directly In
volved. 1t, therefore, becomes Of
vital Importance for our Party to
have exact knowledge of the
growth and extent Of unemployment,
its sectional and Industrial varia-
tons, its tempo of development, and
to prepare definite lines of action
for the workers in their struggle
against its devastating effects.
Immediate Cause Of Present
Unemployment.
The capitalist system Of the world
has, since 1919 and up to the latter
part of 1928, presented a spectacle
Of constantly declining production
and growing unemployment. It *
in the throes Of the most profound
crisis Of history. Many millions of
workers are deprived Of all chance
to make living, and those who
work have their wages constantly
driven down. The United States il
an integral part Of world capital
ism, and it is impossible that it
should escape participation in this
crisis.
In 1921, when the first big drop In
exports to Europe from the United
States occurred as a result Of Eu-
ropes bankruptcy, there were 5 to
6 millions of workers thrown out Of
employment in the resulting deprcs-
sion. But in spite Of the fact that
in 1922 ard 1923, exports declined
still more, yet American capitalism
was able temporarily to recover it.
self, increase production to new
high levels, and generally to restore
snormalcy."
The principal factor in this tenn
porary recovery in the face of loss
export markets was an unexamplcd
domestic market, created by great
capital expenditures, chiefly in the
tremendous boom in the building in
dustry, great replacemcnts and OK
tensions on the railroad systems OF
the country, and also in the unheard-
Of expansion of the automobile and
oil industries More than ten
months ago, however, Roger Babson
was pointing out what the Com.
munists knew, that "Many of the
men now getting an increase in
wages will be out Of work before
1924 is ended"
4Hc uotHcStiC mdThtLS cOutu not
continue indefinitely to absorb the
high production of American indus
tries under the limitations Of capt.
talism. The turning point came in
May, 1923, and industry has been
on the down-grade since that time
with a growing accompaniment Of
unemployment. This downward ten
dency will, in the not distant fu-
ture, develop again the phenomena
Of mass unemployment in the Unit
ed States.
Present Extent and Rate Of
Unemployment.
We are certain that unemployment
on a mass scale will Zee the work
ing class in the near future. That
does not mean that we can say posi-
lively that it will be in the summer
, Of 1924, or the winter Of 1924-25 or
even that it may not be held Off I'M
til the summer Of 1925. The ten
dencv Is fixed bv broad. underlviuy