Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-04
Figures Show Fewer Workers
and Cut in Average Total
Wage Roll.
100000 LESSER PAID
NEED AID, DAVIS AYERS
Secretary Sees Business Conduct on
High Plane, Calling U. s. Toiler
Best Remunerated.

officials, the eve of Labor day finds
the organized workers of the country
at the threshold of an era unprece-
dented in industrial peace and oppor-
tunity.
Only the Government statistician.
who deals coldly in figures compiled
from 81 seperate industries, detects
a. flaw in the otherwise roseate hues
of the industrial rainbow during the
first seven months of 1927. Despite
fewer strikes than ever before in the
history of organized labor, the tell
tale charts show a reduction OF FL
per cent in the number of employed
persons during this period, as COM
pared with the average number in
1926 and a corresponding reduction OF
1.6 per cent in the average total pay
roll.
While inclined always to accept
such statistics for what they are
worth, Secretary Of Labor Davis 10
one of those who are encouraged by
the recovery since postwar depres-
sion to put faith in the belief that
the 1926 slogan of living wage Will
gradually bear the fruits Of a saving
wage during 1927 and the years to
come for the great mass OF the
~ 900 900 men, women and children
gainfully employed in the United
States.
Hoover is Hopeful.
Trends of trade in the field OF
American business during the nrst
two-thirds of the year 1927, as depicted
in Commerce Department reports and
indices, convince Secretary Hoover
months is very fair. For the Asso.
ciated Press yesterday, Mr.. Hoover set
down some of these bases:
This department does not engage
in any opinion, 1t can merely make
summary of the currents now In
progress" the secretary said. The
first seven months Of 1927 have dis
closed generally a higher state OF
business activity than was expected
after the peak year OF 1926.
Railroads Near Record.
"Loadings of railroad freight for
the first seven months are but very
slightly under the record loading vol
umes experienced in 1925. Pig iron
production in the country has been
but slightly less than 1925. but greater
than 1925. There has been an unan-
ticipated volume of construction kept
up through the Aar, and in spite OF
the heavy volunA OF building ana
construction generally undertaken In
1926 and previous years, the record or
contracts let for the first seven
than even 1926. Textiles and automo'
biles have shown some decline under
1926. Exports of commodities on
quantity basis have shown an In
crease over 1926 including an increase
in automobiles and textiles. Retail
sales seem to be keeping pace with
1926, even increasing in certain To-
calities.
There has been some slight in
crease in stocks of goods with some
decline in wholesale prices. There is
slight reduction in the number OF
factory workers industrially engaged
during July as compared with July of
1926. However, our statistics deal
only with factory workers, and we
know there had been an increase in
the number of people employed in
service lines, from which regular re-
ports are not customarily obtained.
BY service lines are meant such occu.
pations as automobile service and rail.
road operation, along with number
of other employments which do not
lend themselves to regular classifica-
ton and reporting.
Money fsates Low.
Money rates are now low. The ef.
feet of that condition is to maintain
enterprise. The important factor Of
time deposits is distinctly stronger
than this time last year. The agri.
cultural outlook cannot be as yet de-
termined. The price levels have i'm.
proved. In the case Of corn. one Of
the most important crops, we are still
dependent a good deal upon the
weather, but If fortune Is favorable.
through delay in early frcsts, large
part of the crop should come through.
ION the whole we cannot complain
nationally Of the results during the
present year, and so far as can be
seen there are no disastrous economic
currents about"
Workers Good Feeling.
American business as a whole has
never been conducted on a higher
plane" Secretary Davis declared in Q
statement prepared with view to the
approach of Labor day. THE ranks
of Americas workers have never been
so filled with good feeling. They
never have been more highly paid.
For that matter, no worker in history
has ever received such wages as those
now paid in our country.
II see no reason" he added, why
we cannot keep this condition with
us indefinitely"
The fact that a slightly fewer mum.
Der of persons were employed during
the first half of 1897 in these index in
dustries, officials at the Department
Of Labor claimed yesterday. is of
practically no significance. To Offset
the slight reduction in the total pay
rolls, the point out that the cost of
living has undergone a corresponding
decrease during the last year.
Industrial Horizon Clear.
AS Labor day dawns upon a Pc
riod of unequaled prosperity for the
country as a whole" one official of
the Department Of Labor said yester.
day, there Is nothing on the indus.
trial horizon that points to any un-
usual strike or lockout. Except for
the dispute involving 10000 bitumi.
nous coal miners In the central competi-
tive field Of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and
western Pennsylvania, the industrial
peace that reigns today Is unprece.
dented. Wages are improving steadi.
ly in the ranks Of organized labor.
Capital Is more and more accepting
the economic view that q higher or
living wage creates . greater purchas-