Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-10
STABILITY IS GOAL
IN LABOR MARKET
tremendous Program of Road
and Building Construction
Factor in Situation.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
NEW YORK, January Instability
In the market for labor is equally as
important TO the merchant and manu-
facturer as stability in the market for
their own products. according to some
OF the largest financiers ana distrihu-
tors in the country today. Conse.
cuently. all business men are laborfng
earnestly as the year starts for a
maintenance OF profitable employment
rather than situation which will call
for an extraordinary number OF work
ers for a brief time.
Secretary of the Treasury Mellon
declares that the steady progress
throughout 1927 was due in large part
20 high wages. increased productivity
per worker and lower living costs.
which sustained a general purchasing
power contributing much TO the pro-
motion Of business stability.
'One of the factors in our economic
progress" he said. has been the i'm
proved relationship between labor and
capital and the growing appreciation
on the part of both of the necessity OF
working ogether. and not of flghing
each cher. if prosperity is to be main
tanned and both are to participate in
that prosperity"
Intelligent Control of Situation.
We must look TO Intelligent mana
gerial control Of the various processes
OF industry rather than to any artifi.
Cial manipulation of our supply of
money and credit. according to Mag.
nus W. Alexander, president or the
National Industrial Conference Board.
I'm seeking to stabilize employ
ment." he said. I'VE must turn our
consideration TO those factors which
exert the most important influences
upon the volume Of employment.
The tendencies toward q decrease in
Industrial employment have been due
in part 10 the increased mechanical
ton OF industry. but at the same
time production has been rising"
Agricultural experts forecast an in.
crease in the price of farm labor in
1928, but decrease in the cost of
labor to the farmers as q result Of
the employment OF new and more
efficient machinery on the farm.
As to sectional employment, New
England gives only slight indica.
ton OF unemployment. The metal
trades in Connecticut and Massachu.
sets show a betterment. Shoes in
Massachusetts and New Hampshire
are active. while rubber and machine
goods are in fair condition. The
textile industry Is very spotty. Yer.
mont will provide considerable EN-.
. ployment for unskilied labor in re-
Mobilization work.
Middle Atlantic Outlook.
In the Middle Atlantic States the
outlook is not so bright for New
York as it WIS year ago from the
industrial employment standpoint. In
New Jersey skilled labor is in demand
but there Ia an oversupply OF un-
skiIled workers. The same is true
for the District OF Columbia. Mary.
land. Delaware and to q slight ex.
tent Pennsylvania. In the latter
State, however, not all of the build.
ing craftsmen are expected to be EN-.
ployed.
In the Southeast both skilled and
unskiIied labor will be aided by the
building trend. Georgia lis in a
splendid industrial situation with
$50, o0e 900 invested in new factories
in the last year. In North Carolina
the outlook is only slightly better
than fair. South Carolina Is pre-
pairing 10 take advantage Of any bust
ness improvement in the textile in.
dustry.
In the Middle South. lumber, oil.
iron. steel, sugar and textiles promise
Improvement. IL In likely that the
coal output viii be greater. but
whether it viii yield profits In another
question
Agriculture i'm West.
In the Central West the agricul.
tural situation win take care Of most
Of the ungkilied local labor. but win
not provide for the itinerant worker
The demand for employees In the cattle
trade, automobile manufacture, agri.
cultural machinery. steel mills and oil
and coal promises TO show improve
nnent In Michigan. Kansas, Ohio. In.
diana and Illinois. Missouri, Iowa,
Nebraska, North Dakota, South la.
kota and Minnesota have q prosper.
OTIS agricultural outlook. but with
only seasonal demand for outside
workers.
The Southwest promises 10 be OK.
ceedingiy active with metal mines,
Evestocks, cotton and Gil showing
marked activity.
The Intermountain West has per.
hzpe the least favorable outlook now.
although the mines are undoubtedly
due 10 improve their production, beet
sugar operations will be heavy and
wool production profitable NeveYthe.
iese, except for the few weeks Of har.
sest!ng and shearing. local abor will
rIffce 70 take care Of all demands.
In tbs PacihG Northwest there may
bs 81 occasional oyersuppIy Of unhkiIl.
81 laborefs. but the activity OF the
fasic Industries Of the territory III
such that the situation in by no rnea Ms
Enss tisfactory.
TIE fat remains. however. that in
earn one of these districts the predic.
fions ~ extensive employment Of both
skaIIec and unskf'led workers are de.
pendent on the TREMENDOUS progra m
Tor road and building construction.
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