Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-01-06
Staggering Figures.

oio"J out surely the extraVaRant claims
which have been made by Republican party
leaders that under the high tariff policies
OF the Coolidge administration the country
has been enjoying an era of unprece-
dented prosperity are being disproved.
One OF the most significant statements
which has been made In this respect re-
Gently wes that Of Charles M. Schwab. who
since the death of the late Judge Gary Is
known as the steel king Business
said Mr. Schwab. has not been good"
Democratic leaders. replying to the Law
ish claims made for the Coolidge admins
tration. have insisted all along that the
boosted prosperity was "spotty." that it
was enjoyed by great monopolistic inter-
ests, but that the farmers, the wage earn
ers and the mercantile and smaller banking
interests were not sharing in the prosperity
This insistence has been borne out by the
very high rate of failures among banks and
mercantile establishments, which has been
heavier last year than at any time In the
country's history.
Finally. President Coolidge and Secretary
Mellon admitted that there had been a
period Of depression. but claimed that il
was passing. In most lines. Mr.. Schwab.
Chairman Of the Board Of the Bethlehem
Steel Corporation, predicts general pros
perlty for 1928. but admits that business
during the last year or 90 has not been
good. which Is a confession that the claims
which have been SO loudly made for the
Coolidge administration and its policies
have not been justified.
Everybody knows we have been having
q slack season. said Mr. Schwab. 'Busi-
ness has not been good, in spite Of what
some may insist
Supporting this admission by Mr.. Schwab,
one OF the most conspicuous boosters for
the Coolidge policies are the latest en-
ployment figures from the Department Of
Labor. covering October and November.
This report. from Republican sources. shows
that employment in manufacturing indus
tries In October was the lowest for any
month since September. 1924, except July
and August last. the low water mark.
The October average was 5.3 Der cent be-
low the average for the same month Of
1925. per cent below the October, 1928,
level, slightly under the AVERAGE for the
same month In 1924 and lit below the
October. 1928. level. 10 other words. of
every one hundred wage earners employed
In October. 1928. more than II we're idle
during October last year.
Then for November. last year, there was a
further drop. The employment level was 10
below that OF October, while the total pay
rolls were 81 per cent less than in October.
and that payroll level was rs per cent
lower than In October, 1925, ST. per cen,
below the October. 1928. level and 1913
per cent below the October. 1928. level.
The Labor Departments figures are based
on actual returns from nearly 1000 manu.
featuring establishments. with approx
mately 100000 employees. Applying
the percentage which the Departments
reports show. Of approximately 5000, 1000
employees at work in these factories in
October. 1928, more than $4,000 were
idle in October last year. while the earn
ines OF the workers In these factories were
approximately $7.500,0O0 less. For No.
vember there was an even greater falling
on both in employment and wages earned.
These figures are an eloquent answer to
the G. o. P. claims that only the high
tariff policies Of that party keep the mill
wheels turning and the workers busy and
happy.
Turning to the agricultural industry,
which everybody knows has suffered be.
cause Of the tariff favoritism Of the Cool
idee administration, mention may be made
ofthe publication recently by Des Moines,
Iowa. daily paper Of thirty-two solid news
paper pages Of tax sales, most Of them Of
farm lands. in one county Of that State.
They covered more than $4,000 pieces of
property on which taxes we're in arrears,
with foreclosure threatened. and involved
upwards Of million dollars 10 delinquent
taxes. These STAGGERING figures are for
one county alone They could be dupli-
Gated in hundreds Of other counties in the
farm belt.