The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-18
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY


w bert Hooyers speech on labor
problems at Newark reveals the po-
litical strength and weakness of the
man in the opinion of independent
observers here.
His address is said to show an I'M
usual grasp Of national economic
factors without the popular orators
power to arouse enthusiasm Of par
tisans.
Hoover was the typical social en-
gineer outlining problems rat1c1
than promising easy panaceas.
To his friends, this means that
Hoover is the safest man that could
be chosen to cope with the nations
problems which are increasingly
economic, such as foreign trade.
dustrial unemployment and
relief.
But his enemies dub his
evasion
Take the situation in ou#
Industries, such as coal and
at Newark, the Republican
di6ate recognized the retardE
covery of these basic indusG
but failed to prescribe a cure.
The Democrats will tell you that
this omission shows that Hoover ~
either much over-rated as an
economist and practical statesman,
or that he is trying to win the favor
Of nonunion operators largely re-
sponsible for r-expansion."
Hooverites reply that wherever
given an opportunities when he
brought temporary peace in the
coal industry by encouraging the
Jacksonville agreement between
operators and miners-he has con-
tributed to industrial concord and
enhanched production on terms
generally acceptable to union labor.
THIS discussion leads naturally
Il to Hoover's reference to unem-
ployment. While his enemies stress
his erroneous use of employment
statistics, his friends emphasize his
accuracy in describing business con-
ditions as now on the upgrade.
can accurate survey Of the De-
partment of Labor showed that even
including the usual winter seasonal
unemployment, about 100000 en-
ployes we're out of work as con-
trasted with five or six million IN
1921" Hoover said.
This apparently is a misleading
Of the March statement of the labor
department to the Senate, which eS-
timated the increase of unemploy-
ment since 1925 at 1,370000, with
out giving any figure tor unemploy-
ment in 1925. On the basis of these
labor department figures at the time,
Senator Wagner Of New York esti-
mated national unemployment at
four or five million.
Practically all official and unof1-
cial estimates Of present conditions,
however, describe increased employ
ment and encouraging business
prospects.
In this prosperity" probably no
one will question Hoover's personal
contribution as Secretary of COM
merce in stimulating foreign trade.
The increase in our exports amount
ing to Al per cent since 1922 has
brought living to 100000 families"
according to the candidate.
Similarly, business men Of both
parties appear willing to give Hoo
yer major credit for bringing about
the high degree of voluntary indus
trial sinplification and elimination
of waste, which have increased both
profits and employment.
His Newark proposals for the use
of public works to assure employ
ment in times Of stress and for the
collection of fuller employment sta
tistics by the Labor Department are
in line with suggestions of labor or
carnations and independent econo-
mists. They also are accepted by
Smith, whose friend, Senator Wag-
ner, put them into the form Of reso-
lutions in the last session of Con-
gress.
TINE dissatisfaction of certain
Il labor leaders with some por-
tions of Hocver's address is such as
to give no comfort to the Demo-
Gratis. For these laboriteS are dis
satisfied with Smith and the Demo-
Gratis for exactly the same reasons.
One point of friction is the in
junction evil and the other is the
continuing non-union policy of
large American industries closely
connected with both the Republican
and Democratic parties.
While Hoover said "it is necessary
to impose restrictions on the excess
sive use of injunctions, laborites
complain of his use of the word Eek
cessive" and other qualifications
which to their minds diminish the
value of both Hoover and Smith
statements on this subject.
Moreover, they challenge Hoov-
er's assertion that both the major
ity of capital and labor discard the
ancient contention that labor is an
economic commodity" They point
out that in many large industiL-y
whose chiefs are now helping direct
both the Hoover and Smith cam
paigns, labor is not allowed to or
ganize, as in the automobile, rub
Der and steel industries
Despite these sore spots, there was
nothing in the Newark speech ex-
pected to lose for Hoover that wing
of the organized labor movement
which prevented the American Fed
Grafton of Labor from going over
the Smith.
nd Answers