Evening star., 1929-12-19
EMPLOYMENT DROP
IS HELD SEASONAL
Migration of Workers De-
CIared Big Factor in
Present Situation.
BY J. C. ROYLE.

Decided relief was experienced this
week by business men when they view
ed the figures for employment shown
by the report of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. 1t is confidently believed
that conditions since November 80, the
period covered by the report, have i'm
proved greatly.
There is no doubt in the minds of
we'll informed business men that there
are large number of men out of work
now. But unemployment of this char
acter now is caused by the seasonal
movement of unskilled labor to and
from the harvest fields. the mines, the
lumber camps, the mills and the cities.
These itinerate workers necessarily are
idle during the time they are moving
from one job to the other.
voluntarily Idle"
This is true also of the mechanical
trades and the building trades. 1t is
no unusual thing for building trade
artisans to throw their tool kits into
the flivver at this season Of the year
in Northern cities and depart to spend
the Winter in the South.
This is not dangerous unemployment,
even when the number of idle is large,
for it, is idleneSs on the part OF those
who have funds and not likely to be-
come public charges. Also there are
at all times large numbers OF "Volun-
tarily idle" who have no jobs because
they do not want them.
Unemployment of this sort, sometimes
in the best years. amounts to as many
as 1000, 900 workers. There are not
that many now out of work and, ac-
cording to Government officials, no such
number will be out of work. There
has been some migration to the larger
cities. but this is a natural move. Ihe
harvest hands usually come in to spend
a few DAYS and outfit for the Winter
before they go out to Winter jobs. 1t
is during these visits that much OF
their money finds its way into the
hands of merchants, and the latter 40
not view the migration cityward with
alarm.
The bare figures Of the statistician
do not give a complete picture OF the
situation, even though the outlines they
draw are correct. Working hours per
week show a change, but this is due
in no small measure to the prevalence
Of the five-dav week. which has been
q goal of the workingman for genera
tions and which does not represent a
cut in wages or pay rolls. In fact, the
union wages of the country are higher
today than they have ever been.
First Eject OF heactlOn.
The report of the Labor Bureau
shows the darkest side OF the picture
In its outlines. November always Is an
inventory month, with many plants
closed for considerable periods even
when prosperity is at its height. This
year November's figures represent the
first terrified reaction of some en-
ployers over the upheaval in the stock
market. This anxiety now has notably
abated. The figures are for a period
prior to the business conferences held
here, in which pledges Of programs
we're made which will involve the ex-
penditure of billions and furnish en-
ployment to millions.
It is still too soon for the effect OF
these pledges to be felt. Operations
of such magnitude cannot be under
taken overnight, but even so. officials
here are confident that the labor stu
alton since November 80 has shown a
marked Improvement.
There are some industries which are
in an unhealthy condition, not because
of the present situation but because
of developments in the past. These
cannot be made prosperous Immediately,
and since they are weak they naturally
feel any reaction more severely than
the healthy industries. This Is true OF
the textile trades and one or two others.
In general, however, the situation Is
not one which Is causing acute alarm to
Government officials.