Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-08
p.t. nv Carrier Within the City.
Rate by MaiI-PayabIe in Advance.
Am Other STATES and Canada.
Unemployment Insurance.

Unemployment Insurance.
One day last week Gov. Franklin D.
Roosevelt of New York addressed the
delegates of the New York State Fed
Grafton of Labor, assembled at Buffalo
In attendance upon the annual con-
vention Of that body. He chose for
his principal topic compulsory insur-
ance Of labor against unemployment by
the State. The day following the
State federation adopted a resolution
favoring such system. This gave
Roadway to Q movement to align the
American Federation of Labor in IA
vor of the system, when that body
meets in annual convention at Boston
october 6. 1t is expected that this will
be the most important topic on the
federation's convention agenda and
there will be much campaigning during
the next four weeks for and against the
proposal.
Yesterday William Green, president
Of the American Federation of Labor,
In statement issued by him from At
lantic City, criticized the movement for
compulsory unemployment insurance
~ one that would fasten the dole sys-
tenn upon American labor and indus
try. He said:
II the dole system is ever established
the employers will be to blame, because
they will have failed to deal with un-
employment in q systematic, scientific
and constructive way by regularizing
and stabilizing employment.
We believe in the shorter work day
and the shorter week. In a period of
unavoidable depression-the cyclical
depression so called--instead Of dis
charging men wholesale as has been the
practice arrangements should be made
for the division of work so that all will
be given an equal share of what work
there may be.
The American workman resents the
idea Of being compelled to make fixed
contribution TO fund. In this respect
% Is different from the European work.
1ngman. He Is, however, willing to
develop a system of voluntary pay
ments worked out by Joint agreement
with employers. He resents being told
what he must do.
Upon this basis President Green will
oppose the resolution that will be In
troduced at Boston, probably by the
New York delegation. It is likely that
he viii win and If he does not eject
defeat Of the resolution he viii cause
It's reference to committee for study,
which will mean its postponement for
&c least . year. Mr.. Green's high pres
tise with his organization, his clear
view Of economic conditions and, In
this instance his reasoning, win in all
likelihood lead to this result.
The British dole system has not
worked well for either the state or
labor. It has been enormously costly.
IL has yielded the unemployed the
merest pittance for subsistence, and 1t
has undoubtedly led to chronic idle
ness on the part Of q great number.
It has brought about condition Of
industrial inertia from which Great
Britain will have Q hard time in re-
covery.
No such condition confronts the
American workingman today as that
which led to the adoption of the dole
IN Great Britain shortly after the war.
The crisis here has been acute, but
from the outset was certain to pass
quickly. The crisis there was acute,
but almost systematic. Recovery could
not possibly come within a decade. Re-
eovery here is already evident.
Unemployment insurance, however
devised or supported, is in the line Of
American economic development. Had
there been some system of division of
labor and sharing of wages during the
time Of industrial and commercial
slackness following the Stock Exchange
collapse of last Autumn, much suffer-
ing would have been prevented and
probably the recovery toward economic
balance would have been more rapid.
This subject Is easily the most i'm
portant one that now confronts both
business and labor In America, and it
should not be decided In any degree
or by any Of the participating factors
with snap Judgment.