The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-02-24
HOOVER H0OEY
. ON EMPL 0yME:NT
hit BY FACTS
Building Program" A
Colossal Failure

states have increased their budgets
for public work. A few more Sin
creases" of this type, however, and
there will be no building work what
ever. The Pennsylvania records Of
building permits issued January,
1880, are the lowest for all time.
Value of permits issued during
January in Pennsylvania amounted
to $4,874,024, as compared with $751;
645,470 in January of 1929. This is
a decrease of $16,771,446, or IT'S
per cent!
1t was precisely in the industrial
centers where the slump was sharp
est.
For instance, the report for Phila-
delphia states:
"Of the 27 cities and boroughs re-
porting building declines for Janu-
airy, 1880, as compared with January
last year, Philadelphia headed the
list with reduction of nearly $14,-
100000. The building total for
Philadelphia dropped from SIT, 161,-
$40 for January, 1929, to $2,719,925
for January, 1880, a decrease of
$14,441,445, or 84.2 per cent"
Nor is Pennsylvania an isolated
instance. The drop in building con-
struction is widespread.
Congress Discovers 1t.
The growing unemployment and
the increasing militancy of the job
less in demanding unemployment re-
lief is becoming a regular topic of
discussion in the capitalistic con-
gress.
On February IS Representative
Byrns, of Nashville, Tenn, stated
in a speech in the House, that there
is indisputable proof of serious
unemployment situation in the
United States. The proof must be
overwhelming for a capitalist politi-
clan to admit serious unemploy-
ment." Byrns, who, of course, uses
the misery of the workers as a politi-
cal football, pointed out the obvious
lies of Hoover and Davis. He said:
Secretary Davis admitted that
there were more than 100000
workers out of jobs after the stock
market crash last fall. 1t was 'un-
usual and significant especially for
a member of the Presidents Cabinet,
to even admit there is any unem-
ployment at all under the admins
tration. 1t creates the suspicion that
conditions are much more serious
than they are officially admitted to
be-"
He pointed out several other facts
showing drastic unemployment. He
said that in 81 factories in Toledo,
Ohio, there were at present 1868
workers employed, compared with
48,111 in the same plants a year
ago.
Why the C. S. Law in Mich?
He quoted Governor Green of
Michigan, appearing at a Spanish
War pension hearing before the
House Committee on January %, as
having said that he had never seen
conditions as bad as they are now
in Michigan.
Dozens of capitalist politicians
have pointed out that the growing
mass demonstrations particularly
those which have, taken place in
Detroit, Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago,
Pontiac, Boston, Philadelphia and
elsewhere show the unemployed
workers mean business when they
demand work or wages.
There is method in the madness
of these capitalist politicians in their
sudden honesty in pointing out
growing unemployment. But the
method bodies no good for the work
ers. Many of these politicians are
coming up for reelection in No
vember and want to get the votes OF
the unemployed who now form big
proportion of the working-class
population Of the country.
1t will be these politicians that
will unite with the A. F. of L. mis-
leaders against the unemployed
workers. What is necessary is the
strengthening of the Unemployed
Councils as powerful organizations,
uniting the struggles of the unem-
ployed with the employed in fighting
wage cuts, speed-up, ETC., and prepa-
rations not only for the monster
world demonstration on March 8, for
work or wages, but deepening ard
continuation of the fight after that
date until relief is forced from the
no nit q lief state