Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-18
Give Them Work.

As nation, we must prevent hunger
and cold to those of our people who
are In honest difficulties"
''The key log of the jam is unem-
ployment. Give the workers work to
do and they will buy"
The above quotations are from two
different sources, both dealing with the
national problem of unemployment.
The first comes from President Hoovers
important announcement yesterday of
. Federal Board that is Immediately
to undertake the formulation of a def
mite program to deal with unemploy-
ment. The second is from what might
be called a diagnosis of business
troubles pronounced yesterday by the
Society of Industrial Engineers in ses-
sion here, with an accompanying pre-
Scrtption. One concerns the human
tartan, the other the economic, phases
Of unemployment.
President Hoover's announcement yes
terday Of Federal plans in connection
with the emergent problem of unem-
ployment this Winter naturally recalls
the conditions facing the country in
1921, when, as Secretary Of Commerce,
Mr.. Hoover was called into service by
President Harding to organize the Fed
eral machinery for unemployment re-
lief that year. Then, as now, the view
was taken that in the absence, or rather
the delay, Of a natural trade revival,
a Nationwide organization must be
created to deal with a Nation wide
emergency. At that time there were
from three and half to i've million
workers admittedly idle The latest
census figures show that there are now
2,500,0o0 workers unemployed, this total,
however, failing to include the number
temporarily laid OF" by industries.
The American Federation of Labor puts
the total out Of work today at 300, 900,
while estimates made by political, rather
than economic, experts run the figures
Is high as 5000 900.
With no occasion to quibbIe over the
extent Of unemployment, or the rela-
tive gravity of the situation today, the
President is acting with the knowledge
that the steps taken in 1921 assure q
certain degree Of success for those now
planned. In 1921 the Harding confer
ence proceeded on the premise that
public construction Is better than re-
Her and to this end the mechanism
Of local and government committees
was set UP. Expansion Of public build
ing programs by State. municipal and
Federal agencies was urged. Industrials
were asked to manufacture for stocks, %
and to improve and recondition their
factories. In the course Of a few weeks
the effects of the Governments leader
ship were felt.
President Hooyer's present plans un-
doubtedly include those found success
ful IN 1921. A series Of conferences
with leaders of industry at the White
House has made him familiar with
definite contributions that may be
made by the Federal Government in
the field of private business. These
conferences are to be followed by others
IN which the members of the cabinet
win participate. Meanwhile, the or
ganization Of municipal, State and Fed
eral employment machinery will go
forward, with emphasis placed every
where upon the necessity of continuing
and broadening public works programs
during the Winter.
The Federal Governments greatest,
and possibly the only practical, form Of
its assistance lies in Offering leadership
and facilities for centralizing and MAX
ing more effective the many separate
forces that can deal with unemploy-
ment. The President has set up a
mere framework. From it will grow a
tremendous organization, extending into
every locality, welding the influence
that results from unified purpose ex-
pressed along definite lines.
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