Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-05

The address of Secretary of Labo
Doak, delivered last night in The Ma
tional Radio Forum, arranged by Tht
Washington Star and broadcast over I
Nationwide hook-up of the Columbis
Broadcasting System follows:
NY Friends of the Radio Audience:
Unemployment has always presented
. serious economic problem, every
where and at all times. Even durint
normal times" unemployment exists Il
q considerable extent, and when, n!
now, in the upward course of the ever
occurring effects of science, invention
and the many other influences upor
modern methods of production, perioc
of worldwide depression but slowly
takes its departure, We all realize thai
the matter of keeping the working peo-
pie permanently employed Is a prob
lem that demands unrelenting watch
fulness and care. And this is just the
situation that every country in the
world is facing today. We may be
Justly proud that our own country Is
far in the lead in the taking of hearten-
ing steps to combat unen. Dloyment and
thereby give greater safeguards to the
welfare of our workers.
depression Causes Cited.
President Hoover has directed the at
tentioi of our people to the fact that
q speculative period which diverted
capital and energy into speculation
rather than into constructive enter
prises was responsible, to some extent
for the depression that lies within our
own borders. But he also said that
other deep-seated causes have been in
action, chiefly worldwide overproduc-
ton beyond even the demand of pros
porous times for such basic commodl-
ties as wheat, rubber, coffee, sugar,
copper. silver. zinc, cotton and other
raw materials. 1t is evident, therefore,
that the difficult process of adjustment
Of production to world consumption has
caused financial crises in many coun-
tries. The buying power Of those coun-
tries has not only been reduced in their
own markets, but their purchases OF
our commodities have been curtailed to
such an extent that production in our
own country was instantly affected.
The President has also called atten-
ton to another vital factor in connec-
ton with this depression in the United
States by pointing out that 'our re-
cuperation has been retarded by the
unwarranted degree of fear and APP
prehension created by these outside
forces" Serious as the depression has
been in the United States, it is impoS-
Sible to state how much more serious
It would have become had it not been
for the foresighted action of the PreSi-
dent in calling into conference at the
White House, in the Fall Of 1929 leaders
Of transportation, business. finance and
labor, among whom it was agreed at
that time that all would cooperate in
maintaining wage rates and keeping
employed every possible worker. While
in some instances. since that time. the
wage rate has been lowered, it is most
gratifying to record the pretty general
acceptance of the program outlined at
the Presidents conferences. 1t is now
recognized as patent and fundamental
truth that the unbroken provision of
regular employment for our wage
earners, at liberal wages, is the foun-
dalton upon which satisfactory and
Substantial business is built and main
tanned.
Public Building Pushed.
Supplementing the White House Con-
ference, the administration undertook
to bring about the greatest public
building construction program of all
times. States. counties and municipali-
ties were encouraged to enter heartily
into such a plan of unemployment re-
lief This was the first time in in
and far-reaching public building pro-
gram had ever been proposed and put
into effect. The wisdom of this move
ment has been happily justified.
Thus it is that the Federal Govern
nent as the Nations custodian of en-
ployment welfare and promotion is now
actively engaged in the task of making
available to our people the country
over a job-finding and unemployment
a. %I10
needs of prospective employers and
employees, at the same time maintain
ing helpful cooperative alliance with
the States. counties and municipalities
throughout the land.
There have been a great many pro-
posals as to what Is the best plan for
us to pursue in the formulation Of a
real nationwide free public employ
ment service. No one will disagree
with me, think, when I state that in
the building of such a service it must
be carefully planned with view to
affordtng the greatest possible service
to all. This new employment service
must be organized and maintained as a
permanent, adaptable institution, suit
ed to the needs of our people, able TO
overcome many difficulties surround
ing a general co-ordinated employment
system. 1t must readily appeal to all who
have given serious study to cooperative
employment agencies or placement
bureaus because under our form of
Government there are both intrastate
and interstate problems to be dealt
with If this were a Federal problem
only, without interstate features, it
would be much easier of solution, but
with the interests of the National
Government, the 48 independent State
governments. and the District of Co
lumbia, the problem becomes more in
volved. Consequently. the question in
variably arises as TO how far the Fed
eral Government may or should with
propriety, go in dealing with employ
ment activities within the several
States. On the other hand. due to the
present industrial conditions, State
lines are largely obliterated when il
comes TO employment placements or
O large scale; and under such circum-
stances the question then arises as II
what is the proper thing for the States
to do?" Especially is this true wher
seasonal. occupations are considered
and when industrial or agricultural
needs require that employees be SHIFTED
from one section of the country U
another, or from one State TO another
as economic and climatic conditions re.
Quire.