The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-21
An Expert View of Unemployment

Depression and unemployment still haunt u.s. OBJ
servers who are no mere gloom mongers predict the
worst winter since Cevelands second administration
Therefore, survey Of the unemployment situation
by veteran expert on the subject is worthy Of serious
attention.
II there is any one man vino qualify as an
expert it is Dr. Jacob BiIlikopf of Philadelphia d-
rector Of Jewish Charities Of that great city and
impartial chairman of the mems clothing industry
in New York City
In comprehensive paper delivered before the
national conference Of social work. he sets forth es
sentals in clear and convincing fashion.
Armed with full concrete information on the sub
.ect he quickly disposes of the notion that private
fharity-community chests and the lke-wil be able
to shoulder the burdens Of the coming winter "Pr-
sate charity longer capable of coping with the
situation. 1t is virtually bankrupt in the face OF
great disaster.
with the bravest of intentions, the Community
Chests comprising they do multiplicity Of insti-
tutons are altogether unequal the task ahead Of
us AS result of the policy of drift, and OF
utter lack Of mastery directing it, government
will be compelled by the logic of inescapaby cruel
events ahead of u.s. to step into the situation and
bring relief on a large scale-a scale commensurate
with the vast importance and the tragedies of our
problem"
Ironically enough, In spite of the traditional OPP
position the dole in America that is exactly what
we rely upon in this country Then we condemn Bit
terly the dole type of up-to-date relief in Great
Britain which is in sense dole.
eff the spirit of irony" says Paul Douglas, were
lowering over this land, he would find source of
sardonic amusement in the spectacle of country
which for decade protested that it did not want
unemployment insurance because it was dole, and
still protests slowly realizing that under its boosted
American methods all it offer to those who are
in great need is the real dole of public private
charity"
Turning to proposed remedies DR.. Billikopf rules
out wage cuts from the standpoint of both logic and
justice. What we need most is increased purchasing
power he says Wage cuts are unjust, because wages
never have been inflated.
From 1921 to 1929 real wages increased only 10
per cent while in this period returns to indus
traists increased 70 per cent and dividends on in
dustrial and rail stocks increased 256 per cent.
Nor is the Coue technique tried by Mr.. Hoover for
nearly two years any way out. For fifteen months
we were told that only repeated the formula of
Coue-every day in every way industrial conditions
are getting better and better-the depression would
come to end"
But it has not ended. Moreover, millions were de-
ceiyed rushed into the stock market to recoup earlier
losses and were scooped further and ruined Further
such policy only postpones realistic graphing with
the economic and social actualities of current
problems
Suppose we did begin to deal realistically with &C
tuality what would this involve? Dr. Bilkopf holds
that it would involve the following:
l. Planned production to meet actual needs.
2. Better control and supervision of credit.
g. Public works scale commensurate with our
real needs and backed by ample funds
d. Drastic revision of the insane Smoot-Hawley
tariff which has produced drop in automobile ex-
ports alone sufficient to keep whole motor in
dustry going full blast for month,
5. Abandonment of silly attitude toward Rus
sian recognition This stands out in contrast to the
shrewd policy of the other capitastc states of the
world that reaping the commercial advantages of
grownup attitudes toward the Soviet republic.
6. Compulsory unemployment insurance borne by
industry. Here the plan of the Amalgamated Cloth
ing Workers has pointed the way. Under the Chi
cago plan, in which benefits provided by fifty
fifty contribution of capital and labor clothing work.
ers in New York, Chicago and Rochester received
$150OO0O in 1880 and had reserve fund of $100000c
left over. And the clothing industry is one of the
most unstable in the country.
During this same $780, the average employment OF
clothing workers was only eighteen full weeks out of
the hfty-two in the year.
Z. Establishment of really competent and we'll
equipped employment agencies comparable to those
envsaged in the Wagner bill which Mr. Hoover vetoed.
g. Adaptation of the social work agencies of the
country to deal not only with immediate relief, but
more fundamentally with the psychological and
social of industrial inefciency and wasteful
consumption on the part of the Individual
If anybody has a more comprehensive and wise
program within the bounds of economic liberalism
than this one, let him come forth with it.
Britain's Crisis and the U. S. A.