Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-13
INSTITUTE EXPERTS
SEEK AID FOR IDLE
Minnesota Research Aims to
Offer Advice After JobleSS
Cause Is Found.
Special Dispatch TO Thestar. -,

Special Dispatch 70 The STAR :,
MINNEAPOLIS, July 10 tN.A.N.A9.
AS swiftly as he can move his hands
q young man in mechanics clothes flts
oddly shaped pegs into corresponding
slots in a board.
A young woman picks up tiny pins
and drops them, three at time. into
small holes, in q metal device Across
from her a man busies himself as
sembling Il toy flatiron, and at other
tables men and women pore over ques-
tionnaireS.
And at each table supervisor with
o stop watch checks their speed.
This busy scene, a daily one at the
University of Minnesota, is phase of
the serious business of finding. out
whats right with the unemployed" 8
When that is discovered, staff mem
bers of the Employment Sterilization
Research Institute give the persons
taking the tests, recruited from the I'M
employed of Minneapolis and st. Paul,
specific advice.
In a few months, according to pres
ent plans, the help will advance beyond
the stage of giving advice, to the point
OF supplying training for new work.
Nany Placements Made.
While the matter of placing workers
Is not strictly a function of the insti-
tute, good many placements already
have been made, and more will be made
by the employment offices established
by the Tri-City Employment Stabili-
cation Committee, whose activities pro-
vided the background for the organi-
cation and operation of the institute
The movement which has made the
Twin Cities and Duluth the setting for
an experiment entirely new got under
way shortly after the Tri-City Commit
tee conducted its census of the unem-
ployed. In that census $4,000 unem-
ployed men and women, representing
the entire field Of industrial and COM
merclal activity OF the State, were reg
istered.
Next came establishment of the in
stitute and its financing through gifts
of S150,000 each from the Rockefeller
and Carnegie Foundations. The SPELL
man Foundation. with an $4,000 con-
tribution, financed the work of the Tri-
City Committee.
Seek Cause Of Unemployment
In March the institute began its ef-
forts. to continue for two years, to learn
the causes of unemployment and to de-
termine the best methods of overcoming
and preventing occurrences of the pres
ent situation. Dean Russell A. Steven
son Of the School of Business of the
University. who also is chairman of the
Tri-City Committee, is director of the
institute
AS the first step in finding out just
how men and women thrown out Of
employment can best readjust them
selves every tenth card was picked out
from the $4,000 filled in by those who
registered during the census.
Each of the 3.400 so selected was in
vited to come either to the university or
the office in Duluth to take the tests,
Most of them responded and during
June nearly 80 persons daily received
tests All of this is without cost. Be-
sides furnishing transportation, the in
Stitution also furnishes lunches.
First the cXaminee receives a thor
ough physical examination by doctors
of the univerSity's health service. Next
he is taken to the room where the
tests are given to determine aptitude,
special abilities, personal traits and
characteristics.
Personal Analysis Made.
There begins the analysis of the per-
son taking the test-that takes him
through haif-dozen written classified
ton tests, designed to disclose his abil-
ities and interests, and the mechanical
In a test. that reaveals the occupa-
ton to which his personality is best
adapted, he is asked to check yes,
no" or indifferent" in answer to 125
questions making up personality in
ventory.
When results of the tests and ques-
tionnaires are assembled young wom-
an steps to the blackboard and draws
a zig-zag chalk line from top to bottom
of chart. That line reveals the ex-
tent of the subjects education. the rat
ings made in the tests, the personality
rating and physical strength.
In approximately 80 per cent Of the
cases. all of which are designated by
number. no change in occupation is
indicated
AS soon as enough persons are ready
to form classes, special courses to re-
train workers will be offered in cooper
alton with the vocational departments
of the Minneapolis p' Jlic school system.
Next the Tri-City committee. through
its employment Offices in Minneapolis
and st. Paul. will try to find the jobs
Four hundred firms, including vir-
tually every existing type of industrial
commercial and financial organization
in the three cities and in some other
towns. have been selected for thor
ough study.
(copyrisht. 1891. by North American News
paper Alliance. Inc
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