Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22

arranged by The washington Star and
broadcast over a Nationwide hook-up
of the Columbia BroadcaSting system
follows:
Some years ago DR.. William Osler
startled the country when he said that
when man reaches the age of 40 his
days of usefulness in action, in science
in art and in literature have practically
ended, and left the idea that after you
pass 40 you become a liability rather
than an asset
The statement Of the eminent physi-
clan is now known to be untrue. Yet
time has demonstrated that industry
has taken too seriously the idea. We
ind in far too many instances that
employees after reaching certain age
are dropped from the pay roll and
younger employees are taking their
places.
If the age limit is to bar one class,
and labor-saving machinery Is to throw
out of employment another group, we
have a serious problem confronting the
Republic. What is to become OF these
two groups?
Retaining Necessary.
viii the country resort to old-age
pensions? Certainly not for that class
able to carry on. Many of these en-
ployeS have served years in their pres
emit vocation or calling with skill and
loyalty to their employers. Many Of
them are unframed for anything else,
because they have put their whole soul
In their present job and given little or
no thought to other jobs.
When thus relieved of their present
positions there is but one of two things
that can be done-retrain them for
something else, or throw them on the
charity of the country. Labor does not
want charity, but a chance to earn an
honest living.
Experience has fully demonstrated
the fact that our unemployment today,
which is worldwide, includes a very
small percentage of thoroughly trained
workers, but Is confined almost en-
tirely to the unframed worker. The
thoroughly skilled artisans are in de-
Mand and at a living wage
The census Of 1920 (the 1880 census
not available) shows that we have Al
$4,000 employed In gainful occupations
in this country. Ninety-two per cent,
or 100000, are working with their
hands. The other 8 per cent are known
as the professional, managerial and ex-
ecutive classes. This proportion prob
ably holds good today.
The old-age handicap is wedding out
those Of mature age on the one hand
and labor-saving machinery is reducing
the ranks of all ages.
The commission appointed by the
President prior to the passage of the
vocational educational act reported that
Of the more than $4,000, 600 employees
engaged in manufacturing and agricul-
ture only / per cent Of them were
technically and skillfully trained.
To be thus trained is to know all the
steps to take on the job; know how to
take them accurately, with the speed Of
. good workman and with job intel
hgence.
Sees PrObIemS's Solution.
With the army of unframed work
erS, the labor-saving machinery reduc-
ing the ranks Of those now employed
and the age limit reducing the ranks
from another angle, the country Is pre-
sented with problem which Is, to say
the least. a serious one.
q do not want to be considered q
R@ssin1tst. am not. Upon the other
hand, have faith in my country, and
believe it can and viii meet its problems
when presented, but we are facing this
question today in a more emphatic
way than ever before.
More people are feeling the effects of
unemployment from these two causes
than ever before. These things win con-
ttnue to grow as time goes on.
win the country meet them and set
tie them in an intelligent way as busi-
ness men would meet and settle other
business questions? I believe it viii.
There was expended in this country
last year by local. State and Federal
Governments practically $50 900 900
for vocational education, or nine-tenths
Of per cent Of the total amount spent
for public education. There was stu
dent body Of 1865 600, which made the
average cost per student about S28.
Would it not be greater economy to
establish enough all-day. part-time and
evening classes to better train the I'M
skilled laborer SO that he viii be able
TO take a new job when offered one,
rather than compel him to rely upon
one specialized Job only. and that one
may have been taken from him on ac-
count Of age or labor saving machinery?
This can not be done in day nor a
year, but the sooner 1t is begun the
sooner the task will be finished
We are informed that it took Noah
600 years to build the ark. but it will
not take that long to better train the
workers Of the country. DO not know
how they reckoned time in the days of
Noah, but the job was not postponed on
account Of cost or the time required to
complete the undertaking.
Sidonians Trained.
Il took Solomon IL years to build his
temple. 1t should not take that long
to better train the adult workers of the
country, bat 1t appears from the record
that they had skilled and unskilled
workers in those days. The SidonianS
seem to have been vocationally trained,
while the others were not. Sidonians
only could hew the scedars of Lebanon.
But they did not have to contend with
the OSler idea then, nor with so much
labor-saving machinery.
know that some psople will argue
cost as a reason for putting of this
great humanitarian task, but will 1t not
be wise economy to spend at least $28
TO better train worker rather than
permit him to become a charge upon
the community at much greater cost?
do not know the average cost Of
training for the professions, but I quote
from an Iowa paper of December 8,
1928: THE cost Of medical training at
one Of our State universities for four
years was $19,622 per graduate. This
was only the expense TO the State"
While on the average 1t cost this
State almost $4,000 per year TO educate
a doctor, it cost the whole country only
about $28 per year to render similar
service to its mechanics, farmers and
home builders.
There is no way Of estimating the
value of a skilled artisan to the COM
munity in which he lives, but let me
give you one illustration.
In a small city of $4,000 in a near
by State the chemical fire engine broke
down. The city authorities were ar
ranging to load this engine on a fiat
car and send it back to the factory,
distance Of about 400 miles, for repair
At cost Of $500 or $500.
Would Train IL Others.
The fire chief was advised by a
friend TO drive the fire-fighting ma
chine to certain machine shop in the
city and call for Prank" The FIRE
chief laughed at the idea that there