The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-12-03
FOR THE THIRD
HUNGER WINTER
BY BURCK.

October were valued at s2o5 100000 against $685.
896, 900 in october Of last year. and imports at
$3.50 100000 against $247, 1867 900. For the first
ten months of this year exports totalled $2,O46!-
728,567 as compared with s328o,153,0 in the
corresponding period of 1880 and S4372, S., 401
in the corresponding period of 1929 Imports
for the first ten months we're valued at $1,787,-
646372 against $2649 222 900 and So ISL 272 489 for
the corresponding periods In the two previous
years
To an increasing extent the capitalists are at
tempting to unload the burden of the crisis on
the backs of the working class Wages in vir-
tualy all industries are being ruthlessly Slashed.
Unemployment continues to mount to unpre
cedented proportions. Workers fortunate enough
to have jobs are being speeded up to a hitherto
unknown degree.
Although there is normally seasonal in
crease in employment during the autumn
months, government employment and wage
statistics continue to drop sharply. The De-
partment of Labor's factory index covering en-
ployment in 81 major industries, declined o6 per
cent in September, bringing the index down to
696 as compared with 1877 in September $780,
and 99.3 in September, 1929 Payrolls dropped
53 per cent rejecting an increase in partial I'M
employment and further reduction in wage
rates The poyrolls index was 55.4 as against
74.2 in September, 1880, and 1925 in September
1929. In other words, statistics published by
Hoover's own bureaus show that factory wage
payments in September were As per cent below
September, 1929 According to Professor Lesser
son, bourgeois economist, industrial and office
workers will receive $4,000, 900 less this year
than they did in 1929 Leiserson estimates con-
servatively, that total wage payments in 1881 will
aggregate only s33Oo0,000o00 as compared with
d Nor pY1tc
the Pittsburgh area, according to Leiserson, are
only So per cent of what they were in 1929
In number of important industries total wage
payments show drop of more than go per cent
from 1929 levels. The Department of Labor's
September index for wage payments in the iron
and steel industries was ALL, in the lumber in
dustry 1915 and in the automobile industry 40.4
as against 100 in 1926. The September en-
ployment index in the iron and steel industries
was down to 62.1, in the lumber industry to
50.7 and in the automobile industry to 654.
Farm employment and wages have shown an
even more drastic decline. The Department o.
AgricultureS farm wage index has dropped to
the lowest levels since 1915, and now stands at
113 of the pre-war level. as compared with $50
on October, |, last year. There is normally
marked seasonal increase in the farm wage in
dex from January to October. This year. how
ever the index declined from 129 on January
to 113 In October simultaneously the gap be-
tween the supply of farm labor and the demand
for farm labor continued to widen. On october
] the supply inde: was 113 per cent Of the pre-
war level while the demand index dropped to SO.
The deepening agricultural crisis is impover-
ishing the great mass Of the farm population and
reducing millions of farm families to starvation.
The Alexander Hamilton Institute estimates that
the net income per farm for 1881 will be only
1857 against 1898 in 1880 and 1887 In 1929. In
other words, farm income this year will average
about so per cent less than in 1929 in spite OF
bumper cotton and wheat crops At the same
time the increased value of the dollar has made
the burden of farm mortgages and indebtedness
heavier than ever.
There is nothing in the industrial or agrtcul-
tural situation that promises improved condi-
tions for the masses OF workers and farmers this
winter. On the contrary all signs point to deep
ening crisis. to further intensfication Of the
drive against the living standards Of the masses;
to increased misery starvation evictions, disease
and death. There is no hope OF an economic up
turn this winter Optimistic statements TO the
contrary false propaganda. disseminated by
the ruling class 10 keep the masses Of workers
and farmers from fighting for relief. The work
ers and sazmaz can rely only ou tne'E ON g.