Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-12

no actual suffering in any community.
Meanwhile, when normal aspects have
returned we shall have passed through
an experience to give us wisdom and
determination to consider safeguards
for the future. OF course, ~ the we'll
TODD people Of the United States who
are responsible for this task shirk 1t,
then the problem will become one for
government.
In any event, after the emergencies
Of the Winter are over the problem is
not solved; the subject will not thus be
closed.
The present situation has brought to
us all a profound query as to whether
the brains that built the great indus
trial system Of America will be ade-
quate to meet the emergency tests that
challenge it.
1t will remain a matter Of deep re-
Election upon the system that, during
the past dozen years of prosperous ac-
tivity, the industrial captains as a class
have not given heed to the subject
Of unemployment. Outside of q dozen
outstanding industries, which have
worked out unemployment insurance
schemes of their own and which have
proven the ease with which this can
be done when taken in normal times
the situation has been allowed to drift.
employment has received nothing more
than academic attention. Industries
without number have replaced men by
machinery, taking the full profit Of
labor-saving devices and giving little
thought to the question as to whether
the displaced workers could be abb
sorbed in other employmentS.
That such amazing lack of humisc
foresight should characterize a system
builded by men peculiarly gifted with
leadership is proof Of the complete alb
sorption Of industrial leaders in ma
terial benefits. 1t will be tragically I'M
fortunate If the emergency of this hour
fails to inculcate lesson that will not
be forgotten.
1t Is gratifying to note that all lead
ers are in accord upon the conviction
that no man, woman or child shall be
permitted to suffer from hunger, cold
or preventable sickness this Winter.
Industries Insure Selves.
Meanwhile great industrial leaders
will be called upon not only to protect
this situation, but to give thought to
plans for taking care of unemployment
as a duty of industry when something
like normal times have returned. 1t is
fortunate that sufficient number OF
successful Self-inSuring schemes are al
ready existent to point the way. Even
in England and Germany in spite OF
industrial and economic chaos, there
are a few successful examples OF self
insurance by industries and their bene-
ficiaries. Most certainly this subject
will not die with the passing OF this
Winters emergency. Either industries
must do this for themselves and their
employees in the future or suffer 1t TO
be done more wastefully under the COM
pulsion of government.
While it is not true, as our New YORK
Joan Of Arc said, that the Government
owes every unemployed person SIS per
week, in the highest sense 1t Is true
that the obligation rests upon organized
society to see to 1t that no one suffers
in a land of plenty for the necessities OF
life and health.
Nothing, therefore, Is SO certain In
this hour as this that no responsible,
well-to-do citizen In America can shirk
his personal obligation without endan-
gering peace and order. The United
States Is the only nation left in which
this obligation is squarely up to tndi-
vidual responsibility.
! In England today the mobs OF unem-
ployed are led by radical Socialists and
! Communists who hope to upset the gov
| eminent and carry on in England until
! they have fulfilled their dream OF trans
! ferring private property to Sociallsttc
| state.
In Germany the hope Of salvation
| from Communist uprising is In the die
tatorship of a centralized government.
| In the United States the only specu-