Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22
TRAINING IS URGED
AS Job INSURANCE
Forum Speaker Declares I'm.
skilled Labor Suffers Most
in Unemployment.

Although the present unemployment
situation is worldwide, it Is confined
almost entirely to the unskilled labor
class, and trained workers are in de-
mand, E. T. Franks, vice chairman of
the Federal Board of Vocational Edu-
cation, told Nationwide audience last
| night.
Mr.. Franks. who was speaking in the
National Radio Forum, arranged by
The Washington Star and broadcast
over a coast-to-coast hook-up of the
Columbia Broadcasting system, declared
the 1920 census revealed that $4,000 900
Or 90 per cent-of the Al 1914 ZOO
persons employed in gainful occupa-
! tons in this country were working
with their hands," while the remainder
were in "the professional, managerial
and executive classes" Although the
1880 census figures are not available,
this proportion probably remains the
same, Mr.. Franks added.
Age Problem Held Serious.
The late DR.. William osIer's state
ment that a mans days Of usefulness
are over when he reaches the age of
40 is untrue, Mr.. Franks asserted, but
industry has taken the idea too seri-
ously." Many business concerns dis
charge employees after they attain a
certain age, replacing them with
younger men, Mr.. Franks pointed out
If the age limit is to bar one class,
and labor-saving machinery is throw
ing out OF employment another group"
he said, I'VE have a serious problem
confronting the Republic"
But old-age pensions will not solve
the problem-at least, not for that
class able to carry on" the speaker
predicted. He cited the report of the
commission appointed by the President
prior to the passage of the vocational
educational act, in which it was pointed
out that "of the more than $4,000, 900
employees engaged in manufacturing and
agriculture, only per cent
were technically and skillfully trained"
Believes U. S. VIII Meet Problems.
Declaring he did not wish to be con-
sidered a pessimist, Mr. Franks said he
has faith in the United States and be-
l1eves 1T can and will meet its prob
lems." Nevertheless, he said, the truth
OF the matter is that more people are
fseling the effects of unemployment"
because Of the age limit or labor-sav-
ing machinery than ever before. And.
ne added, these things will continue
to grow as time goes on"
approximately 10000, 900 was expend-
ed for vocational education last year
oy the Federal Government and local
ana state governments, the speaker
went on. This, he explained, was nine
tenths OF per cent of the total spent
Tor public education and there was a
student body of 1,066 900, which meant
tnat the cost per student was S2s.
~ would De more economical, he de-
clared, to establish enough all-dav
part-tirne and evening classesn fo
train unskilled laborers SO they will be
able to accept better Jobs when thew
are onered. OF course, he added, this
cannot be accomplished overnight. but
the sooner work along that line Is
started the sooner it will be completed.
Medical Training Costs S1S,622.
Mr.. Franks quoted from an Iowa pa-
per OF December 6, 1928: THE cost of
medical training at one of our state
universities 1or four years was 1882
per graduate" He compared This
cost-which figures out to about SIS 'O00
a year per student-to the S28 a wear
wn1cn IL costs to train mechanics,
farmers and other workers.
The speaker told of a small CITY in
which the chemical fire engine broke
ooWn. Municipal authorities sent the
piece OF apparatus back to the factory
"a distance of about 400 niles-to
have it repaired at a cost of s3oo or
A friend advised the fire chief 70
TAKE the chemical truck to a local ma
c S shop and ask for PRANK" In
TESS inan Two days Frank" had thor
the cost was less than $40. "A n1ers
mechanic did it," Mr.. Franks nointaS
out but he was the biggest man in
the city in his line. The saving h, the
company by two days work of one me-
chanlc, yocationally trained. wo,1Id |
nave paid for the further training of ID |
otner mechanics for an entire year
Legislation encouraging vocational |
eoucatlon was passed by Congress in |
1917, after 140 years waiting on N" the |
part OF workers, the speaker said. GAS |
result" he added, "all of the States |
and the Islands of Porto Rico are co. |
operating in this work, and in 1Q3n /
more imam million people took advan-
tage of it."
Wealth VIII Be Milestone.
Although the United States. with ,ts |
more than $360,00O, 900, 900, is "the i
richest and most powerful Nation in the !
world" its wealth some day may be a
milestone to drag the country down If |
It IS not used tntelligently, Mr.. Franks
said.
OeSplte compulsory education, 10000
GOO children between the ages of and
10 are not attending school Most of
these boys and girls" the speaker de-
clared, ARE at work. Experience
teaches lis that many of that 10000, 600
could be brought back to school on q
part-time program, where they divide
their time between work and school"
There will come a time, Mr.. Franks
predicted, when every child will be re-
quired to take a course In vocational
guidance in order to learn for what
trade or profession they are best fitted.
Real vocational guidance" he said.
will some time point the way Of the
boy and girl to happy solution of their
possibilities, tell them which route to
follow in the race OF life. what profess
sion, Vocatlon or calling they should
select as their life's work" !,
The text of Mr.. Franks spseeh will
be found in the editorial section Of to-
days Star. ~