Evening star., 1932-10-02

- threatens to be a more or less
chronic unemployment problem
~ or at best one which will
continue for some time after the
world depression has passed-Germany,
in seeking permanent relief, has hit
upon three schemes which hold forth
great promise They are the suburban
settlements for unemployed the vol
untary labor CORPS which may shortly
be transformed into compulsory labor
ssrvice" and the vocational courses for
unemployed juveniles"
During the last II months the num-
Der Of Germany'j idle workers has
averaged between five and six millions.
Before the Winter Of 1928 is finished
it is believed new high marks Will have
been established.
Thus far palliative relief measures
for caring for the unemployed have
been unusually successful. Despite her
millions of idle Germany has few, If
any. people who are actually hungry.
Disorders which accompany unemploy-
ment IN other countries, riots. Com
munist demonstrations have been COM
paratively few and relatively unimpor-
tant The drain on the public treasury,
however, has been great and the nation
cannot stand indefinitely the duty of
supporting one-twelfth Of its adult
population (Which means about one
fourth of its entire population) in idle
ness.
All three Of the relief schemes look
ahead into the future-after the imme-
diate economic crisis has been over
come. Two Of them the voluntary labor
and training Of unemployed juveniles
schemes, deal almost exclusively with
the younger generation, the million
youths who yearly enter the labor mar
ket Temporary measures, such as ex-
tension Of the school age, diverting of
students into less crowded professions,
etc. are recognized as temporary ex-
pediencies. although necessary For
example. during the present year there
will be 18.020 graduates from the facul-
ties of arts with but 2244 jobs awaiting
them Likewise. despite the intensive
propaganda conducted by the German
Medical Association, which warned
parents and students of the overcrowded
condition Of that profession. there will
be 3,797 graduates to fill between 1,500
and 1000 jobs In effect 80 per cent
Of this years graduates will find them
selves prepared for life-but with Moth
ing to do.
Aids Associations.
IL IUillIOl dIlO Lie lOICcS VI
youth the government is cooperating
Fundamentally with such organizations
as the Steel Helmets, the National
Socialist CHitlerite) party. the Young
Germans. the Associations of Protestant
and Catholic Youths and the labor
unions. The president Of the Federal
Employment Exchange and Unemploy-
ment Insurance Institute has been ap-
pointed federal commissioner for volun-
teer labor and an additional credit of
20 900 900 marks has been set aside for
his special use.
The big idea behind the voluntary
labor corps movement is the conscrip-
tion Of the entire youth Of the nation
not only the needy unemployed-into
groups which, in preference to remain
ing idle and subsisting upon charity,
or their own reserves, agree to perform
various kinds Of public or semi-public
labor For their services at this extra
work" they receive a maximum of 2
marks per day cash in addition to food
clothing and housing from the state
All projects authorized to use "volun-
teer" labor must be such as will not in
terfere with regular industrial under
takings which normally would absorb
workers Consequently every youth en-
listing in a volunteer labor corps is one
diverted frcm the growing army Of un-
employed. without creating an addi-
tional recruit.
The movement was started about a
year ago At the end of the first six
months, according to the official report.
the competent authorities had approved
1.l27 projects, giving temporary occu-
patton to more than $4,000 persons.
About 145 plans had been carried
through to completion. half Of which
were OF direct economic value to the
state. such as forestry work. drainage.
leveling and similar land improvements
construction of athletic fields. public
baths and parks
Last March there were q. .386 "volun-
teers,' in April the number rose to
37,s67. at the beginning of July there
were 10000. and by March, 1888, when
the initial period planned by the gov
ernment ends, DR.. Syrup, federal COM
missioner, expects the number will
reach 100000. Credits totaling SIS ,0O0-
o00 marks are still available for the
remainder Of the budget year, which
represents some 10000, 900 working days
Two DEGREES Promulgated.
The new DEGREES have been promul-
gated by the government. The first
simplifleS the administration of volun-
teer labor by Capitalization unGer the
federal commissioner, who is assisted
by district commissioners. The second
broadens the idea by making the system
applicable to all young men, giving
them an opportunity to undertake seri-
GUS work together which is useful to
! the community and at the same time of
advantage to their own physical, in
tellectual and moral development. Thus
voluntary labor service Is clearly trans
formed from solely a means of aiding
the unemployed into an institution
open to the entire youth of the nation
under 25 years Of age, regardless of
their social or economic status, or
whether they are unemployed or not.
An effort to capture" the volunteer
workers movement has already been
made by the Hitler Brownshirts, who,
recognizing youth as the radical force
in German life, wish to exploit it po-
litically. The NaZis in Prussia advocate
conscripting all men able to work,
obliging them to give two years service
to the state between the ages of l9 and
30 The forced labor" thus provided
would be used on road work, land settle
ment and improvement, railroad repairs,
etc. Besides being housed, clothed and
| fed by the state the workers would
receive from Z to IL cents per
day in cash. The money now spent on
unemployment relief would be sufficient
to launch the system the Hitlerites con-
tend.
The Socialist Party, the government
and the trade unions, however, stren-
uously oppose such a procedure. The
government believes that from a moral
standpoint alone it is desirable to keep
the youth of the land occupied, but il
feels that compulsory labor" would be
demoralizing. Socialists and the labor
organizations are chiefly concerned lest
the extra work" encroach on under
takings of legitimate industrial char
acter thereby increasing rather than
decreasing unemployment.
Decision on whether or not projects
utilizing volunteer labor are purely oi
public interest" rests with the federal
commissioner. For example, physical
culture club, wishing to build an ath-