Evening star., 1934-02-06

wise would suffer decline whenever
unemployment commences.
The experience Of many European
countries has shown that unemploy-
ment insurance Is economically sound
Many Of these countries have modified
their plans in the light Of experience,
but not one has abandoned the basic
principles American experts have
been almost unanimous in their testi-
mony that the unemployment risk can
be placed on a sound actuarial basis.
The argument has been made fire.
quently that the worker protected by
unemployment insurance would lose
all incentive to render careful service
and would be inclined to abandon his
l0D. This argument Is an insult to
almost 100000 people in this coun-
try who normally live by working. It
Is libel against the 100000 Of
these people who were without work
year ago. The American people
want employment, not relief. When
they are idle, it is because they can
not help 1t. In our modern industrial
order the notice Of discharge no more
depends upon the will of the tndi-
v1dual worker than the advent Of the
grim reaper depends upon whether or
not a person has life insurance.
Erases Fear of Future,
Moreover, no worker should be tied
to his Job by the haunting fear Of an
insecure future. This situation chokes
most efforts to seek well-deserved ad-
Vancements. It breeds a just resent
ment on the part of intelligent men.
On the other hand, nothing could do
more to promote fruitful industrial re-
lations than the knowledge that in
dllstry and society are attempting to
protect the worker from future inse-
curity and destitution.
Equally false is the notion that the
unemployed beneficiary OF insurance
would not be diligent In his search for
new work. The truth is that the only
way to keep people morally and physi-
cauy fit for work Of any kind is by
affording them some measure Of Sc
curity during period Of enforced idle
ness. If we rely upon hunger and
want to drive the unemployed back to
work, they will be driven to accept
jobs that are below their capabilities
and that reduce their standards of
living. This would mean the progress
sive degradation of the majority Of
our people.
Any well planned insurance law can
prevent the payment Of doles to the
very few who do not want to work.
When the proposals for workmen's
compensation first arose, 1t was pre-
dicted freely that such laws would en-
courage malingering. But our expert
ence has proved these fears to be en-
tirely unjustified. The history of un-
employment insurance In Europe has
Employment System which we have
established after long and bitter
struggle will insure the filling Of
decent vacancies as fast as they are
available. But it cannot create Jobs
or provide for people who are un-
avoidably without work.
Competitive Influence Drawback.
Unemployment insurance with its
double virtue of prevention and relief
will not be achieved by the voluntary
action OF industry. The year before
the depression less than one-third of
per cent of employees in the United
States were covered by voluntary
plans. The majority of employers
recognize the desirability Of unem-
ployment funds. But they are held
back by the competitive influence of
the few who will not act. Most social
legislation is for the purpose of bring
ing an obstructive minority into line.
AS have said repeatedly, to advocate