Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-14
The Unemployed
Youth of America
BY Frederic J. Hdskin.


Americas becoming a Nation Of jacks
of no trades has had much to do with
President Roosevelt's determination TO
better the condition of the youth of the
land.
1t has been shown that 100000 youths
have been on relief rolls at one time,
not one of whom ever had held a job
of any kind. Last year more than one
third of high school and college gradu-
ates between the ages of 10 and % were
out of work. They numbered 2,45000O
and, Of the group the highest incidence
of unemployment was between the ages
of 10 and "a.
Sometimes the name of jack Of all
trades has been applied in derogatory
sense as indicating an individual who
has not perfected himself in any kind
of work. That could be true, depending
upon the individual. Actually, in Amer
to be regarded as somewhat compli-
mentary. In new nation, where dis
tances are magnificent and both oppor-
tunities and duties varied, the more
things man can do, the greater his
usefulness to himself and his community.
The American Nation was built by men
who could pillow a straight furrow, shoe
a horse, shoot a gun, built water wheel.
raise a barn and play a fiddle. The
expressive phrase doubling in brass
is purely an American one.
There used TO be no unemployment
for employable persons and those will
ing to work, for, being jacks of all trades,
there always was something to which
they could turn their hands. A diff
Guilty of the Machine Age has been
recognized as overspecialization. The
story is more than twice-told tale, but
is especially opposite in the existing
situation, the situation which President
Roosevelt seems to feel needs the expen
diture of S50,000,000 to correct. 1t is
story of the World War draft. 1t was
realized that it would be unwise TO strip
the productive plants of the country OF
skilled mechanics and drafted men were
classified. One who had been classified
as a mechanic was asked what branch
of mechanics he followed. He said that
for some years he had frightened the
twenty sixth bolt on the Ford automo-
bile!
There are an amazing number Of such
overspecialized mechanics in the United
ment came they were completely at
loss They knew but one narrow task.
They were not jacks of all trades. They
could not qualify as odd-job men and
tide themselves over the hard times.
Thousands Have Never Held Jobs.
But now the situation has become ire
mendously aggravated. There are hun
dreds of thousands of youths who have
never even learned to tighten the
twenty sixth bolt on any automobile,
have never learned any kind of job at
all-save that some. perhaps have &C
ouired a bit of skill in raking leaves.
But that, like picking blackberries, is
seasonal work.
It Immediately occurs that high
school or college graduate, if he paid
any attention to his studies, must be
equipped for some sort of a job. That
is theoretically true. according to per-
sonnet managers, and practically true in
many cases. But it also is the obServa-
ton of employment managers that I'M
less what has been learned is very soon
applied, the knowledge becomes rusty
and, if unemployment be prolonged, use
less A large part of the value OF
lad, fresh from high school or college,
is his enthusiasm. his eagerneSS TO win
his spurs. If he finds himself In an
inhospitable work world, little by little
his confidence in himself wanes and.
unless a person of exceptional stamina,
the chances are that. by the time he is
Is or rs years old, he will be virtually
unemployable.
Tho Cacrafor,, IF ahor recent1v fur
nished to Congress some illuminating
figures on the situation. This report
showed that a use-to-house canvass,
conducted by representatives Of the
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
in three industrial cities, revealed that
"a out of every 100 unemployed persons
were between the ages of Is and "A.
This compares with a figure of 81 out
of every 100 unemployed for all age
groups. This comparison shows with
what special weight the unemployment
is pressing upon the youth OF the
country.
There are many complications Many
of the high school graduates. seeking
work would, in more prosperous times.
have been out of the labor market
because their parents would have been
financially able to send them to college.
Enforced Idleness DemoraliZing.
The Secretary of Labor reported on
the applications for jobs at the agencies
of the United States Employment Serv-
ice in the month of January, 1885. The
figures are worth marking as revealing
the handicap of the young. In the age
group between Is and % years there
were, in that single month, 140,642 apph-
cations for Jobs In the group so TO 81
years there were 67,109 applications In
the group from 40 to 40 years there
were 50,923 applications In the group
over 40 years there were 3S,725 appE-
cations.
Some specific findings of the Bureau
of Labor Statistics are noteworthy. A
study in Milwaukee showed that Is
per cent of both boys and girls gradu-
ated from nine high schools, were unaple
to find jobs for six months. IL has oeen
reported from a Massachusetts Schooi,
which kept track of its graduates, that
at the end of year, after going out
into the world, not one had found loo.
The Department Of Labor findS that
the period of unemployment has, 10
some extent, favored older workers. 1t
has been said in the past that the man
over 40 had no place in industry. While
there has not been a complete reversal,
the unemployment period seems to
have favored these older men. : There
is a good deal Of humanity left in the
world, despite the pessimists, and Gov
eminent investigators find that often
employers give preference to men with
families to support rather than to I'M