The Washington times., 1935-10-11
JOB SHORTAGE
ISSUE IN 80
CAMPAIGN
BY EARL GOODWIN

Dy GAG9A NOO""
BY the time the presidential
election campaign is red hot 10
or II months from now there will
still be around 100000 or s,OoO,.
900 workers who can't get Jobs
in private industry-and THAT'S
the meat of the cocoanut as far
as political issues are concerned.
At least, that's what comes in
the way Of feed box dope" from
inside the Presidents close circle.
That means the President ex'
poets the big issue is going to be
relief. The constitutional issue,
the tax issue, the extravaganza IS
sue, the ooondoggling issue, and
whatnot all may have their places
in the grand melee-but, the way
things look now, the President is
going to say-in effect:
"Well, you critics, here are
these unemployed boys and
their families. What are you
going to do about them?"
Answer Expected
The Administration people think
that the opposition will not dare
evade that issue; that the an
swer will be:
Feed 'em and put 'em to
work"
This Administration had some
vague hopes Of putting everybody
to work; or seeing works progress
plus industry take up the slack OF
unemployment. That hope ap-
parently rested in the political
end of the administration rather
than among the relief admins
traitors.
At any rate. the way the Fed
eral Emergency Relief Admins
tration now sees the thing, unem.
ployment will NEVER catch up
with industry, because, as Aubrey
williams, who is pinch-hitting for
Harry Hopkins, says:
Industry is making up lost
time, producing more and more
goods, but getting more and
more efficient and thus employ
ing fewer men"
This doesn't entirely agree with
the more optimistic statements of
Secretary Of Labor Perkins who
gives the impression she believes
all jobs will be filled within year
or so, but it is taken to be q fairly
accurate reflection Of the Situa-
ton as it will be considered by
President Roosevelt both for po-
litical and administrative pur'
poses.
Early Action FOreseen
There is a belief in Democratic
circles here that the President will
go to bat on his relief program
quite early in the campaign, and
that his answer to Republican
critics will be something like this:
Industry failed to take care
Of these people, although the
depression is over and normal
productivity is returning. What
are you going to do about them?
We propose TO put them TO
work ON public works-unless
something like NRA comes along
and spreads employment again"
That 1s-month-old argument as
to the merits Of the heavier IckeS
style of public work versus the
light Harry Hopkins style will be
a part Of the campaign discussion,
it is assumed.
The Roosevelt idea, it is said.
will be explained by showing the
quick upturn in business generally
and locally when Federal funds
began to pour out in salaries and
wages.
Defenders of this works-progreSs
theory say that when the Federal
relief pours out hundred million
dollars business feels it within 10
dayS-which Is almost immedi-
ately. The ca~ lines, the grocerS,
the druggists and retailers gen.
orally get most or all Of that
money right away.
All Of these questions will be a
part of a campaign which the old
political weather-wise observers de-
clare will be a rip-snorter. It be-
gins to look very much as if it
would be more Of class war than
has been seen since the Bryan
Mckinley fight.
They are beginning to realize it
will not be fight by party lines,
but by layers and strata of So
ciety, economic condition and
thought. This makes it tough for
the State and county political
leaders.