Evening star., 1936-04-12

UNEMPLOYMENT, the root of
this country's greatest eco
nomic and social problem, re-
mains something of a ma
national mystery.
The Government has devised elab-
crate programs and spent vast sums
jobs, yet it doesn't know-and appar-
emily is not anxious to find out
just how many men and women are
unemployed.
Reliable agencies have estimated the
number Of jobleSs, but the discrepancy
In their figures Is so great that the
average person is inclined to wonder
whether those seeking cure for the
evil have not overlooked the funda-
mental necessity Of first ascertaining
the nature and scope of the problem
This same uncertainty is evident
In relief administration, but with
somewhat different consequences. The
number of persons receiving relief is
known, of course, but the effects
on their morale, on their attitude
toward work and the true extent of
their needs are lost in a maze of
conflicting theories and disputed
claims.
No Agreement on Definition.
The first difficulty in an attempt
to count the unemployed lies in agree
ing on definition Of unemployment
The American Federation of Labor
estimates that there are 11,449,000
jobless in the country, while the Ma
tional Industrial Conference Board
estimates the number at 9,849, 900, a
variance Of 100000, attributable
largely to difference Of opinion as
to what is meant by unemployment.
One fruitful source of disagreement
lies in the classification of persons
engaged on governmental relief prof.
ects. Should man employed a few
weeks out of the year be treated as
employed or unemployed? The fed
Grafton believes he should be num-
bered among the jobless, while others
contend he is employed and so list him.
The case of Detroit automobile me-
chanic furnishes typical example of
another difficulty of similar nature.
He is employed at his trade part of
the year, but when he is laid off dur
ing slack times he lives on his small
farm. While he is on the farm, should
he be considered unemployed or not?
Unemployed Are Apathetic.
In agricultural regions and in vari-
Gus industries large numbers Of extra
workers are needed during certain
periods Of the year. When crops are
being harvested In the wheat fields,
day workers drift from farm to farm,
working when and where they are
needed. They may be entirely idle
when the unemployment census taker
visits their community and yet be
gainfully employed a month or so
later. But their prospective employ
ment Is uncertain to say the least
and their job status highly dubious.
They can hardly be classed among
the employed except when actually at
work, yet to list them as unemployed
In q national census would distort the
flnal picture.
Another very real difficulty is in
the apathetic attitude of substantial
number of the unemployed. Some
have never worked and many others
have been without jobs for so long
that 1t Is believed they would have
little inclination to cooperate In an
attempt to secure accurate figures on
the total Of unemployed.
One Labor Department official ex-
pressed the opinion that in dealing
with this class. compulsory registra-
ton, similar to that used in the draft
act, would be necessary.
Census checkers" he said, "can
not be everywhere at once and there
are thousands and thousands of un-
employed drifting back and forth
across the country. They have no
established residences and they could
not be reached by the usual census
methods. Before any accurate rec
ord could be obtained, it would be
necessary to compel unemployed Of
this class to register with some estab-
lished agency"
Won't Talk for Publication.
The Labor Department quite frankly
Says 1t has no complete record Of the
unemployed and Is not in a position
to estimate the number. It Is a sub
ject that officials prefer not to dis
cuss for publication.
This department. however, does keep