The times-news., 1936-04-22
HOW MANY UNEMPLOYED?

ditions like a sore thumb as big as Pixies
Peak is the question of the number OF un-
employed in the country. Nobody, from
President Roosevelt down the line, has ac-
eurate knowledge of the number of people
in the country who ought to be receiving
government aid or employment. Every
body in and out of the government who
has undertaken to make an estimate has
his own views and opinions, and none OF
these are based on reliable information
that goes down to the bottom of the relief
problem. .,.....r ,,-. :......-.. ...
Some estimatorS have reasons for deslr-
ing to decrease the number of unemployed.
in comparison with the figures for the first
years of the depression" 1t suits their
purposes to try to make it appear that the
unemployment problem is being solved.
Other estimators have reasons for desiring
to make it appear that the number OF un-
employed is as large as at any time in the
past. These persons have reasons for
undertaking to show that unemployment
is not being overcome and that it is prob
lem of as large proportions and of as evil
portent as at any time in the past.
Every day for months past, individuals,
newspapers, speakers and writers COM
menting on national affairs, have pointed
to this simple and all important fact in con-
neetion with public relief and employment
and called on the national government to
spend some of the billions of the money Of
the tax payers which are being thrown to
the four winds of heaven with lavish
hands, in making survey of unemploy-
ment throughout the country. Money has
been appropriated for every nonsensical
and absurd purpose that could be thought
of by the host of dreamers, experimenters
and doodle-heads connected with the ma
tional administration, but not a dollar has
been expended in survey to ascertain
the facts about the one big problem that is
always put forward as the reason-or eX-
cuse--for the entire so-called New Deal
program.
As far as the public is aware, the ma
ti0hal administration knows but little more
about actual conditions Of unemployment
throughout the country than is known by
the average well-inforned citizen or in the
offices of the daily newspapers. We say,
as far as the public is aware-if the gov
ernment has information it conceals it.
The general opinion of those who are close
ly following public affairs is that the gov
erntnent does not have the information
and does not want it--that it has made no
effort whatever to obtain this inform alton
1t would not aid the aims and ends OF the
administration to obtain the actual facts.
The greater part of the whole admins
tration scheme is based ON the country
unemployment problem. ii unenpl ployment
could be suddenly and completely arrest
ed and everybody in the country found
jobs, the entire New Deal plan for re-mak,
ing the county would collapse. If there
was no unemployment there would be alb
solntely no excuse for the Soeialistic trick:
that are being perpetrated on the Amefi
can people. The administration know.
that for its purposes the unemployment
bugaboo is absolutely necessary; and wher
it is working from this standpoint the un
employment problem IS made as gigantic
and hideous as it is possible to make it
There is a reason and the public can find i
by the exercise of much less than ordinar,
intelligence.
On the other hand, when the administra
ton wants TO take : crack at business fo