Evening star., 1938-01-15
70 BILLIONS SEEN
AS JOBLESS COST
Dangers of Unemployment
Emphasized at Meeting
by Yale Professor.

Unless the unemployment situation
is alleviated, it will cost the United
States SIC, 0,000. 900 900 in loss OF wages,
decreased purchasing power and other
related factors. Prof. Jerome Davis,
president Of the American Fedora
ton OF Teachers, today told q
conference called here under the direc-
ton of the Joint Committee on Un-
employment and Taxation.
The committee Is composed Of edu-
Gators. economists. clergymen and
others, and the meeting opened last
night at the Continental Hotel. with
various aspects Of the economic situa
tion in the country under considera-
ton
In addition to the money costs.
unemployment is causing far greater
damage to society through its human
cost in shattered morale. disordered
health and lowered self-respect,'
Prof. Davis said.
Fascism Threat Seen.
The danger of Fascism comes not
directly from the wealthy. propertied
classes who want to retain control, but
also indirectly from men of wealth who
deceive the unemployed with specious
propaganda. The unemployed, des-
perate after long periods of unemploy-
ment, may be led to believe that pros
perity will come back only If the eco
nomic royalists come into power. This
means that adult education should be
expanded continually, especially for
those who are unemployed"
Dr. Broadus Mitchell, associate pro-
fessor of political economy At Johns
Hopkins University, asserted that the
economic structure Of the country lis
essentially unstable" and said correc-
tive efforts were on a par with at
tempted reformation of a drunkard.
How long will 1t take us to learn
that the price and profit system is in
corrigible?" he asked. "Exhortation
and pious hopes accomplish exactly
nothing, while we leave the means of
production in private hands, produce
for individual gain instead of for COM
mon use and prefer anarchy to PLAN
ming"
Fred Brenckman. local representa-
tive OF the National Grange, told his
audience that too much time had been
lost in attempting to cope with the
farm problem which, he said. mani
tested disturbed condition right after
the close Of the World War. The re-
suit. he added, Is that there are now
approximately 100000 farm families.
or nearly one-seventh OF the total. that
are being supported at least In part by
the Government"
The conference is concluding tonight.
Senator Lundeen. Farm-Labor, Of
Minnesota, Is to speak.
A black picture of farm conditions
In the South was painted for the con-
ference last night by Howard Keester
of Nashville. general organizer of the
Southern Tenant Farmers Union, who
said that increasing tragedy" Is in
prospect.
Cotton Economy Collapse Cited.
"The collapsing cotton economy
which has been greatly accelerated by
the Governments program of con-
trolled security, has not only driven
thousands Of farmers from the land,
but increased the misery Of those who
have remained" he siad. 1T now ap-
pears that We are entering 4 new and
more disastrous phase of economic
Illustration.
starvation wages-ranging from 30
cents . hundred pounds for picking
cotton In Middle Georgia to 60 and
Is cents IN the Mississippi Delta-and
low prices of cotton and cottonseed on
one hand and high cost of food for
man and beast on the other, suggests
the misery of the winter months ahead
for millions of farm families"