The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-29
WHY ACCUSE PRIVATE
BUSINESS?

Washington, D. CAS- two more
years merge in the ringing out of
the old, and the ringing in of the
new, there are as many millions of
persons dependent upon help from
the public treasury as in all the pre-
ceding 10 years of the 30's.
Private industry has not furnish
ed jobs for the unemployed" is a
common complaint in the National
Capital and everywhere else.
Let's look at the figures of manu-
facturers by the United States Blu
reau of Census and perhaps we may
learn more of the truth about the
unemployed. Apparently there are
millions of people employed in new
forms of private industry that have
been either discovered, developed or
revolutionized The widest dreams
and expections of the founders of
these new works have been excelled.
Some of these private industries
are concerned in the manufacture of
new aircraft, new chemical pro-
ducts; cotton, rayon and nylon tex
tiles. Besides there are new synthe-
tic building materials, new refrigera-
ton. Moving pictures supports
millions of persons. New lacquers
are used on cars and furniture, but
paint also has place.
Electricity, gas, petroleum, air.
conditioning and a thousand other
wonders have been produced by pri-
vate industry and the new additions
added by science, invention, and the
private brains of private individuals
have furnished employment to two,
three, or ten times as many work.
ers than were displaced by the ma
chine age.
On the highways millions of men
and billions of dollars havee been
engaged for many years in the build
ing and construction of roads,
bridges, and streets Where million
men lost their jobs through the
closing out of the activities of the
horse-and-buggy and the blacksmith
ployed in these co-partners of in
dustry. Other great increases are
found in all directions of private
industry, as the contributions of in
dividual initiative.
The statistics of the United States
Government acquit private industry
from the political charge of decreas-
ing employment. The very indus
tries that have been on the rack, ac-
cused with trying to lay the yoke
of monopoly on the backs of the
people have persistently denied that
they have reached the number of
jobs. AS matter of common know
ledge they promise to make jobs for
the 10 million or more unemployed,
if the politicians will give them
their rights to go ahead. These in
dustries ask relief from the terrific
increases in taxation, and from the
restriction of Government. They in
sist that they have been slowed
down by too much control from
Washington.
Those who charge that private in
dustry is to blame for unemploy-
ment should look for better alibis.
The politicians have continued-and
not lifted the depression.
80 81
Youths And Their Jobs
In the report of the Division Of
Research made by the Works Pro-
ject Administration at the request
of the National Youth Administra-
ton some very agreeable statistics
were found in field of investiga-
ton which conferred at Binghamton,
New York; Birmingham, Denver,
Duluth, st. Louis, San Francisco
and Seattle, which were selected as
representative American cities with
populations ranging from $4,000 to
/, eco, 900. In the examination of the
conditions of 10000 youths it was
found that approximately n per
cent of all the young people inter-
viewed were, employed, or seeking
work, at the time of the survey.
The histories of this n per cent
show that large majority &of /. the
youngsters had stepped out of
schools into jobs. Others were found
holding temporary employment and
low grade jobs. The spirit of Ameri-
can youth showed up among the lat
ter who were dissatisfied and look
ing for better jobs.
Contrasted with the adults who
are ON relief one finds and encour-
agement in the condition among the
younger people who are relying upon
individual initiative. rather than
upon gratuities and help from Fed
eral relief funds.
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A Straw In The Wind
Subsidies to agriculture are esti-