Show Release e ease Men en First For Are Waiting an 9 Is I s Advice o I j By Nathan A A. Smyth I Assistant Director General U U. U S. S Employment Service Department of Labor I In an Interview wl with h Frederick M. M Kerby I YORK YORE Feb 7 A A change must b be made made in methods of demobilisation demobilization demo demo- If It we want to avoid sight of stranded workless soldiers In a a. little over a a month about men ha have hae e been discharged from camp in this country Thousands have be been n n bro brought back from France Orders Orders Orders Or Or- ders issued provide for tor discharge of ot nearly a a. million men as s fast as as s possible ble The department of labor receives weekly reports of ot changes in local conditions due to cancellation of ot war contracts and army demobilization from Crom nearly offices When the armistice was vi-as signed large shortages of at labor existed ever everywhere where I throughout the United States State Recent telegraphic reports from all industrial cities showed a a. shortage of ot labor in to I only onh twenty places practical equality of ot Ru supply ply and demand in nine fifty and unemployment in thirty two I Twenty-three Twenty industrial centers which II three weeks ago showed an equality 0 of labor supply and demand now show sho unemployment The Th percentage of ot excess of ot Jobs over applicants has fallen tallen in five weeks I from to 92 I Some borne employers with war contracts canceled or to be canceled are releasing I labor gradually Others have selfish selfishly I I gone ahead full tilt as far Car as orders i would permit then run head on into a I I sudden cessation of ot work and appeal Ifor I for tor the taxpayers' taxpayers mone money to enable j i ithem them to continue useless and wasteful production In either case the release of ot muni- muni I tion Uon workers on a a. large scale Js is only I II just now beginning Its full effect will i i ibe I he be largely apparent during luring this month j in in midwinter when outdoor jobs are I scarce sarce And W wI have only lust just attained speed I in to soldier demobilization too I We Ve have hT approached close to the saturation on point of oC labor at a t time me when the release of ot men on a large I scale has just begun and is about to I continue with increased velocity For this situation there are two possible possible possible pos pos- sible remedies The first is a rapid increase in IndustrIal in industrial industrial In- In activity As soon as this comes the dangers of any considerable unemployment unemployment unemployment un un- un- un employment will be over But what if it the outburst of ot Industrial Industrial industrial Indus Indus- trial activity continues for several months to hang tire fire Then if unemployment misery and social unrest are to be avoided changes will have to be made in our methods of ot demobilization There is demand for Cor certain workers workers work worl- j ers notably in skilled trades I In some spots there is considerable demand for Cor common laborers Almost everywhere there Is a surplus of applicants applicants ap ap- ap- ap I in clerical al positions and for formost formost formost I most lines of ot construction work The army is being demobilized demobilised now almost wholly on the basis of ot military units In each squad of men released are some who have positions open and there are others not now needed Amo Among Amo g units which will not be discharged discharged dis dis- dis I charged for tor several months are men whose positions are awaiting them whose retention In the army retards development of ot normal Industrial life If demobilization could proceed with these men first holding back the Jobless jobless Job job- less until the last instead of holding back thousands who are needed and releasing thousands who are not de de- de demobilization demobilization mobilization could go on with equal rapidity and the great danger of unemployment unemployment unemployment un un- un- un employment be reduced to tea a minimum |