The CHAIRMAN. Did you have drafts of the proposed plan ahead of their printed circular? Mr. WARD. Yes. Mr. MALONEY. You say you began working on this plan two years ago? Mr. WARD. About a year and a half or two years ago. Mr. MALONEY. Do you know how many arrived in the United States? Mr. WARD. I do not know. Mr. MALONEY. Do you know it has been estimated as being between five and six million? Mr. WARD. I have heard that figure, yes; but I do not know. Mr. MALONEY. Was there plenty of labor at that time? Mr. WARD. No; we were commencing to feel a shortage. Mr. MALONEY. You say you were then beginning to feel a shortage? 'Mr. WARD. Yes, sir; we were. That seems an almost impossible statement to make, but speaking for the steel industry—which I happen to be personally connected with-we found we were not getting men; we supposed they had gone into their lines of activity, and we started an investigation to find from what lines we could draw them. Mr. WHITE. Has there been an advance of wages in the interim from two years ago until the present time? Mr. WARD. There has been a drop and then an advance. The CHAIRMAN. Have there been any strikes in the meantime? Mr. WARD. Not in our districts. The CHAIRMAN. What is your district? Mr. WARD. It represents the tricities of Illinois. The CHAIRMAN. Which are what cities? Mr. WARD. Granite City, Madison, and Venice. Mr. RAKER. That is near East St. Louis? Mr. WARD. Yes. Mr. RAKER. What do you want? Mr. WARD. In what connection? Mr. RAKER. What are you seeking in regard to immigration? Mr. WARD. The same thing that was brought to you yesterday by the National Conference of State Manufacturers. Mr. RAKER. I remember that some years ago the people in and about St. Louis, Granite City, and Venice were advertising for help and offering to pay $3 and $3.50. They brought trainloads of Negroes from the South, and all many of them had on was a pair of overalls, a jumper, a pair of shoes with holes in them, and a straw hat, in the winter. Mr. WARD. That was in East St. Louis; yes. Mr. RAKER. Is that still going on? Mr. WARD. Oh, no. The CHAIRMAN. East St. Louis is not one of the tricities? Mr. RAKER. But it is right near there, and we were at both of these places. We went and found these men, brought them up as witnesses, and had their pictures taken. They brought them there by the trainloads, but instead of giving them $3 they offered them $2, without any board or lodging, and those poor men did not have anything to keep them warm. I just wondered whether that condition had continued. Mr. WARD. No. The CHAIRMAN. What do you pay them now? Mr. WARD. $3.25 a day, and a 9-hour day. Mr. RAKER. We spent pretty nearly two months there taking testimony and seeing these things ourselves. These negroes were practically starving. Mr. WARD. Mr. Chairman, I desire to present the following resolution adopted by the National Conference of State Manufacturers' Associations: "Whereas over a great period of years the United States has relied upon a continuing flow of immigration to largely supplement skilled and unskilled labor required for furthering the development of agriculture, commerce, transportation, and industry-this being vital to all, employers and wage earners alike. "Whereas with the exception of a single year such immigration substantially ceased since the outbreak of the Great War and is now severely restricted by emergency legislation conceived to meet conditions which existed immediately after the war. 376 Mr. LAWTON. The sons not want to follow the Mr. VAILE. That is p Mr. LAWTON. We are to do it. The mines & with foreign labor an so that they have en The CHAIRM less there are Mr. LAWTON for permitting The CHAIR. Mr. WARD. The CHAIR sociations. Y Mr. WARD. 1- that plan? Mr. WARD. A ciation? Mr. WARD. V. CONNECTICUT. From this State as to the employment situation show a demand for abor much larger than the supply is able to take care of at the are. This condition will not continue to exist, however, and the outlook ter months depends upon the coal problem, when all will be well if holds out. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ment conditions in the District of Columbia are encouraging and thter than is usually the case at this time of the year, unemployment tically restricted to the clerical field, which has been greatly added last week or two due to recent dismissal of employees from several ent departments. The outlook for the winter months is considered GEORGIA. ployment situation is fair, though a large increase in the cotton-mill as been noted in the last few days, with a demand for lumber-mill men The outlook for the winter months, judging from the conditions that considered very good. ILLINOIS. bor outlook from the employment point of view in this State is excelPractically all manufacturing industries, particularly steel, are on the Seasonal industries show the usual winter reaction, though to a at smaller degree than usual. The winter outlook is considered good Tace of the fact that the common-labor supply is slightly greater than and, which is the first time this condition has existed in seven months. INDIANA. employment situation in Indiana shows a marked improvement for this 1 over that which existed one year ago. Coupled with this is also an se in labor efficiency which will mean better and larger production. Proand severe cold weather will be the only handicap affecting large buildwivities. The outlook for the first three months of 1923 is termed bright. IOWA. eather conditions coupled with the completion of the harvest season and and tire plants decreasing production are adding to the small number of ployed in this State. The common-labor surplus, however, is continually drawn upon by railroad shops, who are slowly but steadily adding to r rolls and also by calls made by various contractors. The building proTn is at a higher peak than has been reached before this year. The outlook the winter months is considered generally fair. KANSAS. he supply of common labor is larger in this State than the demand and h the approaching curtailment of operations in the harvest fields, the number be increased. It is estimated, however, that 70 per cent of the unemoyed are engaged in part-time work. The outlook for the winter months dicates no cause for concern. KENTUCKY. The only unemployed in Kentucky are the so-called "drifters." Labor conitions in this State are extremely good for this time of the year, practically ill residents being employed, and a shortage of building mechanics existing. The outlook for the winter months is gratifying, with new construction work to start shortly, adding to that which is already in operation. LOUISIANA. Seasonal occupations and the building trades show a slight decrease in employment, which is being taken care of to some degree by the call for more rail workers. There is an ample supply of skilled and common labor to meet the demands. Supply and demand for farm help about equal, though tending to show a decline on account of wages paid. The outlook for the winter, while some unemployment exists in all crafts is considered favorable. MARYLAND. The employment situation for Maryland is very good, though there is a slight surplus of common labor and a lessening demand for skilled men. This condition, however, is seasonable. Employment among industries is always at a minimum at this time of the year. Estimated number of unemployed throughout the whole State is less than 5,000, as compared with 30,000 one year ago. The outlook for the winter is good, with prospects for completely normal conditions by early spring. MASSACHUSETTS. Conditions existing in this State from the point of view of employment are encouraging. Practically all industries are working full time, while a shortage of skilled workmen for inside work, metal, and textile workers exists. The outlook for the winter is good and will improve as the transportation facilities, which are still inadequate, improve. MICHIGAN. Reports from this State indicate that there is no shortage of labor and at the same time no noticeable unfilled demand for help. Industrial plants are running 100 per cent normal. The outlook for the winter is excellent although it is a fact that a 50 per cent reduction in building operations exists which will extend over a two-months' period. MINNESOTA. Reports from this State relative to the employment situation discloses no shortage of any kind of labor, though the only surpluses noted are clerical workers and farm help. These conditions are normal in Minnesota for this period of the year and the outlook for the winter months is considered good, it being generally expected that the situation existing will prevail for the next 90 days. MISSOURI. The labor outlook shows decided improvement for this time over last year. Almost every line of industry indicates favorable activity, with bright future prospects. The State's highway program in course of construction will proceed during the winter months as far as weather conditions will permit. The supply and demand for common labor about equal while skilled industrial labor is nearly normal. Building activity the greatest in years, with a shortage in several crafts. The outlook for the winter months excellent, with the erection of municipal and public buildings planned in many localities. ΜΟΝΤΑΝΑ. There is less unemployment in Montana for this period of the year than has existed for the past several years, with many of the mines working closer to capacity than ever before since 1920. The logging and lumber mills are busier than they have been for five years, while coal mining is the only industry on part time, due to the car shortage. Indications are that this condition will exist throughout the winter and the outlook for the next. 90 days is considered excellent. Some of the heavier highway construction work is to be continued during the winter months. NEBRASKA. The unemployment situation for Nebraska at the present time shows the supply and demand for labor about equal. Building program still in operation which is unusual for this time of the year. The outlook for the winter period indicates that there will be no shortage of labor, with the expectation of a possible surplus of unskilled labor after the first of the year. NEW JERSEY. The tone of business production and necessarily employment is generally optimistic. A definite shortage of skilled silk workmen and workwomen exists, while the supply and demand of skilled labor, machinists, woodworkers, etc., is favorably taken care of. The outlook for the winter months is considered good, especially in certain parts of New Jersey, when it is considered that the business slump is described as seasonal, with a tremendous rebound expected the first of the year. NEW YORK. Conditions in New York State from the point of view of employment are as near normal as they have been for a considerable number of months, the demand exceeding the supply of skilled machinists, transportation and freight handlers, and in some sections of the State for printers and metal workers. The outlook for this winter is particularly pleasing, with every indication of there being a demand strong enough to take care of the supply, this existant only, if the grave danger of possible lay offs in factories and manufacturing concerns, due to the shortage of coal, does not occur. NORTH CAROLINA. The demand for common labor and farm help is greater than the supply, while a healthy demand for skilled labor of all kinds exists, and most of the cotton mills are running full time, many running night and day. The outlook for the winter is considered excellent, enhanced somewhat by the tremendous building program which is mapped out for Asheville. OHIO. The demand for labor in all lines shows a slight decline, which is attributed to the holiday season. There is every prospect of mills and factories working to capacity after inventory taking is completed. A slight scarcity of skilled mechanics existing, and Ohio could use 500 women domestics, housekeepers, and beauty-parlor operators. As a whole, the outlook in this State is very bright, and from authoritative sources it is said that no one need be without work of some kind if they desire it. OKLAHOMA. The labor situation from the point of view of supply and demand when compared with this time last year is better, though showing a supply greater than the demand. Conditions for the winter are only fair, though the number of unemployed is chiefly transient labor seeking employment in the oil fields. OREGON. Weather conditions have curtailed operations in logging camps, resulting in considerable unemployment, which is, however, looked upon as temporary, and resumption of operations is soon expected. Better shipping facilities now existing will stimulate business and boost employment. The outlook for the winter is good, even though there is no shortage in any line. PENNSYLVANIA. Employment situation in Pennsylvania is considerably better for this period of the year than it was in 1921. A general expansion in industry exists, with consequent demands for all kinds of labor, the supply and demand of which is being favorably taken care of. The outlook for the winter is considered by experts to be satisfactory. RHODE ISLAND. Reports on unemployment conditions in Rhode Island disclose an acute shortage of textile workers, while the demand does not equal the supply for metal workers, and the building trades show a shortage in all branches. The outlook for the winter months in all branches of operation, except jewelry making, is very good. |