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THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, JANUARY 3, 1932. AS TOLD TO CORINNE REID FRAZIER. HAT will the new year bring? What has fate in store for us during the next twelve months? What can we do as a nation and as individuals to help our- selves along the upward path to prosperity? The greatest financial and economic heads of the world have been busy with this problem, and one of the ablest of their number has consented to give us the . results of his own and his coworkers’ study of the situation. Silas H. Strawn of Chicago, president of the Chamber of Ccmmerce of the United States, tells here of concrete plans, which he believes will serve as immediate relief measures, if put into operation by every individual community in the country, and he also outlines the excellent long-time remedies which have been worked out carefully by ex- perts and are offered to the people as sug- gested preventives for the future. “An ounce of prevention is worth the proverbial pound of cure, in business as in everything else,” says Mr. Strawn, “and if the present period of suffering brings to the front workable plans for the prevention of a like catastrophe to future generaticns, it will not have been suffered in vain. “With this in mind, the United States Chamber of Commerce has had a special com- mittee at work upon an exhaustive study of the possibilities of the stabilization of business and employment since May, 1931. That com- mittee has mapped out, among other things, a rational program for production and distri- bution to be initiated by business itself, which should go a long way toward permanent stabil- ization, if adopted universally. " F first importance to us all is the ques- tion of immediate relief. Our com- mittee has not neglected that phase of study. Before discussing the permanent program I will say a word about emcrgency measures, for I believe firmly that if the pcople of America will follow some such course as that outlined in our committee report, the next twelve months will see a decisive change for the better and a gradual diminution of unemployment. “No one, of courss, can predict when we shall evolve out of our present economic condition, but I ame convinced that eventually we shall evolve, and at a not too distant date. There are already encouraging signs on the horizon. “Certain it is that reccvery can be brought about only by co-operating individual effort and not by governmental action. This is the pre- mise upon which our plans for relief are based. “Here in America the answer lies in the people themselves. The Government should serve only as an umpire to assure fair play. ‘We, the people * * *' states the Constitu- tion of our forefathers. That phrase is fraught with meaning for every American, and there is not one who is a true American but feels a stir of pride deep within him as h2 repeats the words—pride and a fresh determination to excrcise his inalienable right of seclf-govern- ment, which means self-reliance and confidence in his own ability as an individual to bear his part of the responsibility for the well-being of his Nation. “Sound relief measures for our people have no place on their program for doles that en- courage more unemployment. Nor for huge, unnecessary governmental projects designed to absorb the idle at the expense of the taxpayers. The task is to find needed work, at which each unemployed person may earn a livelihood for himself and his dependents. That means in- dividualizing the unemployed. Each must have his capabilities determined and the job found which will suit his individual talents. This can be done only by local agencies. “Thus the immediate problem confronting us must be dealt with through local organization. It is a job for each community within itself. Most cities already have organized for this purpose and have progressed toward the com- pletion of their task. 11" VERY Chamber of Commerce that is not already active in supporting a central- ized organization of all the elements in its community that can assist ‘g bringing together jobs and men should at once take the leader- ship in effecting such an organization in its city. Our committee recommends to all organ- ized groups a study of the Rochester (N. Y.) plan, which has proved most successful. I shall not go into the details of that plan here, but copies of it may be obtained either through the Rochester Chamber of Commerce or by application at the headquarters of the United States Chamber of Commerce at Wash- ington. It is founded upon the principle of co-operating community effort in the business of finding neighborhood jobs, as well as perma- nent occupation for Rochester’'s unemployed. Every citizen in a given neighborhood has his definite responsibility, his ‘bit’ to do, under this admirable plan. “It is the opinion of our committee that not only must there be central registration of all individuals seekinz work in order fpr any workable plan to operate, but also definite de- termination and record of the qualifications of each person in terms of his ability to perform various jobs. There should be added in each instance independent and sympathetic investi- gation both to identify those who need work and to ascertain those who should have prefer- ence by reason of their conditions. “There should be similar registration of the jobs to be done. No better system of tying up the jobs with the jcbless can be devised, I be- lieve, than the block plan already in use, whereby citizens of each block in a community agree to keep one or more men busy on the little odd jobs around their own homes. 11T is the little grains of sand tha. made the earth, and it's the little jobs that are going to keep the old world going! No job is too small to have its place in the community scheme. This fact should be kept in mind. “The stimulation df houscholders to identify work which can be done now to their advantage How Readjustment Can Be Effected and the Foundation Laid for a Saner and Sounder Economic Structure Outlined in a Comprehensive Program of Ten Cardinal Points by SILAS H.STRAWN, President Chamber of (ommerce of the United States Silas H. Strawn believes that jobs should be stretched and spread by the rotation plan to aid employment. has large possibilities. Minor household repairs and maintenance—painting, roofing, pointing up of masonry; new shelves, cabinets and par- titions; relaying of sidewalks, regrading of lawns and gardens—are only a few of the dormant work opportunities that may be mobilized into an impressive aggregate of work by an energetic campaign. “This same type of cempaign can be carried to every business concern, regardless of its field, with even greater results in the way of job- finding. If each business house in the country could be induced to take stock of its work op- portunities outside of regular activities, an amazing number of temporary jobs would be brought to light and half the battle for im- mediate relief would be won. “Rotation of jobs—a plan already adopted by a great many employers, and one which marks with emphasis the advance in that co- operative spirit between capital and labor of which I have spoken—presents another op- portunity for spreading jobs over the largest possible territory, Each business firm should serutinize closely at once the possibilities within its own organization for rotating jobs. We urge the extension” of this rotating principle to the utmost. Its benefits, both practical and in moral effect, are manifold. HPUBLIC agencies, proceeding conservatively with plans for needed public works, have a very definite part in the relief program, as I see it. While fundamentally the people them- selves, and not the Government, must assume the major share of the burden of solving the economic problems ccnfronting them if they are . to maintain that independence of spirit essential to our life as a democracy, nevertheless, all public agencies can be of material assistance in the general situation by proceeding with their normal purchasing of supplies and materials and by stimulating programs of necessary pub- lic works. “Every local government should be stimulated not only in its long-time planning and execu- tion of public works but also in the identifica- tion and registration of all the work it can have done in the interest of community welfare. “It is the opinion of our committee, after careful study of the immediate situation, that, taking into consideration the number of busi- nesses, the number of householders and the number of public agencies in the United States, the problem of unemployment caused by the business depression can be met and will be met, if every one does his part. For accomplish- ment, therefore, only organizauon is needed. The progress already made, together with the leadership that existing organizations can be counted upon to give, offers assurance that this necessary organization in every community throughout the country will be an accomplished fact this winter. “Relief funds, of course, are necessary, regard- less of the success which is attained in placing the unemployed:through organized effort. These funds are needed primarily for the cases of maladjustment and of congestion in districts offering limited opportunities. That the funds for adequate care of all such cases of distress will be forthcoming there is every assurance. “The spontaneous generosity of our people has never failed, and this Winter it is being supplemented by city, county and State funds on a larger scale than during the last year. Preparations are under way to assist every city with suggestions and for giving practical aid in the task of organizing for relief action. For that purpose the President has set up a national committee with distinguished personnel in its officers, its advisory board and its committees. There will thus be a co-ordination of relief measures. “With every one doing his part, therefore, 1932 should hold in store for us not only the accomplishment of a tremendous task im- mediately in hand, but also, through this demonstration of our ability to meet our im- mediate problems, the new year should bring to us a new era of confidence in ourselves and in dur national stability which will be reflected in a steady upward trend toward prosperity. 11CO much for the present emergency. Be- yond that, the new year promises for us an opportunity to readjusf our economic scheme in such a way that many of the causes of the present and of past depressions will be removed permanently. If we can profit by the lessons this experience is teaching us, we should be able to restore national confidence in such a way that our resources and energy will ex- pand the fabric of trade until it absorbs the ‘fringe of unemployment’ without recourse to the methods of artificial respiration being re- sorted to in the crisis. To create any lasting stability we must assist trade to stand on its own feet once more. “We of the Chamber of Commerce, after careful study of existing conditions, helieve that certain necessary steps taken nationally would go a long way toward curing many of the chronic as well as temporary ills from which trade long has been suffering. For America, as a nation, we are recommending, as steps toward permanent rehabilitation and a more sound economic structure, certain measures yvhich, while they may not be capable of avert= ing entirel§ possible future depressions—perhaps nothing could do that—should at least act as a safeguard” against #any of the economic blunders that made possible such a muddle as that from which we are now struggling to emerge. “First. We recommend that America join the World Court and thereby show international co-operation and good wi'l. “Second. We shouwd prepare to support a Continues o Tenth Page