Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1899 — Fancy Unsupported by Figures. [ARTICLE]

Fancy Unsupported by Figures.

The State labor statistics of New York d<» not bear out the noisy shouts of Republicans that the number of unemployed is smaller now than ever before known. The Bureau of Labor of New York gives statistical returns from the trades unions of the State. The bulletin is careful lo set forth the well-known fact that the position of members of these labor unions with respect to employment is more secure than that of the average workingman, but the statistics show that one-fourth of the whole number were idle throughout the first three months of 1837, and that the percentage of idleness was greater in IS.ill and IS9B. This enforced idleness, it should - be remembered. embraces skilled workmen. Twenty" thousand employed during some part of the last quarter worked only about half time. On the 31st of March over IS per cent, of all trade unionists in the State of New York were idle. What is most surprising about these statistics is the fact that during the first quarter of the present year, when there was a considerable increase in the number of unemployed, the claim was made on apparently good grounds that business and industry were far more active than for many years at the same season. The truth is, this publication by the New York Bureau of Labor is calculated to cause thinking men to scratch their heads and ask themselves if there, is not something dead up the creek widely the voluble- and vociferous Republican organs ar 1 trying to conceal.—Atlanta Constitution. '