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Editorial
September 28, 1937
The Times News
Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
The editorial criticizes the government's $5 million unemployment census led by John D. Biggers as a wasteful farce, relying on ineffective voluntary mail registrations that will fail to provide an accurate picture of unemployment for relief purposes.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
MAY AS WELL BE TWIDDLING THUMBS
John D. Biggers, selected by the president to take the census of the unemployed, is on the job—one that will cost the government $5,000,000 and for all practical purposes won't be worth five cents.
Indeed, the whole thing is more or less of a farce with Mr. Biggers planning to go through with his assignment largely by use of the mails.
It's to be a "voluntary registration," you know, and you know, also, that voluntary registrations of the unemployed, through the mails and by any other slip-shod, hit-or-miss method, will dismally fail of what should have been a seriously-purposed undertaking.
There will be some registrations, lots of them, in fact, some from the unemployed and some from the employed, but nothing remotely resembling a factual ascertainment of the relief picture is to be gained by going at so vital a task in such an indifferent manner and on such a makeshift basis.
Mr. Biggers, from the background given through press reports, is an able and talented sort of fellow.
But so far as being now federally engaged in an enterprise that will present a truthful picture of the present unemployment situation he may as well be twiddling his thumbs.-Charlotte Observer.
John D. Biggers, selected by the president to take the census of the unemployed, is on the job—one that will cost the government $5,000,000 and for all practical purposes won't be worth five cents.
Indeed, the whole thing is more or less of a farce with Mr. Biggers planning to go through with his assignment largely by use of the mails.
It's to be a "voluntary registration," you know, and you know, also, that voluntary registrations of the unemployed, through the mails and by any other slip-shod, hit-or-miss method, will dismally fail of what should have been a seriously-purposed undertaking.
There will be some registrations, lots of them, in fact, some from the unemployed and some from the employed, but nothing remotely resembling a factual ascertainment of the relief picture is to be gained by going at so vital a task in such an indifferent manner and on such a makeshift basis.
Mr. Biggers, from the background given through press reports, is an able and talented sort of fellow.
But so far as being now federally engaged in an enterprise that will present a truthful picture of the present unemployment situation he may as well be twiddling his thumbs.-Charlotte Observer.
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
Unemployment Census
Voluntary Registration
Government Waste
John Biggers
Relief Picture
What entities or persons were involved?
John D. Biggers
The President
Charlotte Observer
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Criticism Of Unemployment Census
Stance / Tone
Strongly Critical Of Government Initiative
Key Figures
John D. Biggers
The President
Charlotte Observer
Key Arguments
Census Costs $5,000,000 But Is Practically Worthless
Relies On Voluntary Mail Registrations, Which Will Fail
Method Is Slip Shod And Hit Or Miss, Not Serious
Will Include Registrations From Employed And Unemployed, Lacking Accuracy
Fails To Provide Factual Picture Of Unemployment For Relief
Biggers Is Able But The Enterprise Is Indifferent And Makeshift