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Repair and Mod ernize Drive Gets Under \(/.y
Washington, D. C., Feb. 19-The national drive of the American Legion for jobs for the unemployed, which is now being conducted in cooperation with the American Federation of Labor and the Association of National Advertisers, from headquarters in the Biltmore lfotel, New York, aims at the general application of the Rochester plan for creating employment. The core of this plan is an intelligent and systematic drive in every community in the country to persuade property owners to repair or improve their property. The plan is not unlike the Muncie plan, which originated in Muncie, Indiana, last spring and has attained wide vogue in the middle west.
Financed by a small campaign fund raised by public subscription and directed and personally pushed by business men who give their time without salaries, the city or city and county are divided into districts, with two chairmen for each division. These chairmen select sub-district chairmen and they in turn appoint block captains who enroll their own canvassers. All of these men are volunteer workers. The contributed cash is used entirely to pay stenographe.rs, clerks, and for printed matter, badges, iti. Prinling is done at cost, and display advertising is donated by thE local daily newspapers. Each newspaper is requestld to assign one reporter to publicity for the plan.
The solicitors are supposed to canvass every property owner in their districts. To avoid unpleasant ballyhoo and invidious comparisons the names of-persons pledging im_provement or repair work are not published.
In the canvassing, emphasis is laid-on the fact that the plan is not a fund-raising campaign to provide relief, but simply a movement to provide employment and stimulate business and expenditures for things needed. Stress is also laid on the fact that no job is too small to be listed. It is obvious that the success of the plan not only provides employment but also releases purchasing power ind improves local business, which in turn has many constructive effects, both direct and indirect.
In order to make the undertaking as definite as possible, each cooperating property owner is requested to sign a form agreement in which he promises thlt during th; follor,ving three months or before some definite dale during the year he rvill expend a minimum amount in repairs and lmprovements,
To reach persons u'ho are not property owners the clause in the form provides for an alternative promise to spend a certain sum during the period for personal purchases for himself, family or friends which otherwise might be deferred until a later time.
The pledges are. filed and are afterwards followed up with requests for a report on performance.
Leaflets are distributed to all "prospects," explaining the plan and its objecti'r'es fully but concisely, and citizens are stimulated to thought concerning what they can do in the way of improvements and repairs by an itemized list of such things under headings of:
Improvements to Real Estate; Exterior and Grounds; Bathroom; Bed Rooms; Attic; Lighting and Power; Plumbing; Heating; Kitchen ; Basement ; Interior of House; Doors and Windows.
It is well known that the mood of saving which now possesses the country has resulted in the postponement of repair and modernization work which would ordinarily run into hundreds of millions of dollars, although this time of low cost of building material and eager and efficient labor is an ideal one for such rvork. The funds required, though' spent, are really saved because they result in longer life and enhanced value for houses and other buildings and, being of a lasting nature, are not to be valued according to prevailing price pessimism, but rather according to the normal appraisals of the future.
Probably no material-providing industry will benefit more from the campaign of the American Legion than the lumber industry and trade. It is expected therefore that the lumber dealers of the country will have a powerful self-interest incentive as rvell as the motive of public service to take an'active part in the Legion's campaign.
