236 INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND WAGES

the year 1927, but this did not represent any serious retardation
 in industrial activity. In the early part of 1928,
however, several States, including New York, reported
larger numbers of unemployed wage-earners than had
occurred since the depression of 1921. Conditions grew
worse as the year advanced, and by March a crisis had
developed. Moreover, it soon became apparent that this
unemployment situation was unique and unprecedented,
and so far as causes were concerned could not be related
to any similar conditions in the past.
When the underlying factors were brought together and
analyzed, it was found that during the past four years
industrial output had, as a rule, greatly increased,
while the number of men employed had steadily
declined. More goods, in other words, because of
increased output per worker, had been turned out with
fewer employees.!
During the year 1927, the factories and mills of the
United States produced 70 per cent. more than they had
in 1914, and this remarkable achievement was accomplished
 with an addition of only 15 per cent. to the operating
forces during this period. In 1927, as compared with
1924, 7 per cent. more commodities were turned out with
a slightly smaller number of industrial workers. As both
manufacturing and agriculture expanded, the increasing
use of machines made necessary a relatively less number
of workers.

It soon was apparent that this unusual unemployment
situation was the result of mass production and the unprecedented
 mechanization of industry during recent years.
As the constant invention and installation of labor-saving
machines had proceeded, fewer men were required. In
1 “March of the Machine Makes Idle Hands,” by Evans Clark; New York
Times, February 26, 1928.