Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 54 Part 2.djvu/1479

 [54 STAT. PROCLAMATIONS-APR. 12, 1940 NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT WEEK April 12, 1940 [No. 2396] Preamble. 53 Stat. 2535 . National Employ- ment Week an Na- tional Employment Sunday. Designation of. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Both the State and Federal governments have been especially con- cerned with the problems of older workers, many thousands of whom, despite their persistent efforts, still lack a place in industry. Among these are a considerable number of World War Veterans, who now average forty-seven years of age, and who, I feel, have a particular appeal to our national sense of responsibility. Our public employment service-a nation-wide network of sixteen hundred offices now operated jointly by the State and Federal govern- ments-has made special efforts in behalf of workers past forty years of age, including veterans. We know from the facts gathered by this agency that men and women in middle life possess abilities and skills which would fit them for employment in nearly every line of work. We know further that these older workers, when given an opportunity, demonstrate a seasoned experience and a mature application to their tasks which in many callings outweigh the physical advantages of youth. With these considerations in mind, I issued a proclamation last year designating an Employment Week and requesting that all our citizens give particular and active attention to the problems of older workers lacking employment. During the month in which Employment Week occurred over a third of a million jobs-a third more than during the same month of the previous year-were filled through the public employment offices, and a quarter of a million of these placements were in private industry. Moreover, placements proceeded at an accelerated rate in the month following Employment Week. Because of the concerted efforts of government, of public-spirited groups, and, particularly, of employers throughout the land, thousands of workers over forty years of age, among them veterans, shared beneficially in this fine result. I am grateful for the wholehearted response to my first appeal; and as President, I desire to encourage a continued nation-wide in- terest in this persistent problem. NOW, THEREFORE, I, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, Presi- dent of the United States of America, do hereby designate the week beginning May 1, 1940, as National Employment Week, and Sunday, May 5, 1940, as National Employment Sunday, and I urge all churches, civic organizations, Chambers of Commerce, Boards of Trade, veterans' organizations, industry, labor, public-spirited citizens, the radio and the press throughout the United States to observe that week as National Employment Week, to the end that interest in the welfare of all the unemployed, and especially the workers over forty years of age, may be stimulated and employment be extended to them. IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed. DONE at the City of Washington this 12" day of April in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty, and of the Inde- [SEAL] pendence of the United States of America the one hundred and sixty-fourth. FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT By the President: CORDELL HULL Scretary of State. 2696

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