UNEMPLOYMENT: Sulphur & Molasses

The whole nation wasn't sick by any means, but there were a few sore spots that needed treatment. In Government lingo, these are known as Grade E areas, with a "very substantial labor supply," which is another way of saying that more than 12% of the workers are out of jobs.

Last week, at the President's request, White House Troubleshooter John R. Steelman designated nine such areas: New Bedford and Worcester, Mass., Waterbury and Bridgeport, Conn., Providence, R.I.,Utica-Rome, N.Y., Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Muskegon, Mich, and Knoxville, Tenn.

The Administration's remedy looked more like sulphur...