The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-07-07
G)rrmunt MMthman.
IN DARKEST PENNSYLVANIA.

btuteu q ltpoit Ou ZINC SOCldl dhN
economic conditions Of the men en-
ployed in the great Bethlehem Steel |
Works in Pennsylvania, which will |
be surprise to many readers, This
commission includes such men as
Rev. DR., Josiah Strong, Jacob Riis,
Rev. Ernest H. Abbott, Rev. Dr. c. S.
mcfarland and President Herbert
Welch.
These members of the commission,
through their committee, state that
just before the strike 4,725 men, OF 81
per cent of all the employees, worked
twelve hours day; .220 workmcn had
"a twelve-hour day, excepting on Sat
urdays, when they worked ten or
eleven hours; 4203 employees had a
work day of from ten and a half to
eleven hours, with half a day off on
Saturdays, and AZ worked on other
schedules not specined.
In addition to these hours, the COM
mittee reported, men in many of the
departments worked a seven-day
week. Twenty-eight per cent of all
employees are said to work seven days
a week, and in addition were those
who work on Sunday regularly as
overtime. The total number working
seven days a week both regular and
overtime, last January is said to have
amounted to 4,041, or 43 per cent. The
committee reported that while the
management at Bethlehem said that
the extra work is optional with the
men, in some cases the foremen and
gang bosses have compelled the men
under them to work extra time, under
pain of discharge. 1t is said to have
been such a case which brought on
the recent strike.
Referring to the wages at Bethle-
hem, the committee reported that 81
per cent of the 9,1S4 employees earned
less than IS cents an hour, or s2.16
for a twelve-hour day, and 81 $40
per cent earned less than IA cents an
hour. These rates of wages, accord
ing to the committee, make it imper-
alive for many men TO live in the
same room.
1t is asserted that during the last
year 927 injuries occurred in the
Bethlehem plant, of which 754 in
Volved the loss OF more than one
weeks's time. Six OF these employees
lost an arm or leg and q lost their
lives.
In its conclusions the committee
Characterizes the twelve hour day and
the seven day week as "disgraces to
civilization and recommends, ac-
cording to the New York Sun, that
laws be passed requiring three shifts
in all industries which operate
twenty-four hours a day and requir-
ing one days rest in seven.
1t recommends that the Federal
Government be urged to include in its
specifications for armor plate, war
vessels, construction work and the
day basis and in cases where contin-
uous work is necessary that the
twenty-four day be divided into three
shifts.
The report recommends that day
be set apart at church conferences for
the discussion Of industrial condi-
tons, that the churches be urged to
initiate movement for six day leg
islation; that properly constituted
bodies be authorized TO determine
just when industrial operations are
necessarily continuous, and to make
adequate studies of the cost of living
and OF wages, and that employers of
labor recognize labor organizations
when they speak in behalf of their
members.
That men in highly rganized and
profitable industry like the manu-
facture of steel work twelve hours a
day and often seven days in the week,
truly is disgrace to our civilization.
Those persons who are antagonistic
to organized labor should remember
that it is largely due to the unions
that such conditions nave been abol-
ished in many industries. The indi-
yidual laborer is helpless against such
injustice. Organized in union and
affiliated with other strong labor or
CARNATIONS, he becomes a force that
must be dealt with fairly.
1t needs no argument to point out
the econimic wrong that prevails in
an industry which pays large divid-
ends, when the workmen must work
unreasonably long hours for low
wage The Government cannot be eX-
pected to fix the return on an invest
ment which shall constitute a fair
profit, but some governmental author-
ity, more properly that of the State of
Pennsylvania, should interfere to pre-
vent excessive hours of labor and en-
ployment seven days a week. 1t may
be merely a coincidence that such
labor conditions prevail in a State
ruled by a corrupt political ring,
where graft is revealed in State and
municipal affairs to a scandalous eX-
tent, but more likely it is all part