The Calumet news., 1912-09-30
A GREAT CORPORATION
INVESTIGATES ITSELF.

A few months ago an article eltitle'
{ "oid Age at Forty was published II
The American Magazine. Y was al
account Of the hard conditions unde
which laboring men have TO work n
the steel industry. II dealt with IN,
twelve hour day, the seven day weel
and other kindred subjects. This ar
ticle stirred up a discussion among
stockholders in the United States
Steel Corpora tion and committee OF
stockholders was appointed to invcsti-
gate as To the truth OF The article. The
investigation resulted in complete
substantiation of the main statements
and contentious i'm the article and a
report of what the United States Steel
Corporation is doing To correct these
abuses appears in the october number
OF The American Magazine. An extract
follows:
| Certainly no one can deny that the
report submitted by this committee
was a remarkable document in its
meaning for all those who are gallant
~ striving to bring about better or
der OF things.
with regard to the en-day week,
the committee found that the records
II had examined indicated that. with
the exception of two or three plants, II
tthe seven day week) had been rele-
gated to the past. The credit for ihis
the committee gave TO the Steel Cor
porations Finance Committee, which,
In 1907, adopted resolution recon-
mending TO the presidents of all sub
sidiary companies that Sunday labor
be reduced TO the minimum and to
Judge Gary. who. in 1910, issued a
peremptory order that thereafter the
spirit of the resolution be obeyed by
ALL However, II rs on the ject of
the twelvehour day that the report of
this committee Is a en-strilSe. Here
is what the committee said first:
(" To ascertain the number of en-.
ployees of the Steel Corporation work
ing on a twelve hour schedule Eek
elusive of officers, managers and cler-
ical fcrces) we have examined the
records of 175,7l5 men. or this number
we lind 4a,24s. or 25% per cent, are at
present working twelve hours per day.
speaking. this schedule of
work fnds its largest proportion in
those departments which are more or
less continuous. sLcb as rolling mills, |
open hearths and blast furnaces. where
the percentage working twelve hours
varies from so per cent to 60 per
cent"
1.-The committee found that the |
Of the twelve hour day had |
been mitigated by mechanical i'm
Drovements which made the labcrers |
work less exhausting, and it also re-
ported, that. in the cases of the open |
hearths and blast furnaces the work, |
being intermittent, actually called for
A less expenditure OF energy than the |
work done in many of the eight and |
-en- n-hour positions At the same time,
he committee went on to use these
striking words
Notwithstanding this fact. we arc
'f the opinion that a twelve hour day
If labor. followed continuously by any
group of men for any considerable
number of years. means a decreasing
If the efficiency and lessening of the
igor and virilityt of such men.
The question should be considered
rom a social as well as a physical
,oint of view. When 1t is remembered
hat the twelve hours day TO the
nan in the miis means approximately
hirteen hours away from his home
nd family--not tor one day, but for
IL working days--it leaves but scant
with his family. for recrea-
ion and leisure. Ii is important that
ny industry be considered in its rela-
ion TO the home life OF those engaged
n IT, as TO whether II tends to weaken
r strengthen the noimalness and sta
observing of the strength of the
working population Of today may we
e best assured of healthy, intelli-
ent. productive citizenship in the fu-
ure'" sar a1.t.' :7
We'll. here we sec II acknowledged
y the Investigators personally select
d by the executive head OF tie great
st industrial enterprise in the Unit
d States that the twelve hour day is
umanly and socially bad and that 1t
the duty Of men engaged i'm large
not only 10 make money
Or themselves, but To act Go some ex-
snt at least. as trustees for the rest
{ the community This readers. is
rogress."
"THiS rs ny 60TH BIRTHDAY"