The Socialist and labor star. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1911-1915, 1914-02-27

employment established by it must III
timatey prevail i'll the entire steel IN
dustry. My comments will therefore
deal mainly with that corporation.
The committee Of Stockholders OF III"
steel corporation appointed ut the meet
ing OF April II. 1911. commented Oh
this subject as follows:
We are Of the opinion that Il twelve
hour day OF labor followed continuous
" by any group Of men for any conSid'
cradle number Of years means de
creasing OF the efficiency and lcSScnlnE
Of the visor and virility Of such men.
] heartily indUrSe this opinion ana
will further state that i'll my Judgment
q large proportion OF the steel workers
who from early manhood work twelve
hours day are old men ut forty. This
is particularly true OF those exposed 10
great changes Of temperature.
The finance committee. az a result Of
the STOCKHOLDERS committee report, ap-
pointed Percival Roberts and Mr.. Far
rell as q committee To consider "wlIar.
il any, arrangement with view 10 re-
dncing the twelve hour day i'll so far aS
II now exists among the employees or
the subsidiary companies is rcasnna-
ble just and practicable"
Although more than year has
elapsed. l am reliably informed that
there has been no report from this
committee.
The corporation is. Of course, not re.
sponsible for the existence OF the
twelve hour day. having inherited it
from it's subsidiary companies. The
corporation officials, in considering Il
change 10 an eight hour day. which In
the continuous processes is the only
alternative. are confronted With Serl-
ous problems which cannot be solved
offhand merely by an edict IF the
board Of directors. 10 effect such Il
change would, Of course. require sutti-
cient time 10 secure the necessary al.
ditional men. However, similar prac-
teal difficulties have been overcome IN
the manning OF the enormously i'll
creased capacity during the past ten
years.
The plea has been made that in some
cases the workmen do not desire 1
shorter workday. This same statement
was made us an excuse for the seven
day week. but IN both cases it has
come from that migratory class OF Ia
borers whose sole aim IS to quickly nc
cumulate some money and return to
Europe and who, in order to do so, are
willing 10 live and work under conii.
tons which are physically, mentally
and morally facilitating.
The directing minds Of the steel cor
poratIon have wisely shown themselves
on other questions kecnly susceptible
to public opinion. In aboIishing the
seven dry week, establishing Il pen
sion fund, permitting employees to
purchase stock on especially favorable
terms and in their magnificent cam
paign to insure safety to all employees
they are deserving Of the highest
praise.
/ am hopctul that they will further
commend their great corporation to
the favor OF the American people by
prompt and voluntary action looking
to the abolition Of the twelve hour day
as rapidly as circumstances permit.
A more specific question is, Can the
manufacturers afford an eight hour
day? | believe the advantage TO be
derived from more efficient because
less exhausted workmcn will to
great extent offset whatever additional
cost may be involved. But aside from
this I am Of the opinion TINT the steel
companies can today afford to change
from Il twelve honr to an eight hour
day iE all those processes which are
necessarily continuous. In other de
partmcnts Il ten hour day is practicable
and perhaps advisable. II. however, It
should be found that costs were 0ctn-
ally increased So that Il fair return on
the investment could not be secured at
present selling prices then part OF the
burden should be- shifted to the con-
sumner by advancing prices. This IS,
however. in my opinion. a remote con-
tlpsency.
Is not this the cru1 IF the matter!
The principal business Of each genera
ton OF men is not 10 produce chcapiy
any article Of merchandise. however
Important 10 the well being Of society
this may be, nor 70 insure large profits
70 any investor however enteIpr!sIng
and deserving he may be. but 10 I'VE
normal human lives and to so main
tain living conditions that succeeding
generations may not be handicapped in
b. M or d u zig