The Washington herald., 1914-01-04
Former Vice President Of
Steel Cooperation Hopes
Twelve-hom System win
Be Abolished Soon.

Editors Note-Seldom have men Of higl
positions In American industry made suci
ciear-cut. outspoken. and convincing
| statements in favor OF shorter work
day as those which appear In the articl'
by Mr. Dickson and Mr.. Bird. In th'
light OF official announcements OF thu
administration regarding the eight-hou
day. the articlel are Of unusual signifi
cance.
ny WILLIAM b. DICKSON,
Former Vice President United States Steel corpa.
ton.
Eaclnise serics The Survey Pres Buresu.)
What are my views as to the twelve
hour day IN the steel industry?
II the stea corporation is permitted b,
the courts TO continue practically as a
present organized. the conditions OF EN-
poyment established by II must ultimatei,
prevail in the entire steel industry. NJ,
comments will. therefore. deal mainly
with that corporation. The committee oi
stockhold srs of the stee. corporation ap
pointed at the meeting Of April II. 1911
commented on this subject as follows:
I'VE are o. the opinion that a twelve
hour day OF labor followed continuously
by any group of men for any consider
able number OF years. m .ans decreasing
of the efficiency and lessening Of the vigoI
and virility OF such men,"
] heartily indorse this opinion, and will
further state that in my judgment large
proportion of the steel workers who
from early manhood. work twelve hours
a day. are old men at forty. This is par
ticularly trre os those exposed to great
changes of temperature.
The finance committee. as result OF
the stockholders committee report, ap-
pointed Percival Roberts and Mr.. Farrell
as a committee to consider what, IL any,
arrangement. with a view to reducing
the twelve-hDur day in SO far as 1t now
exists among the employees Of the sub
sidiary companies. is reasonable, just,
and practicable"
Although more than year has elapsed
I am reliably informed that there has
been no report from tn. committee.
Corporation Not Responsible.
The corporation is. of course. not re-
sponsible for the existence OF the twelve
hour day. having inherited II from its
subsidiary companies. The corporation
officials. in considering a change to an
eieht-hour day which, In the continuous
processes Is the only alternative, are con-
fronted with a serious problem which can
not be solved offhand merely by an edict
OI the DOdTFl VI ~ fAANee SNSii
change would. of course, require suf-
ficient time to secure the necessary addi-
tional men. However. similar practical
difficulties have been overcome In the
manning OF the enormously-increased
capacity DUNG the pas ten years. espe-
cially at such works as Gary, Lorain, and
In the Monongahala Valley.
The plea has been made that in some
cases the workmen do no: desire a shorter
workday. This same statement was made
as an excise for the seven-day week. but
in both cases II has come from that
migratory class OF lsbJrers whose sole
aim is to quickly accumulate some money
and return tt Europe, and who, In order
to do so. are willing T., live and work
under condit ons which are physically,
mentally. ana morally debilitating. 1t is
not reasonable to permit this class to fix
standards for American citizens
The directing minds OF the steel cor
poration have wisely shown themselves,
on other questions, keenly susceptible to
public opinion. In abolishing the seven
day week. establishing a pension fund.
permitting employees to purchase stock on
especially favorable terms, and In their
magnificent campaign to insure safety
to all employees, they are deserving of the
highest praise.
fro"pt Nctfoh "A1seos
I am hopeful that they will further
their great corporation to the
favor of the American people by prompt
and voluntary action looking to the aboli-
ton of the twelye-hour day as rapidly
as circumstances permit
A more specific question is: Can the
afford an eight-hour day?
| believe the advantage to be derived
from more efficient, because less exhaust
ed. workmen will. to a great extent. Offset
whatever additional cost may be in
volved: but aside from this, I am OF the
opinion that the steel companies today
can afford to change from a twelve-hour
to an eight-hour day in all those pro-
resses which are necessarily continuous.
In other departments a ten-hour day is
and perhaps advisable. II.
however. 1t should be found that costs
were actually increased SO that a fair
return on the investment could not be
secured at present selling prices, then
part of the burden should be shifted to
tba nnp hv advancing nricaS This