The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-03-27

hour day in the steel industry?
If the steel corporation is permitted
by the courts to continue practically as
at present organized the conditions of
employment established by it must Ill
timately prevail in the entire steel in
dustry. My comments will therefore
deal mainly with that corporation.
The committee of stockholders of the
steel corporation appointed at the meet
ing of April II. 1911. commented on
this subject as follows:
I'VE are of the opinion that twelve
hour day of labor followed continuous
ly by any group of men for any consid-
cradle number of years means de
creasing of the efficiency and lessening
of the vigor and virility of such men"
| heartily indorse this opinion and
will further state that in my judgment
a large proportion of the steel workers
who from early manhood work twelve
hours day are old men at forty. This
is particularly true of those exposed to
great changes of temperature.
The finance committee. as result of
the stockholders committee report, ap-
pointed Percival Roberts and Mr. Far
rell as a committee to consider what
if any. arrangement with a view to re-
ducing the twelve hour day in so far as
it now exists among the employees of
the subsidiary companies is reasona.
BILE. just and practicable"
Although more than year has
elapsed, | 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 its subsidiary companies. The
corporation officials. in considering a
change to an eight hour day, which in
the continuous processes is the only
alternative. are confronted with a seri-
Gus problems which cannot be solved
offhand merely by an edict of the
board of directors. To effect such a
change would, of course, require sufti
cient time to secure the necessary adj
ditional men. However, similar prac
teal difficulties have been overcome in
the manning of the enormously in
creased capacity during the past ten
years.
The plea has been made that in some
cases the workmen do not desire a
shorter workday. This same statement
was made as an excuse for the seven
day week but in both cases it has
come from that migratory class ot la
borers whose sole aim is to quickly az
cumulate some money and return to
Europe and who. in order 10 do So are
willing to live and work under condi
tons which are physically, mentally
and morally facilitating.
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 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 hopeful 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 workmen will to a
great extent offset whatever additional
cost may be involved. But aside from
this | am of the opinion that the steel
companies can today afford to change
from twelve hour to an eight hour
day in all those processes which are
necessarily continuous. In other de
partments a ten hour day is practicable
and perhaps advisable, If, however. IT
should be found that costs were actu-
ally increased so that 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, remote con
tingency.
Is not this the crux of the matterf
The principal business of each genera
ton of men is not to produce cbeapiy
any article OF merchandise. however
important to the well being of society
this may be, nor to insure large profits
to any investor, however enterprising
and deserving he may be, but to i've
normal human lives and to so main
tain living conditions that succeeding
generations may not be handicapped In
keeping the same standards.