Oxford eagle., 1918-07-25


OF war goods at the present time nc
Wen as building ships. Before the
senate Committee which WAS inveSti-
eating the prohibition question and
"a "A Ieoatiai = the claims made by Mr..
Coiby and Mr.. Hurley there was pre-
Sehled JOINT statement by the lead
| ing manufacturers Of Detroit in which
Speclilcally denying the claims made
by Mr. Hurley and Mr.. Colby. they
We have been Informed that Hon.
r y. Hurley. chairman of the shin
ping Board, thinks that war prohibit-
loa VIII disorganize labor activities
IN shlpbuilding plants. And the news
papers report that Hon. cambridge
Ooioy of the Shipping Board has ap-
peared before the Senate Agricultural
Committee to protest against the en-
acsment OF war prohibition ON tbe
same ground.
Detroit IS the largest city in
America under prohibition. The pro-
hloltlon law went into effect here on
May 1 OF this year. A great number
o. our leading concerns are working
on immense contracts for war mater
lal- Il viii therefor be seen that the
experience of our large industries as
touching the point raised in the oh
lection Of the Shipping Board to pro-
hloiilon Is not only valuable. but con-
elusive on this point.
here j. no division of opinion
among our leaders. They are unani-
nous IN giving emphatic testimony 10
the wonderful benefits prohibition is
producing. Our big concerns are re-
porting fewer absentees Of men. few
er accidents. greater unity and high
e efficiency on the part Of their en-
pioyes. Their men come to work now
with clear heads and steady hands on
Monday mornings and after holidays.
"Detroit's experience has proven
beyond possibility of doubt that the
wage-earnerS do not insist on their
beer as the price of their LOYALTY, and
tnat instead of prohibition causing
any industrial revolution or disorgan-
| lZation, II, on the other hand. is a
most valuable contribution to indus
trial efficiency. higher productivity
and conservation Of man-power. all of
which are Of very vital consideration
TO our country in these war times.
IF the Shipping Boafd and others
who object TO war emergency prohibi-
tion on the ground that ii will cause
disorganization Of labor or revolution
among industrial workers viii but
study the experience Of Detroit, they
viii find that their anxiety on this
matter Is totally unfounded. After
an uneXcelled opportunity of study
ing the value of prohibition in its re-
4 lation 10 industrial efficiency, our
conviction i that no measure of con-
seIvation would be more valuable to
our country and its interests at this
time than war emergency prohibition
| This letter was signed by President
Leland Of the lincoln Motor Car Co.
the president Of the Burroughs Ad-
ding Machine Co. the Vice President
Of the Packard Motor Car Co. the
manager Of the Cadillac Motor Car
Co. the Secretary Of the Employers
Association Of Detroit. and a number
Of other great industrial readers Of
that city.
At the meeting Of the Senate Com
mittee. when Mr.. Hurley was making
his statements. he then had in his
pocket a telegram addressed officially
to him by the president OF one OF the
greatest shipbuilding plants on the
Lakes. He did not. however. present
this telegram until someone. knowing
that he had received It. asked that he
read il. This telegram. from John
r. Russell. president of the Great
Lakes Engineering Works, contained
the following:
I'VE have shipbuilding plants in
Detroit. Ecorse and Ashtabula, and
know positively that the morale and
deficiency Of our men has been I'M
proved by change from so-called wet
10 dry conditions. AT conference To-
dav Of our executive OFFICERS. genera
managers and superintendents oi
various plants. serious objections
We're raised By all present 10 modifi'
cation in any way Of prohibitory laws
now in effect IN this State- If @nl
statutory permission Is given for th'
sale OF beer and light wines IN neigh
borhoods Of our yards II would posi
lively impede the program for dellv
cry Of ships we have promised TO th'
Shipping Board. Are confident larg'
majority Of our employees would con
cur in this expression Of opinion
Prohibition has had such sigma
success in benefiting shin construct
ion in Michigan that similar legisla
ton IS absolutely required, in on
Board to carry out its war program
for output. We are firmly in favo
of the Jones Amendment TO the foo
emergency bill.
Fo- many months the coal OF
1 orators Of the United States nav
been urging national prohibition q
absolutely essential TO the increase
output Of coal. and now they are pre-.
sing the matter vigorously upon II
attention Of President Wilson and
4 Congress
Smoe months ago a petition slgnt
: by a thousand Of the leading final
4 ciers and business men of Ame~ie
was presented TO Congress urging al