Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1918-10-11
STEEL TRUST STILL CLINGS TO
FEUDALISM

FEUDALlOM
Washington.-In response to a re-
quest by the Survey Magazine for
his views on the steel trusts adop-
tion of the basic eight-hour day, A.
F. of L. Secretary Frank Morrison
wrote:
"The announcement of a basic eight
hour day by the United States steel
corporation merely means that this
trust will pay, as wages, larger por-
tion of profits that have been the
marvel of the industrial world.
According to the public press of
September 25, Mr.. Gary, chairman o.
the board of directors, United States
steel corporation, says time and one
half will be paid for over eight hours
and the open shop plan heretofore in
force throughout the works will be
continued
"Organized labor's demand for an
eight-hour day is not because of de-
sire for higher wages, but because OF
health conservation. The verdict in
support of this position is so unani-
nous and complete that citations are
unnecessary. Our added point, that
production is increased, is also in
dorsed by employers who have applied
the test.
"The steel corporations basic eight
hour day and the trade unionists'
eight-hour day have no similarity. In
the former case, the worker continues
his long workday, being paid extra
for over eight hours, and in the latter
case, eight hours is days work eX-
cept in case of an emergency.
"While the steel corporation makes
an apparent concession to public opin-
ion that has been developed by trade
union agitation, it will be noticed that
Mr.. Gary retains mastery over his
employees, who are permitted, as in
dividuals, to call on the finances COM
mittee and the board of directors of
the United States steel corporation to
redress any grievance they may have.
"With perfect propriety, Mr.. Gary
might have made this additional
statement: We hope that this wage
increase will convince our employees
that collective bargaining is unneces-
sary, and that the organizing cam
paign now being conducted by tn, A
F. of l.. throughout our plants Will
be negatived.'
"The open shop attracted some at
tention a few years ago bGC the pub
lie is now acquainted with its pre-
tense. 1t is a refuge for employers
who demand control owe. The lives Of
their employees.
"Mr. Gary's open shop which is
an economic impossibility, is so at
variance with the principles of the
national war labor board, which has
been proclaimed by the president as
part of the nations program in its
war for democracy, that it seems like
voice from the tomb and recalls the
days of yesterday when employers
talked of their right 10 run their own
business Mr.. Gary will raise wages,
as this corporation must dispose OF
it's principle profits, and he will pro-
fess allegiance to the eight-hour day,
but the bona fide eight hour day can
not be enforced while his employees
are unorganized. With collective bar
gaining the basic eignt day
means something. The national war
labor board, it will be noticed, makes
provision for this when it orders the
basic eight-hour day.
"The trade union movement will
continue it's efforts to secure for EN-
ployes of the United States steel CT
poration the right of collective bar
gaining. AS the kaiser's last trench
will be the hardest for our American
troops to capture, so the trade union
movement appreciates that it will
take time before the last trench of
American industrial autocracy is
evacuated by those who would have
US believe that political liberty AMI
industrial feudalism can fit in the
frame work of our national institu-
tions.
"The trade union movement insists
that high wages and kind masters is
not democracy"