Deming graphic., 1919-12-30
DEFICIT WORKERS

M workman who hates his work
or is indifferent to II ever became a
master OF his craft These days IL
would seem that the great majority
of workers have no other interest In
their handicraft, but TO draw their
wages and secure enough leisure to
spend II. Unfortunately, there will al
wavs be- those drawers of water and
hewrrs OF wood who do the work
which. however necessary, Is uninter-
estmg and In which the average per-
SON can take but little pride. Lack OF
native ability. training and education
mnkes the number adequate To the
demand. but this class of workers Is
not likely TO receive recognition or
consideration: by their limitations
they are condemned 10 life OF drnge-
ry. To say that il is their own fault,
Is to beg the question. Tarough col
lcctive bargaining these workers are
enabled 10 get some of the rewards due
them. since society has ever held
them in contempt and considered them
legitimate objects Of exploitation, So
ciety only has itself to blame for the
dissatisfaction which this class of Ia
har has EXPRESSED Ia no uncertain man
ner. The well being Of these workers
sbould he one of the first considera-
tionS Of the state. Others with more
important and valuable service to Of
fer. can demand an adequate return
aud get it-can take care OF them
selves.
The trough" or unskilled laborer is
not profitable 10 himself IL Is only
.l..l m
dor efficient management that they are
worth their salt. In more harbaric
life these lab0rers would be slaves,
by choice II not otherwise. because they
must have the protection of stronger
men to earn their keep. In savage life
they would soon die or be killed. for
they lack the cunning and swiftness
Ia hunt the stag and have not intelli-
gence to provide against famine and
organize their defeDSr against Wild
beasts or still NOR s.,gs men. Nat
urallv they drift into the service Of
those able to offer them protection and
living.
In civilized society the unskilled
workers cannot even claim the protec-
ton of master. hence they have been
driven to hand together 10 demand II.
Society owes them a debt. for our
toasted institutions rest on their broad
hacks. The sooner the government
recognizes the claim Of this class and
stops their exploitation by the merci-
less industrial barons. the sooner will
the bread Of the world be produced and
served by willing hands
How different is the lot Of the skill
q | worker. BY his own unided efforts
n, will rise above those around him
master workman enjoying the priv
iiages Of those who have a service TO
,nll for which there Is active bidding.
I'aving mastered his craft. he takes
iy In creating and cOntentment comes
v ith well-being.
The unskilled worker is too often n
4 .ficit worker. not only can he not
rake n living under his own manage
emit hut by his dishonesty he robs
those who could so direct him that he
could make his own keep and produce
narrow margin Of profit for his en-
poyer. Unwilling TO nay the price
which life exacts. he robs himself OF
self respect. his family of competence,
the world Of that surplus which be
o,mes an asset to civilization. He Is
dissatisfied with the rules laid down
- is menace to society he is n boil
shevik.
God only knows how long the day
lpust be 10 the man who Is trained In
r,thing but watching the clock All
idea of time Is lest I'm the almost in
finite procession Of hours from sun to
sun. Eternities mark the creeping
hands that tell Of the dead march OF
time. To such an S-hour day Is almost
eternity and even G-hour day would
lie n jail sentence How CALLING Is the
yoke placed upon them. Envy Of more
fortunate ones turns into hate and
hate Is anarchy-chaos. Hence II Is
down with the burgeois-the hated
tradeSmen and capitalists who suck the
blood or wiring it from the flesh Of the
workers.
As has been observed. social nequali-
ties do exist and injustice marks the
delings with the dull workers too stu
pid 10 claim their rights even when
within reach. But Is the cure In less
Iabory No rational mind can accept
such solution. because the unskilled
workers are always the first TO suffer
in a deficit social organization. The
Tread they eat Is the bread left when
the efficient have dined.
For what does unskilled workers
demand ieisureg II Is true that leisure
well spent would enable them TO rise
above their class. but Is II for self i'm
provement that they would absent
themselves from the Workshop I'm
proving their minds and contributing
- healthy public activities never oc-
cur to them. II is the mere wish TO
slip from the yoke as long as possible,
fhet others may have TO do what they
leave undone.
Il Is trne that labor leaders them
selves having risen above the class for
whose interest they stand. have a very
clever theory to Justify the demand
for shorter hours OF labor. They say
that since the S-hour day proved that
more efficiency can be had In chat
than IN a work-day Of longer duration.
even less hours would show additional
cfficiency-more and better work. The
ahsnrdlty ~ the proposition is evident
hy inspection. because Il runs counter