Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-09
FRANK G. MckOSkY
On Industrial Crisis and the Worker


WANT of complete confidence in each
w other is one of the most stubborn elc-
mcnts preventing capital and labor from
getting together as they should to solve the
problems of industry and nut business on a
satisfactory basis, according to FRANK u.
McKosky. vice president of the United Tex
tile Workers Association.
Gwen after botn sides might bc on the
point Of agreeing and establishing that CO.
operation that most men seem to feel is de.
sirablr and necessary to better conditions.
| he said. "the whole matter is upset and there
is division in the ranks because of petty
and often incomprehcnShc actions aud
mcannesSes. These meanncsses and dccid-
edly unfair actions are not so easy to define
In general terms, but they are part OF the
experience of almost every worker from
time to time, and they play an important
part in the workers frame of mind.
Always Reservations
'At the present time, for instance, there
is probably more Of this element of conf
dence than there has been but it is, never
thcless. confidence with reservations. Thus
while many manufacturers and business men
talk of co operation and probably are sin
cere. the workinGman cannot help but be.
come suspicious when he hears talk among
them of reduced wages and longer hours
when conditions, If analyzed, do not justify
either.
at is a foolish thing. for instance, to
talk of increased production when, under the
eight hour system. we have had an over
production.
How adding an hour day to the work
err obligation is going to alleviate this con
dition is something beyond me.
''Undcr the eight hour system the mills.
even in normal times. are forced to close
from time to time because Of an ovcrproduc-
ton. In times of stress and rush order
business a longer working day inevitably has
| its reaction with period of dlcness
| ITO ask the worker to submit to n reduc-
| tion in wages only increases the difficulty
and eventually hurts the manufacturer him
| self. Even during our so called prosperous
instance, even the best paid among them, did
| not receive sufficient compensation to enable
! him to meet the current cost of living for
his family and himself, and for that mat ,
| ter, scarcely does he now. As the work
| ingman Is the ultimate consumer IL stands
| to reason that reduction of his purchesing
power is going still further to aggrayate
| overproduction, or undercOnsumption If Won
please, the result being the same in apy
event.
| Called "Pauper Industry
Before the war our wages were de.
| plorably low, and, in fact the textile in :
| dustry has for years been referred to as the
pauper industry.
There is great deal of talk OF the omen
shop. We do not fear it, because we be-.
| lieVe we Chn btand on our own strength
But the general drive inauguratcd by fnan
cial interests cannot but help to dceDen IN,
suspicious of labor as to the motives actual
ing It and Increase the difficulties Of CO.
operation.
| "IneffiCiency and tendency on the mar,
OF the worker not to be willing to render .
dollars worth of service for a dollars worti
of pay Is frequent charge against tb,
worker. II the real truth were known RI,
fault more often than not is matter n
managerial inetiiciency rather than that n
the worker. For instance, the worker doin,
| his best weaves on his loom for several week,
until he has finished with his warp. Like a.
| not there will be delay of q number n
days, at the workers. expense because tb
| foreman or manager did not foresee Tvba,
! he was going to be through with his warn
This, of course, entails delay and nj tima
| would make 1t look as though the worker wo
not delivering the goods. w"
"Often as not the manufacturer is mn
familiar with these and similar petty detaiI
that 60 so far toward breeding disconten
among the work kers. Another thing to h
considered is the fact that the worker,
RECEIVES per week for the work he is doino
One must take into consideration the man
weeks, through no fault Of his own tha
he is unable to work.
III the manufacturer Is willing and caos
IN help the situation, he would not hecnn,
panicky and shut up his mill altogether II
would probably help the general situate
and himself in the long run II he would tr
to keep going, If only at part time Phila
dclphia's textile workers in the last few year
numbered about 1875 900. OF this numbs
activities. OF the remaining 100 600, frol