Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-13
KANSAS GOVERNOR
SAYS LABOR LAGS
Henry J. Allen Tells Chamber
Harder Work Would Help
Solve Problems
LAUDS GERMAN WORKERS

An earnest plea for more work from
labor and better understanding
through adjudication instead of arbitra-
tion between labor and capital were pre-
dominant in speech delivered by Gov
ernor Harry J. Allen, of Kansas, at
luncheon Of the Industrial Relations
Committee Of the Chamber Of Commerce
at the Bellevue -Stratford this noon.
Ernest T. Trigg was chairman.
u am not urging that 1t is necessary
In America to do away with the eight
hour day. but il is necessary to do away
with the pernicious idea that labor pros
pers most when it works least said
the Governor.
Germany is the only country that
has given sufficient recognition to the
influence of labor as governing factor
in the economic situation. Germany
is the only country that has gone back
to work In the right spirit. She is
probably no farther behind in her va
rious activities than is England, but
while England still listens TO the voice
Of labor and her government trembles
under. the threat of it's solidarity, Ger
man labor has just voted for its own
good to do away with the eight hour
day and substitute the ten hour day,
because Germany needs the labor and
luDoI ntcuS lne uuupu nlTe.
5000. 900 Jobless Here
1T Is said by those who have taken
the pains TO place themselves in pos
session Of statistics that virtually
6.OOO.OOO laboring men are out of EN- =
ployment in the United States at this
hour. All who have made any study of
the situation realize that this is an
unnatural condition. During the lat
ter part Of 1918 we were al hopefully
pointing to the prospect of the dis
charge from service of 5000 900 men
who had been giving themselves to the
war activities. 1t was pointed out with
hopeful spirit that the country would
experience no difficulty in finding en- =
ployment for all. We were four years
behind in our building program. All
of our constructive energies had been
devoted for many months to the creation
of facilities for carrying on war. Pub
lie work. commercial building, genera
manufacturing-all we're to certain
extent sidetracked and we had right
to believe that the task of getting caught
up would provide high pressure oi
work as SOON as the manufacturing ant
commercial energies Of the country coulc
again be turned back into their natura
expression.
Il am asked today to discuss partic
ularly the relationship of labor to the
problem which the depression has
| brought MS. | realize that this great
organization has given too thorough {
| survey to all the factors in the problem
to harbOr the thought that labor ha'
! been more than one Of the elements il
the situation.
Too Much Hesitancy
There has been a tendency on tn,
part Of all to hesitate before entering
upon the descent which leads to pre-
war conditions. Every man who wa
enjoying a war profit naturally held OF
as long as he could. The man witt
made brick and the man who laid bricl
were both grasping at the desirable op
pOrtunity to continue the high prices o
material and of labor. The trust whicl
manufacturer cement. the trust whicl
sold it and the trust which worked i
into buildings-all in their several way
decided that they would not reduce th
war profit until compelled by circum
| stances so to do.
Railroad freight rates are incredibl,
| high. The widest dream of the earl.
| railway tinancier never contemplate,
| the present earning schedule. vet wheI
|
results of these eXtortiOnate rates he ha
no difficulty in proving tha the Gov
ernment still owes him money to maxi
up the deficit between these rates ant
the operating cost.
1.-The factor of labor in this problem
has been very conclusive and here again
the multiplication of personnel has ha,
more to do in causing the wreck thar
the wages paid per man. 1t is not tina
they are paying too much for the mel
they are paying too many men to d,
one mans work.
"A system Of adjudication of labo
difficulties in Pennsylvania which wOult
have prevented strikes would hav
saved, during the first six months o
this year. to the labOring men nearl!
$27 900, 900 lost in wages by men whC
we're called out on strikes and who II
most instances gained nothing as tn,
result of the strike. l find that tn,