The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-09-05
D A VID DEVOTES
| ABB 0 R MESSAGE
I 0 UNEMPLOYED
Secretary of Labor Asks
Employers to Deal With
Beneficent Hand
SIX MILLION ARE
IN NEED OF WORK
PENDULUM SINCE WAR HAS
SWUNG FROM SCARCITY OF
LABOR TO IDLENESS

Detroit, Sept, dedication of La
Dor Day 1921 to the nations unem.
ployed was proposed by Secretary of
Labor Davis today in an address to
the workers of Detroit.
In the past labor day has been a
holiday in honor Of the man who
tolls" declared Secretary Davis This
year, it is a day that millions of our
people would rather celebrate. not
by taking holiday, but by going back
to work at a job Labor day this year
dawned on situation that calls to
every loyal American for the best
thought, the mightiest effort and the
strongest faith he can summon. This
year labor day must be dedicated first
of all TO meeting this imperative hu-
man need of the idle
The dedication of the day Of the re-
lief Of the unemployed, estimated
by the labor secretary to number
nearly six million should carry with
it, he said, a concerted effort on the
part of all Americans be they EN-
ployed or employe. As measures of
partial relief the secretary proposed
the undertaking of public works. the
distribution Of work in the mills 80
that all may have jobs for at least
part OF the week"
We have all we need to shake off
fear and take on faith and cour-
age" Mr.. Davis said When for the
lack Of that courage we are neglect
ing any number of large undertak-
ings that would give a mighty shove
to the great stalled engine of Ameri-
can production"
The secretary in his address di.
rected a message 70 the employers of
the nation. declaring:
Don't set your wages by the hun
cry crowd at the gate 10 your mill.
that is only temporary wage. Dur
ing the war the pendulum swung ov-
or TO the side Of the employees. Now
it has swung back to your side.
Play fair now, and you will do more
20 stabilize your business and bring
good feeling than anything else you
can do. Keep in mind the fact that
those men who are swarning around
your gates looking for work, are the
same human beings as yourself. They
have the same aspirations for their
families that you have for yours Reg.
ulate matters now for the future and
play the part Of far-sighted wisdom"
To labor the secretary held out
the assurance that "in spite OF the oc.
casional hard boiled employer no
true American business man enter
tains serious thought OF crush.
ing the workmen's organization.
Let the open shop mean what 1t
says-open to all" he added ANY
employer knows that crushing the
unions cannot be done in the first
place-he knows that 1t would not
be safe in any case. We want no
Russia in this country, no hordes OF
disorganiZed leaderless men. reduced
10 such state Of starvation that
charity must go TO their aid"
Opposition TO the principle Of living
wage also was expressed by Mr.. Da-
Wis.
81 am against the living wage" he
said. 1T is not enough. We need to
hear something of the saving wage"
II is not enough for a man merely
to exist to meet the cost OF living,
whatever It Is, to pay tho rent and
buy food and clothing for his family.
4 man like the American workman
needs, he earns and demands some
thing more than that. He wants TO
save and he should and must be able
TO do It,"