New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-05-20
Harding Says
Unemployment
Issue Is Past
Reports to White House From
All Parts of the Country
Show Business Dcpres-
sion Definitely Ended
Ohio Plants Hunt Workers
Idea Back of Plea 10 Steel
Men for 8-Hour Day Was
to Prepare for Revival
Bv Carter Field

WASHINGTON. May l9.-Thc period
of business depression is definitely
over, it was asserted ut the White
House to-day, following the receipt Of
reports from all over the country. The
unemployment problem has disap-
pearod.
1t was asserted that many employers
in various sections of the country cX
psct distressing shortage of common
labor within ninety days. From his
ovn state the President has been ad-
vised that most OF the Ohio industrial
cities which have been maintaining en-
ployment bureaus have abandoned
| them. The plants to which these en-
pealing to find work for their appn
cants already have agents out rounding
up every possible workman.
Idea Back of Plea to Steel Men
1t was reports Of this character
which gave to the President the idea
Of attempting to abolish the twelve
/
knew that, with a view to spreading
the work out during the period OF de-
! preston just coming to an end, the
steel mills had established an eight
hour day for their workers. running
the mills Oh three shifts each twenty
four hours instead of two, as usual.
/ Realizing that the increase of bust
! al. l,n
mills going back to the twelve-hour
| shift and running full forces in order
to turn out the output demanded, he
was anxious to get the eight-hour day
made standard now before this change
should occur. Later. he realized, the
same difficulty would be faced that has
prevented any shortening OF the hours
of labor in the steel industry for so
many years.
Pleased With Steel Outlook
President Harding is delighted with
/ the results of conference with the steel
men. He believes that the committee
which was appointed to study the sit
uation and work out q solution will
accomplish the eight hour day desired.
The steel men t3ld him frankly that
it would pretty nearly have to be an
I all or none proposition. II there we're
2
would give men q twelve~hour day and
others giving them only all eght-hour
day, now that period OF more Jobs
than men is almost here, the men
would all gravitate TO the mills at
fording an opportunity for longer hours
and more pay. Labor, the steel men
told the President, is far more inter
ested, in actual practice. III more pay
than 1t is in shorter hours.
The steel men, in their talk with the
| President, ell evinced an earnest de
side to abolish the tweve-hour work
day. They are for the eight-hour day
they said, as a desirable form of pro-
gressive sociological experiment. The
chief difficulty they feared was with
the mon themselves. A great majority
of the common labor employed in the
steel industry, they pointed out. are
foreigners who do not care so much
how they live or what hours they work
but who are most intensely interested
in accommodating as much of a hoard as
possible in as few years as they can.
with view to going back to the old
country to enjoy il.
This gives an added impetus to the
natural desire of labor TO make all the
money possible regardless OF hours,
the steel men said, and made their
problem in working out the threcshift
basis much harder.
Capitol Discusses Steel Meeting
The Presidents move to bring about
an eight hour day in the steel industry
overshadowed every other topic III
political circles here to-day. If ne
should accomplish what he has set out
to do, and it was evident to-day thai
he is supremacy confident of his ability
to bring it about, it is believed the
utf11 ny-ty o,.Si,
ical effect.
| Mr.. Harding had always been brand
ed, prior to his Inauguration, as
rather hard boiled reactionary. The
word "stand-patter" was regarded, by
some of the very men with whom he
discussed this move in the steel situa-
ton before inviting the steel mill
owners to Washington, as really too
mild to describe his political classif-
/ cation.
] The move he has Just made, on the
I other hand, is regarded as one Of the
J most progressive steps ever taken By
pecially as it is taken at time when
there is no threatened strike in the
steel industry, and within compare
lively brief period after the steel oper-
ators had crushed out tremendous
attempt by organized labor to force
/ the unionization of the industry.
Move May Have Political Effect
! Many politicians to- day took the view
/ that, with the armament limitation
conference standing as conspicuous
| success III international relations. IL
! this eight-hour day move could be nut
over by the President in the steel in
dnstry after the glaring failure Of the
country's labor leaders to aid the steel
. workers. President Harding would face
the country with a record which might
even induce the country to forget what