Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-05-20
BUSINESS REVIVAL
ALREADY BEGUN"
White House Sees Labor De-
mand and Upward Swing.
of Pendulum.

The business revival foreseen by
many government officials as due in
the near future already is under way,
it was declared at the White House.
where reports were made at the steel
manufacturers conference Thursday
night of recent material increases in
orders.
In connection with their discussion
of President Harding's- suggestion
that the twelvehour day be abolished
in the steel industry, several manu-
facturers commented on the shortage
of unskilled labor which was already
apparent. and which, 1T was predicted.
, might become matter of moment II
the upward swing of the trade pendu-
lum continued through the next
ninety days.
The employment problem in Ohio.
Detroit and Chicago apparently had
been temporarily solved, Mr.. Harding
was told. and industry continued on
the upgrade. Agriculture also was
reported on the road toward rehabili-
tation. The most serious complaint
which now persists from the agri-
cultural classes was said to be from
stock raisers who have experienced
difficulty in obtaining adequate
financing.
Believes Revival Under Way.
President Harding was said TO be-
lieve that wholesome revival IN
business and industry was definitely
under way and would continue unless
some cross currents" were struck.
Confidence is held by President
Harding. it was declared by an ad-
ministrative spokesman. that the
Thursday night had started move
ment which would result in abolition
of the twelve-hour day.
The same confidence was not held
in certain labor circles. however.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, issued
a statement declaring the meeting
was typical of present day big
business. that it should use the
White House as a rostrum from
what the American people are. &C
custoned to call bunk.
Judge Gary in his statement of
what was accomplished, Mr.. Comp
ers concluded. meant that the steel
industry intends to abolish the in
human tweive-hour work day when
1t gets ready and not before
..IndicntiOn of Practices"
The conference was itself some
thing of an indication of the public
condemnation of steel trust prac-
tees" Mr.. Gompers declared. char
acteriZing the Gary statement as an
example of cynical deception in its
outline of plans for investigation of
the twelve-hour-day situation.
The White House view, however,
was that almost unanimous senti-
ment existed among the steel men at
the conference for a continuation of
the three shift eight-hour day. which
was put into force in some parts of
the industry during the slack labor
period. and which gave more men
employment. The steel representa-
tives agreed with the President in
principle, that it was a good idea
now to abolish the twelve-hour day
but that the greatest obstacle to this
was to get the consent of the work
ers themselves
The explanation was made that
when the tide of business was run
ming high the workers showed a
tendency to take on the twelve-hour
shift and thereby make more money
for themselves, and in fact some of
the steel manufacturers reported
that men were quitting the eight
hour shift and Joining the twelve
hour work day program