Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-04
8-HOQR DAY PROVES
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL
IN STEEL. INDUSTRY
BY r. j. REDOY
Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
(Copyrieht, 1927

GARY, Ind, Sept. 1.-THE eight
hour day for steel workers, once de-
clared to be an impossibility and less
than six months ago reckoned
thing Of the distant future. has
proved itself a success after three
weeks of actual practice.
Just three weeks ago, when the
comparative few of the many thou
sands who produce the most widely
used metal in the world went on
the eight-hour shift, it was explain
ed that it would be at Aeast eight
cen mouths before the three shift
eight hour day would apply to all
steel workers. 1t can be stated on
highest authority today that the
United States Steel corporation and
many of the independents as well
expect to have all their workmen
down on the eight-hour basis by De-
cember Is.
w. P. Gleason, superintendent OF
the United States corporations sub
sidiary plant here is sponsor for
the statement that to date the eight
hour day has been successful and
in making the declaration he paid
high tribute to the men below who
turn out the raw material which has
frequently been called the most I'M
portant basic commodity of the age.
1.-THE unequaled leadership of
Judge Gary. and the loyalty of the
rank and file have made it possible
to do this without noticeable decrease
of output despite the great prob.
lens it presented and in the face of
the still existent labor shortage"
he said.
Increased Efficiency
Still the department superinten-
dents and foremen told the writer
that there is no question that when
the change affects all workers and
they have become trained and drilled
to the change, the increased output
and efficiency will more than coun-
ter-balance the millions of dollars
which will have been added to the
pay rolls through employment of adj
ditional men,
There is, of course, heated divis
ion of opinion among the workers
when they are questioned about the
eight-hour day. The few who have
been fortunate enough to get it at
the start are jubilant. Their wives
and youngsters are even more so
George Jordan, an assistant fore
man in one of the open hearth fur
naces, was told today that on Mon
day he will start working from s
a. m. to 4 p. m. instead Of to 6. He
81 4las ALL
less a month in his envelope, but he
stopped on his way home to buy his
wife a present in celebration. Jordan
lives in one of the company-built
brick apartment houses of the better
class. 1t is workers of this calibre
at least one generation American,
who are most enthusiastic and who
will benefit most by the change from
II hours.
'It is only the foreigners who are
willing to slave for the few extra
dollars for half of their lives" said
Jordan. 1--WE Americans would far
rather make a little less money, live
a little more naturally and take
chances of laying by for the time
when we can't work"
Meanwhile workers still bound to
the gruelling tolls of the 12-hour day
have grown weary OF waiting. They
have read in some papers and have
heard from a very few that "Gary
is on the eight-hour day." But to
them the new short day is still a
utopian goal, not yet attained, as
vague and indefinite as the pot of
gold at the end of the rainbow. And
none of the many the writer inter.
viewed but expressed hope that the
four much to be desired hours of
leisure would soon be theirs.
Families Glad
Their chief reaction is a mild feel
ing of jealousy toward the very few
who have already been granted the
four extra hours of liberty The ma
jority have wanted it so much and
so long and so vainly that they think
still there is trick in it all some.
where. 1t is the same with their
wives and children. John Anderson
who is of those who keep the brick
ovens repaired, lives next door to
an open hearth worker who Is now
on an eight-hour shift. I'm still at
the same old shift" he said, land
believe I'll get an eight-hour trick
when 1 get it. Yes, George got it
but how do I know it'll last? Would
like it? Is Coolidge PRESIDENT"
So it went in dozen homes. And
it took less than a minute of con
Versation for the writer to divine
correctly whether he was in home
whose head was working eight hours
or twelve. There was invariably a
brightness, an atmosphere of con.
tentment in the former that was
lacking in the latter.
The movie theaters are the only
business places that have noticed
the difference for the better so far
Other business places say that, of
course, reduced salaries mean less
buying but they pointed out that
there will be additional men on the
pay rolls which will offset the for.
mer.
One thing is certain. The plan
must continue. There would be an
upheaval of serious proportions at
the slightest backward step from
the eight.hour day. AS a matter of
fact, it is unquestionab1y this spirit
of petty jealousy and semi-unrest
among those who are still on the
twelve hour shifts that has de-
termined steel mill officials to speed
the day when the eight-hour shift
will be general