Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-05

New York, June 4-Representa-
tives of 100000 Protestants, Ro-
man Catholics and Hebrews joineed
forces today in a statement con-
demning as unworthy and unten-
able the arguments Of the commit
tee of the American Iron and Steel
Institute which recently reported
unfavorably on the proposed elm
ination of the II hour day in the
steel industry.
The report, made by Ebert H.
Gary, chairman of the u. S. Steel
Corporation, at a meeting of the in
stitute in New York, and there
adopted. was characterized in the
statement today as ''shattering pub
lie confidence"
THE forces of organized religion
in this country are now warranted"
the statement asserted, sin declaring
that this morally indefensibe re-
gime of the II hour day must come
to an end. A further report is due
from the iron and steel institute
report Of a very different tenor"
The statement put forth in the
lIllliC VI tllC VII lliC
church and social service Of the fed
eral council OF churhes, the social
action department of the national
Catholic Welfare Council and the
Social Justice Committee of the Cen
trail Council OF Americans Rabbis,
follows:
1.-THE report of the committee on
proposed total elimination of the
twelve hour day appointed by the
American Iron and Steel Institute
skaters the public confidence that
was inspired by the creation of the
commission a year ago At the re-
quest of the president of the United
States. 1t is definite rejection OF
the proposal for the abolition Of the
long day. The public demand in
resopnse to which the committee
was appointed is set aside as 'senti-
ment which was not created or en-
dorsed by the workmen themselves.
The testimony of competent investi-
gators, including eminent engineer
ing societies. is ignored. and the
conclusion is put forth without sup
porting data that the II hour day
has not of itself been an injury to
the employees physically. mentally or
morally This statement is made in
face of the fact that the committee
of stockholders of the United States
Steel Corporation, appointed in 1872
to investigate this matter, expressed
the opinion that a II hour day of
labor. followed continuously by any
group of men for any considerable
number of years means a decreasing
of the efficiency and lessening of the
vigor and virility of such men,"
THE plea that n shortage OF
labor makes impracticable the
change from two to three shifts of
workmen, affords but meager de-
Tense. The shortage of labor was
not the reason for the failure to
abolish the long day two years ago
when the public waited eXpectantly
for such q salutary step on the part
of the United States Steel Corpora
ton. At that time there was appalI-
ing unemployment which could
have been in large measure relieved
in steel manufacturing districts by
introducing the three-shift system in
the steel industry. =.
THE public has waited long for
the fulfllment of a virtual promise
from the industry that the II hour
day would be abandoned. The pub
lie expects the initiative to be taken
by the United States Steel Corpora
ton. It is a task that presentes adj
mitted difficulties, but none that a
powerful corporation which has
accumulated enormous surplus
should find insurmountable. The
forces Of organized religion in
America are now warranted in de-
claring that this morally indefensi-
BILE regime of the twelve hour day
must come to an end"