The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-06
Representatives Of 5,000,-
600 Protestants, Catholics
And Hebrews Declare Gary
Has ''Shattered Confidence"
ARGUMENT OF STEEL MEN
is VIGOROUSLY ATTACKED
Corporation Is Placing Prof.
its Above Consideration Of
Workers. Needs, Statement
Of Leaders Says

NEW YORK. June 5.-RepreSenta-
tives of 10000 Professionals, Roman
Catholics asd Hebrews Joined forces
today in statement condemning as
unworthy and untenable the agree
ments of the committee Of the Amer
lean Iron and Steel Institute, which
recently reported unbavorably on the
proposed elimination of the 12-hour
day in the steel industry.
The report, made by Ebert H.
Gary, chairman of the United States
Steel corporation. at meeting Of the
institute in New York ant mere
adopted, was characterised in the
statement today as "shattering pub
lie confidence"
The forces of organized religion
in this country are now warranted"
the statement asserted, in declaring
that this morally indefensible regime
of the 12-hour day must come to an
the Iron and Steel Institute-a report
of a very different tenor"
The statement, put forth in the
name of the commission on the
church and social service of the Fed
eral Council of Churches, the social
action department of the National
Catholic Welfare council and the
social justice commission of Central
Conference of American Rabbits. fol-
lows:
Skaters Confidence, 49, =. e.4-...,..
The report of, the committee on
proposed total elimination of the 12-
hour day appointed by the American
Iron and Steel Institute, skaters the
public confidence that was inspired
by the creation of the committe a
year ago at the request of the Pres
ident of the United States. 1t is a
definite rejection of the proposal for
the abolition of the long day. The
public demand in response to which
the committee was appointed is set
aside as sentiment which was not
created or Endorsed by the workmen
themselves The testimony of com
tent Investigators. including eminent
engineering societies, is ignored, and
the conclusion is put forth without
supporting data that the 12-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 1912,
to investigate this matter. expressed
The opinion that a 12-hour day of
labor, followed continuously by any
group of men fir any considerable
number of years means decrease OF
the efficiency and lessening OF the
vigor and virility of such men,
Spend Time At Home.
objection to the long day because
of its effect on the family life of the
12-hour workers is disposed IF In
the report with the complacent COM
ment that it is questionable whether
men who work shorter hours actually
spend their leisure time at. home.
This is as unworthy and untenable
argument. which will be bitterly re-
scented by the millions OF home loving
working men in America.
The Steel Institutes committee
contends that the workmen them
selves prefer the long hours. I'm
dcubtedly there are those who will
voluntarily work long hours to their
own hurt. but the committees con-
tention is chiefly significant as show
ing that workmen whose only choice
Is between abnormally losg hours of
labor and earnings that are INSULT
Client to maintain a family on level
OF health and decency, naturally
adopt the more arduous alternative.
Q o o.
Shortage No Excuse.
"The plea that shortage of labor
makes impracticable the change
from two to three shifts of work.
men, affords but meagre defense,
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
a salutary step on the part Of the
United Steel corporation. At that time
there was appalling unemployment
which could have been in large
measure relieved in steel manufac-
turing districts by introducing the
three shift system in the steel in
dustry. The task may be more diff
ficult now than it would have been
then. but a past delinquency affords
no release from present moral OBJ
legation.
"The steel Institutes committee
finds that the entire cost of changing
to the eight-hour day would have
to be paid by the consumers of steel.
disregarding the possibility of some
proportionate contribution out of
the earnings OF the industry. Thus
the safeguarding of profits becomes
a consideration superior to that of
the wages and hours of the workers,
and the willingness OF the public
to pay higher prices is made con-
dition of the accomplishment of a
Fundamental reform.
Economic Issues.
THE steel Institutes committee
finds that there are questions of
high Importance involved in this
whole matter. which. they assert,
They are economic says the steel
manufacturers; they affect the Pc
cuniary interest Of the great pub
lie, which includes. but is not con-
fined to employers and employees
This divorce between the moral or
social elements of problem and
its economic aspects runs counter to
the teaching of religion. 1t exalts =
misconceived law Of supply and de-
mand' to a position of equal author
ity with the law OF justice. 1t ex-
cuses inhumanities In the name Of
economic necessity Furthermore, it
overlooks an important series Of
demonstrations, within the steel In
6ustry and elsewhere. of the prac-
{icability and superior advantageA
of the three-shift system. These
tr.rti~ur" -.