Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-06
END OF 12-HOUR DAY

Tacoma. Wash, Julys 5-(By A. P.)
President Harding made public
here today the correspondence be-
tween himself and the directors of
the American Iron and Steel Institute
and, in a statement incorporated as a
part of his address here. said:
The large majority of the steel
manufacturers of America -
have undertaken to abolish the IL.
hour day in the American steel in.
dustry at the earliest moment that
the additional labor required shall be
available" - 90
The letter to President Harding
was signed by Ebert H. Gary, John
A. Topping, w. A. Rogers, w. II,
Bonner, W. ]. Filbert, Z. A. S. Clark,
James A. Farrell, E. G. Grace, Willis
L. King. James A. Burden, L. E.
Black, Severn P. Kerr. ]. A. Camp
bell. A. c. Dinkey and Charles NJ.
Schwab, directors of the American
Iron and Steel Institute.
The letter follows:
Careful consideration has been
given to your letter of June 18th, in.
ioeNAAS ~ SAS oA6HC0 CCtVt0 VI
the American Iron and Steel Institute
comprising all of those whose at
tendance could be secured at this
time.
Undoubtedly there is a strong sem
timent throughout the country in ia.
vor Of eliminating the 12-hour day
and this we do not underestimate. On
account Of this sentiment and espe-
cially because it is in accordance with
your own expressed views We are de-
termined to exert every effort at our
command to secure in the iron and steel
industry of this country total abo-
, lition of the 12-hour day at the earliest
! time practicable. This means the emf
ployment of large numbers Of work
men on an eight-hour basis and all
| others on a basis Of 10 hours or less.
Without an unjustifable interruption
| Of operations the change cannot be eff
| fected over night. 1t will involve many
adjustments, some Of them complicat-
| ed and difficult, but we think 1t can be
brought about without undue delay. az
You state 1t there Is surplus OF la
Dor available.
THE iron and steel manufacturers.
generally of the United States outside
of the directors referred to, are expect
/ ed to concur in the conclusion reached
Oy the QiTeClOTS as dUONe Stdteu.
President Harding's letter, addressed
to Judge Gary, follows:
II have now had an opportunity Of
reading the full report of the commit
tee of the Iron and Steel Institute upon
the question of abolition Of the H.
hour day in the steel industry. As I
have stated before, am Of course dis
appointed that no conclusive arrange
| ment was proposed for determination
| of what must be manifestly accepted
as a practice that should be obsolete
| in American industry. I still entertain
| the hope that these questions Of social
| importance should be solved by action
inside the industries themselves for 1t
| is only such solutions that are con-
sonant with American life and insti-
| tutions.
II am impressed that in the reason
| ing of the report great weight should
| be attached to the fact that in the pres
| ent shortage of labor it would cripple
our entire prosperity II the change werc
abuptly made. In the hope that~this
question could be disposed of, T. am
| wondering IL 1t would not be possible
| for the steel industry to consider. Civ
! ing an understanding that before there
shall be any reduction in the staff OF
CONTINUED on Page 9-Col. "