The Connecticut labor news., 1923-06-29

facts.
 "I anticipate that it will be once more asserted that churchfnen as such are not qualified for reporting on in- dustrial problems and disputes. Yet the fact Is that we are driven to the attempt by the prevalence of mis- leading propaganda on all sides of a controversy like this. The latest con- tribution to this propaganda is the so-called Analysis of the Interchurch World ovement Report on the Steel Strike by which MT. Marshall Olds defends the I2-hour day. This vol ume although it carries an introduc- ton by a well-known writer on economic subjects and even certifi- cate of accuracy by prominent firm of New York accountants, is teem- ing with errors and misleading state ments. Quotations are mutilated, sta tistics are garbled, facts are falsely book has apparently been adopted by the United States Steel Corporation as its own defense and has been freely circulated by Judge Gary, the chairman of it's board
 "When economists and public ac- countants miss the mark so widely, churchmen are not likely to take very seriously the admonition to keep away from economic questions. The fact remains that the announcements of churchmen on the steel industry have been remarkably accurate as compared with the absurdly mislead- ing documents which the industry has circulated in its own defense.
 "No line can be drawn between technical questions and moral ques- lions. If industry objects that we churchmen are invading a technical realm when we discuss engineering problems, we must reply that when industry employs men I2 hours day 1t is committing a moral trespass and challenges the churches in their own field.
 "This pamphlet, however, is not the result of swivel-chair investiga- ton. It is collection of data from trained investigators. 1t represents an effort on the part of church group to furnish the public with facts which the public has been encouraged to hope the steel industry would itself furnish.
 "When the manuscript was essen tially complete 1t was presented to a high official of the United States Steel Corporation with the request that any inaccuracy be pointed out and that a statement of the manufacturers side of the controversy be prepared for inclusion in the published document. The request was courteously received, but 1t was insisted that criticism would be submitted by the corpora ton only If 1t were to be printed without comment and without oppor- tunity for us to have conferences with the steel corporation officials on dis puted points. It was the same old story-no conference. These condi- tions we could not accept.
 "The problem of the I2-hour day is, briefly, problem of providing three shifts of men to do the work now done in continuous operations by two shifts. It means more men and 1t means higher wage rates, but we have found the Steel Institutes esti- mate that the three-shift system will mean an increase in cost of Is per cent. unsupported by the facts Ex- perience- shows that, in general, men so greatly appreciate the added lei sure that they will compromise on wages. The Colorado Fuel & Iron Company raised hourly, tonnage and piece rates 10 per cent. and the presi- dent of the company testifes that hte men were quite willing to accept that arrangement in order to shorten their day. The change was actually ac- complished without loss for produc- tion was increased A similar achieve