The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-06
STEEL HEADS GIVE PROMISE TO END. LONG WORK DAY.
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an unjustifiable interruption to op- erations the change cannot be eff fected overnight. It will involve many adjustments, some of them compli- cated and difficult, but we think it can be brought about without undue delay when, as you state 1t, there is a surplus of labor available.
 The iron and steel manufacturers generally of the United States, out side of the directors referred to, are expected to concur in the conclusion reached by the directors as above stated"
 Presidents Letter.
 President Harding's letter, ad dressed to Judge Gary, follows:
 "I have now had an opportunity of reading the full report of the committee of the Iron and Steel in stitute on the question of the aboli- ton of the 12-hour day in the steel industry. As l have stated before, 1 am, of course, disappointed that posed for the discontinuance of what must be manifestly accepted as practice that should be obsolete in American industry.
 T still maintain the hope that the question of social imJIrtance should be solved by action inside the industries themselves, for 1t is
  sonant with American life and in stitutionS,
 q am impressed that In the req soning of the report great weight should be attached to the fact that in the present shortage of labor 1t would cripple our entire prosperity If the change were abruptly made. In the hope that this question could be disposed of, l am wondering if it ha industry to consider giving an un- derstanding that before there shall be any reduction in the staff or em- ployes of the industry through any recession of demand for steel products or at any time when there is a sur plus of labor available, that then the change should be made from the two shifts to the threeshift basis, 1 cannot but believe that such an undertaking would give great satis- faction to the American people as a whole and would indeed establish pride and confidence in the ability of our industries themselves to solve matters which are so conclusively ad- vocated by the public.'
 New Industrial Conditions.
 The chief executive also referred 10 the merchant marine, the American school system and the social evo- lution which was setting up new conditions of industry in this land"
 Under old time conceptions of fancied ease in professional life, and the manifestly larger rewards of commerce." MT. Harding said, there has been a tendency to get away which are wrought the very essen tials of all attainments.
 We must, we do, recognize that the wage earner is quite as essen tial as the professional man and the nobility of righteous employment is the same in either pursuit. Our aim ought to be not to rescue the oncoming generation from the essen tial pursuits and activities, but to equalize the rewards. We can't cease work; there is no life without labor. It would not be endurable if there were.
 We are making fine progress in the great social evolution. Long ago we set up new standards of living new conditions of industry in this land. We are constantly striving not for conditions which tend to para lyze, but conditions of greater in spiratlon and fit contentment.
 Notable Step Forward.
 T am able today to give promise of a very notable forward step. It l is my firm belief that one of the great avenues or progress in Amer ican life lies in the constant recog- hilton of American industry, of it's obligations to our society as a whole and that many of our most success ful moves In social progress are made through the voluntary action of industry itself in amelioration of those hardships that have grown from the rapid growth of industry. It is very gratifying, therefore, to be able to announce an important step in such progress. 1 have received d joint communication from the large ma iority of steel manufacturers of America in which they have under taken to abolish the l2-hour day in the American steel industry at the earliest moment that the additional labor required shall be available.
 Early in the administration. feel ing that working day of this length was an anachronism in American life, that regardless of any other consid iteration it did not permit of the proper development of citizenship and family life, l suggested to the steel industry that they should ap- point a committee to develop meth ods for It's abolition. After an in- vestigation extending over some IS months, the steel manufacturers came to the conclusion that in view of the A rTHOAY