Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1925-11-27
MACHINERY VITAL TO
INCREASED PRODUCTION

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, Nov. 1e. -
One hundred million able bodied
worlmen would be unable to main-
tain the production standard Of AM
erican industry If machinery Develop
ed in the last century should be scrap-
ped, according to estimates prepared
for James NJ. Lynch, president Of the
international Typographical Union,
BY the Unions bureau Of statistics.
President Lynch is using statistics
touching the effect Of machinery de-
velopment on labor displacement in
support of his contention that any
new wage program Of the labor move
ment should include provision for
gradual reduction Of the hours Of la
bor Mr.. Lynch was the author Of an
amendment to the wage resolution,
adopted at the recent American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor convention, which
added a shorter working day clause
to the measure hailed as significant
change in organized laborss ph1lo-
sophy.
Reduction of working hours. in
evitably will accompany the read
justment Of labor conditions to fit
mechanical progress said Mr.. Lynch.
eThe danger to the economic system
lies in not recognizing this fact be-
fore the harm is done. The Fedora
ton has declared the right Of the
worker to q larger share Of the pros
perity his labor helps to produce and
has also recognized the responsibility
Of the worker to aid increased pro-
duction. This is a sharp departure
from the old arbitrary demand for
q fair days wage for a fair days
work Labor is coming to realize
that it must strive conscientiously to
increase the wealth it desires to share.
1.-THE proposal to aim at reduction
OF hours as rapidly as is justified by
industrial advancement win serve q
double purpose; first, % eliminate
unemployment, and, second, to allow
leisure for cultural development by
workers.
''The theory that expansion Of labor,
i. e., creation of new machines through
increased production, will obviate un-
employment as machines displace
workers does not cover the case.
There is far too much unemployment
already resulting from displacement
OF men by machines. Workers are
urged to speed production, then, when
the saturation point is reached in the
market, they are thrown out Of work.
ut is true that wages have been adj
'anced whenever machines have come
into use in an industry, but the prob
lem Of labor improvement is not solved
when some workers receive high pay,
If at the same time other men are
walking the streets iobless. Redue-
ton of working hours Is the only cure
for the latter tnalady.
Leisure has been the basis Of all
civilized progress. The ancient civil
Iizations Of Egypt, Greece and Rome
were made possible by the leisure free
men attained through the institutions
of slavery. In Rome, for instance,
captive foreigners did practically all
the work, leaving Roman citizens to
pursue knowledge and to develop q
love for luxury and beauty. Without
slavery Rome would never have pro-
duced the classics Of the Latin LAM
guage.
1--WE moderns have made slaves Of
machines far more humane way to
create wealth and TO attain leisure.
Our problem now Is how to turn this
advantage to the best use.
Development Of gunpowder IN the
fifteenth century was chiefly resp0n-
sible for the worlds emergence out Of
the dark ages. In the preceding CEN
turtles war had been the chief occu-
patton Of all Europeans, whether high
or low. In the brief periods Of peace
men turned their hands to the produc-
ton Of foodstuffs nd war materials.
Everybody was in the army, except
the clergy and even some bishops and
abbots commanded armies in the field.
Practically speaking there were no
classes devoted to the search Of know
ledge.
Every citizen bore arms, and arms
were easily obtained. "A pole axe,
halberd or sword could be provided for
every able-bodied man who was then
a soldier. When gunpowder came into
use, the soldier required a gun. Guns
were expensive and difficult to ham
die. Training soldiers became essen
tiaI Out Of these circumstances the
standing army was evolved. This left
large portions Of .eacr nations popu-
lation free to engage in commerce,
manufacturing, scientific pursuits, lit