The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-12-29
Ey WILLIAM F. DUNE.


Foray-four of the industrial CLASH
fications reporting to the New York
state industrial commission show less
workers employed than year ago.
In November there was an actual
increase of 10000 in the number OF
unemployed in New York and de-
crease OF per cent in the payrolls.
The industries affected most were
the heavier enterprises, metal work
ing especially showing steady de-
crease.
Similar Conditions in Other States.
Similar conditions appear in other
states. The New YORK World reports
that the announcement of renewed
activity by the Ford plant in Detroit
has brought thousands of workers
to that city who can find no jobs.
The World says:
"The announcement also failed to
take account of the fact that In the
rebuilt Ford plants there is greater
economy in the use of labor than
marked the plants of less than year
ago-1Ir. Ford did not spend $780,
100000 for new tools without pro-
viding for greater efficiency" (Our
Emphasis.)
Another glittering dream has
faded--that the revival of produc-
ton in Ford plants would have ire
mendous rejuvenating affect on in
| dustry in general, that the army o.
unemployed would dwindle. Espe-
cially in the publications of profess
sional optimism has an effort been
made to picture Ford as the savior
of American prosperity. The fact is
that the appearance of the new Ford
car has increased unemployment in
Detroit rather than lessened it.
The standardization of equipment,
the specialization Of labor processes
and the speed-up system already
have created the phenomenon of per-
manent unemployment. Industrial
depression finds huge corps of job
less workers created during a period
Of high industrial activity to which
are being added millions Of workers
thrown out of employment by the
curtailing of production.
Department of Labor Examples.
The Department of Labor empha-
sises the efficiency phase of the de-
velopment of industry. 1t has citee
previously the remarkable increase
in production in the glass and shoe
industries brought about by the in
PRODUCTION of machinery. 1t calls at
tention now to the application o.
machinery and efficiency methods tx
copper refining. In one plant where
a survey has been made it is shown
that from 1918 to 1927 the numbel
of workers decreased from SIS to 3d.
while production increased 10 PEE
cent. Further installation of ma
chinery and increased efficiency vii
secure the same amount of produc
ton with only 100 workers.
Instances of this kind can be mul
tiplied almost indefinitely, but wAil
there was high level of industrial
activity the official leadership Of tn
labor movement made no real at
tempts to adjust the labor movemen
to these changes.
Fallacious Theory.
On the contrary, the theory tina
the efficiency of the American
worker was responsible for hig
wages and that union-managemen
cooperation, essentially based on
fallacious relationship between out
put and wages, was to be the saliva
ton of the workers, aided the capt
talists in putting over the speedily
without effective protest beinl
aroused.
What to Expect.
Now that "the general field Of IN
dustry is not in really prosperou
condition" THE Amnalist, Dec. 16)