Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01
Continued From First Page3

not be deemed to have espoused social
iStic notions, for have no such notions.
mean that ownership of machine
cannot be allowed to stand for the
fright unduly to exploit and enSlave
men. We concede that some men have
the right to own machines. but we must
also understand that all men have the
right to an opportunity to live decently.
we cannot allow the machine to stand
for a new feudaliSm.
1t seems to me that owners Of fac
tories and wage eGrners must reason
together for the common good. And
let me make it plain that I mean the
common good, for unless I am griev-
ouSly in error. the proper use Of the
machine should bring profit to the own
ers, good wages and decent conditions
to the workers and lowered commod-
ity price to all consumers.
The goal announced by President
Hoover, "a job for every man." must
be realized. In other words, our ma
chinery must be operated to fit and to
suit our population. Unless that Is
done we set machinery up as superior
to men, which it is not.
New Frontier.
In speaking of the machine as dis
placer of men l have used it partly as
a symbol, for chemistry and its prod
employment. Chemistry has produced
new industries and all but abolished cid
ones. 1t joins with the forces that now
send men wandering over the face Of
the country in search of new work.
In a way we are in the midst of new
pioneering days with a rowing, restless
search for new fields, but there are
rainbowS only for few, something
very sad for a great many, and if the
CT a
lively good wages there are the newer
mechanical operations that treat men
and women shabbily, knowing that cut
of the rowing multitude others car be
found and quickly trained.
Not far from New York City is a
great industrial community where ma
chimes do most of the work. Here the
wages for men do not often run over
40 cents an hour, and for many the
wage is not over 80 cents. There is and
will be very little of cultural life for the
sons and daughters of those people, arc
those people are buying very few of the
fine commodities that America is Great
ing so laviShly and advertising so OK
penSively and extensively. l ask mer-
chants associations to ponder that
phase Of the question.
The Silver Lining.
have no desire to paint picture of
unrelieved desolation and hopelessnesS,
for that is not the picture as I see it..
Viewing our situation as a whole it APP
pears to me the most hopeful situation
that has ever existed. 1t has been said
that we stand at last at point from
which we may go forward to complete
adjustment of poverty and of invclur-
tary idleness. With that view I am in
agreement, but we cannot do it without
bringing solution to the problems with
which I am seeking TO deal in this
discussion.
One of the elements that bring re-
lief to the drabneSS of displacement of
men by machines is the constant crea-
ton of new machines for new indus
tries. When the radio industry devel-
oped with its lightning rapidity it
brought new jobs for a great many
workers. 1t is the latest and best ex-
ample of new industry Of size and i'm
portance bringing employment all along
the line, from production of raw mate
rails and manufacture down to distribu-
ton and maintenance.
New Vacancies Made.
Our best information is that these
new industries do not nearly absorb the
growing volume of displaced workers,
and displacement soon begins in the
new industries themselves. But even
where there is replacement in new in
duStrleS. there is gap from job to job
and usually period required for re-
training.
The machine has been the making of
modern civilization. No labor man
raises his voice against the machine.
Humanity has known no marvel like it.
But we must learn to manage machin-
cry so that it will be used entirely in
the service of mankind and not for
the creation of multitudeS of things for
a part of mankind and for the disem-
ployment of another part even if the
Unemployment part be only minority.
The overwhelming entry in the ledger
is on the credit side. but that is not a
reason for seeking to wipe out the debit
entry. and particularly when we know
the debit entry is growing larger each
year III terms of men and women
thrown aside because the machines do
their work so we'll that we have not
learned how to adjust ourselves to their
prodigality.
Our machines have brought to mil
lions of people utilities and beauties
that once were only for kings and po-
tentates, where they existed at all. Ma
chine production made music a ma
tional and popular possession. Ma
chine production has given to our mass
es better clothing than even the wealthy
wore before machines cam and ma
the masses. along with better housing
and a once undreamed-of degree of
cleanliness. Machines have given mo-
bility to our whole population, and
mobility is one of the things that beget
and maintain freedom, as all history
has shown.
The Other Side.
But, great though the credits be, the
debts remain. am concerned about
removing them. and / will not see
those debts with rosy SpectacleS simply
because there are enormous credits.
Nor will the labor movement as a whole.
While millions are too poorly rewarded
for their toil-as in the Southern tex
tile induStry-While great numbers are
thrown aside by the machine, which is
OF itself a good thing: while an era that
should bring plenty and happiness to
all who have the willingness to work
denies that plenty and happiness to
great numbers. we have something to
remedy, we have constructive fight to
make.
I have discussed displacement and re-
placement at some length because of the
great importance of the matter. Fol-
lowing that and almost part of it is
the growing tendency to send the older
men away from the work shops. The
"deadline at 40" is a reality, bitter,
terrible, tragic reality. In former days
the skill and experience of men over 40
were sought. 1t had added value. But
the machine must have speed. He goes
out partly because young men are faster
with their fingers and partly because
casualty and compensation insurance
rates are lower for young men. De- !
vices intended to be beneficent and
kindly become brutal and calloused. |
The haven becomes a dungeon, and the
men "old at 40" go out to years of
searching for work that brings con-
stantly lowering wage.