The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-10-18
Disbursements by Machine a Problem

(Official, city. state and County Newspaper)
Disbursements by Machine a Problem
AS labor and capital grow TO understand the problems
which In tho past have kept them apart and more or less
at dagger points, thus to approach a status OF peace IN
the agc-old conflict between the master and the worker.
q new aspect of industrial evolution comes to the fore
with new pcrplexitics. In fact, 1t brings the gravcst
problems along with the sunntest hopes. 1t promises a
new era in which drndgcry Is reduced to the vanishing
point. but it works a big displacement in future live
lihoods.
It is the machine age which thus dtsturbs the indus
trial balance OF today. Mechanical devices arc coming
more and more to assume the various types of toll, but IN
doing so they are d~ispacing workers. The problem thus
is shifted from the issues OF wages and unionsm and
kindred clements OF strife to the adjustment Of the prob
lem Of the displaced wo,'-~. What is he to do?
The displacement has been coming on gradually, and
as 1t has been coming to the fore electrical development,
the evolution of the movies. radio and other modern
socio-industrial developments have been absorbing tho
slack by making new places by the millions for tho
workers.
Now, however, the saturation point seems to be near
ing in this process of dislocating labor and rcallocating
it. Labor leaders arc alarmed over the prospect ahead Of
them. Workers in the east are especially apprehcnsivc.
Mechanical devices arc ~displacing thousands OF men and
women in positions which have provided them with
bread heretofore. and the terms bumped" and bumped
off" have become rather familiar expressions OH the
Atlantic coast. The effect Is especially distressing on the
railroads, where men who have been dcvoting their lives
to one form or another Of the activities Of transportation
find themselves in those years when change Of occupa-
ton has passed possibility. cast on the scrap heap BY
some automaton
Matthew Vol recently discussed the new troubles OF
the machine age, the ironics Of the characterization Of
industry. He is vice president of the American Fedora
ton OF Labor and ono Of the highest authorities OH labor
problems. e cited the cigar machines and the car
%retarding devices in railroad yards. taking the place OF
switchmen. The one sends men idle and gives high
school girls work, but at the same time reduces tho
widespread existence of tuberculosis. The other abatcs
q hazardous occupation. for car switching always has
been pcrilous. Yet those who followed II were skilled
workers and when they lose their switching jobs it
means that they must drift down the line Of unskiled
occupations for the remainder OF their lives, into poorly
paid, insecure tasks, never again to rise into the pride
Of skilled and well-paid activities.
Masses of men and women says Mr.. Vol. are NOV
ing from security and comfort out into uncertainty and
thence down to lower levels OF life. Because the tide has
just begun to run heavy in this direction, the floating
mass has not yet begun to be startlingly visible to the
casual observer. but those whose life is In and OF the
world Of work and workers know that the current is
run strong and something must be done.
"WO8t Is TO De 00ne9 tlTSL, the human race Will SUI.
sive. with or without machines. We are not here to 60
backward without protest. But there must be something
more s~tatesmanlike than mere protest, though protest
undoubtedly must cone first to arouse interest and gem
crate thought. It seems to me that we must in some
manner come to regard machinery as a social asset
that ownership Of a machine cannot be allowed to stand
Tor the right unduly to exploit and cnslave men. We
concede that some men have the right to own machines.
but we must also understand that all men have the right
49, -A.. - ~ Ie-.-AV. go 49,.
machine to stand for = new feudalism.
1T seems to me that owners of factories and wage earn
efs must reason together for the common good.
"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 popu-
lation. Unless that is done we set machinery up As
superior to men. which 1t is not.
In . way We are In the midst Of new pioneering days
With . rowing. restless search for new fields. but there
are raiubows only for . few. something very sad for I
great many, and II the more stabilized trades are pay
Ing relatively good wages there are the newer mechan-
he'd operations that treat men and women stability
knowing that out Of the rowing multitude others can b
found and quickly trained.
\ have no desire to paint q picture Of unrelieved dss-
~oiation and hopelessness. for ttat Is not the picture Is
see II. Viewing our situation as q whole. It appears t.
me the most hopeful situation that fSs ever existed. I
has been said that we stand at last ct . point from which
We may 50 forward to complete adjustment Of povert,
and Of Involuntary idleness. With that view ! an II
ssrscmcnt. but We cannot do it without bringing sou'
ticn to the problems with which ! an seeking to deal II
this discussion.
The machine has been the making Of modern civilsa
ton. Humanity has known no marvel like 1t. hut W
must learn to manage machinery 90 that It Win be uset
enttrsly IA the service Of mankind and not for the crea
Ition a multitudes Of things for : part Of mankind ant
- ~ Unemployment Of another part. even II the dis
Gnmp1oyment part Be only : minority.
Our machines have brought to millions Of people util'
49, ard beaxttes that once were only for kings ana 20
~Stentatoa where they existed 1t I'll. Machine production
|smo6e nu6tc = national and . popular possession. Ma
31n1lne npductaon has given to our masses better clothln,
zMSen esen the wealthy wore before machines came, and
k46r1noo. too. haze brought better food 10 the massea
z1DMl0 Nth better houstng md : once undrcamed-of a.
Y = etensiinsasI Moehines have gtysn mobility II
s1e perelettaa. and aeetltty y on q the thtns