The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-07-12
THE HUMBUG of HENRY FORD
(By a Ford WOrker.)

THE Ford Plant in Detroit is generally
pointed to- to show the success of the
"Open Shop" 1t is also generally accepted
that Ford is an ideal employer, that there is
no need for any labor organization interfer-
ing there, because everything that is neces-
sary for the workmans good is looked after
at Ford's plant, wages high, work fairly con-
slant and force of men who see to it that
everything is fairly comfortable. Ford has
reiterated these statements so frequently
that they are accepted as truth. AS a matter
of fact, there is no place where the conditions
of the worker are so eXacting, so grinding
and so utterly opposed to every attribute of
decent and developed manhood; and these con-
ditons not only effect the general body of
workers but also effect the administrative
staff, superintendent and foremen.
What a story could be told of the hundreds
of men superintendent and foremen who for
years have been with Ford and made it pos
sible for the plant to be what it is today
men who have n1omentarily forgotten they
worked at Fords and attempted to assert
their individuality So soon as they did that
it was get out, and there's your slip for your
money. There is redress, they fin
ished with, that's all. Now the public have
been told so often about the high wages paid
by Ford, that the following facts should ex-
pIode once and for all anything that Ford
may state to the contrary.
The International Labor office has decided
to make an investigation into. the compare
tive wages and conditions in some of the
large cities in the world. They contemplate
making surveys in London, Manchester Cork
Paris, Marsailles, Berlin, Frankfort, Antwerp
Rotterdam. Helsngfors. Copenhagen, Trieste,
Genoa, Barcelona, Warsaw and Constantnople
following on this the Department of Labor.
Ethelbert Stewart, Commissioner of Labor
Statistics, has Just issued report they have
conducted among 100 workers employed at
Fords plant in Detroit. The figures given
by the Department of Labor have no doubt
tended 10 give Ford in every case the benefit
wherever it was necessary but even with that
the figures should be published far and wide
The Commissioner for Labor Statistics,
Ehelbert Stewart, in the survey covering
hours worked, wages earned and family ex-
penditures of 100 Ford workers in Detroit
stated as typical Of the industry there with
income from wages from $40 to S723 day
The average wage of the hundred workers
coming out at S6.48 per day. The average
earnings were for the year-S1 ,694.63. The
average working time for the year was $50
days. The average income from other sources
than that being earned at Ford's was-$14.20.
The average income from all sources was
St.71IS7. The average expenditure was
a. 1900 making an ANNUAL USllClG OF l0e
Ford workers S7.96. The commissioner of
labor in including the income from other
sources in the total income was simply a
method to make things look a little better
than they really were. The income from
wages earned against the family expenditure
should only have been stated. This would
have given the definite relation of wages
earned at Ford's at 1,649.63 against family
expenditure of S1719.S3 which would show a
deficit of earning at Fords against expendi-
lures of $500, which actually means that the
100 average families whose husbands or faith
ers are employed at Ford's are in debt after
working $50 days of $500.
Now let US see how these 100 families ex-
pend their wages. Some families had savings
while others had bills for medical and other
necessary expenses and no savings. The prin-
ciple items of expenditure were
Food ........s....... S0Oo.UUT
Housing .............. 3SS.Sl
Clothing ............. 21067