Evening star., 1932-10-09
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL r. KENNEDY.


Joseph Hewes, a signer Of the Declara-
ton Of independence. We are told by
Representative Lindsay C. Warren of
North Carolina, who burst upon public
notice as an able presiding officer in
the House during the last session and
whose friends are now putting him for
ward as a candidate for Speaker in the
event that Jack" Garner Is elected
Vice President and the House remains
Democratic. Representative Warren re-
ferred us to Representative Sol Bloom
associate director of the George Wash
ington Bicentennial Commission, who
gave us the following (and great deal
more) information about the service Of
said Hewes:
Joseph Hewes played a pivotal part
In the life and labors of George Wash
ington, whose friend he was. He was
far more than a mere passive signer
of the Declaration of Independence. We
have 1t on the authority of John Adams
that Joseph Hewes cast the deciding
vote that led TO the adoption of that
immortal charter of our liberties. The
Continental Congress had already
sent George Washington to chief COM
mand on the fields of battle, where our
national destiny was to be decided. In
the Declaration Of Independence it
placed in Washington's hands full war
rant for all he might be called upon
to do in the winning Of our liberties.
Without the vote Of Joseph Hewes that
warrant would have been withheld, but
with the deciding vote Of Hewes, his
tory perfected itself, and George Wash
ington was armed with the last great
power he needed-the power Of. an
aroused. united and flaming public
opinion.
And the adoption of the Declaration
OF Independence was no easy matter.
Clouds and uncertainty surrounded that
deliberative body. What happened We
have in the words Of John Adams him
self:
For many days, the majority
against the declaration) depended
upon Mr.. Hewes of North Carolina
While member one day was speaking
and reading documents from all the
colonies to prove that public opinion
the sense of all, was in favor of the
measure, when he came to North Caro-
lima and produced letters and public
proceedings which demonstrated that
the majority in that colony we're in
favor Of it, Mr.. Hewes. who had
hitherto constantly voted against it.
started suddenly upright, and, lifting
both hands to heaven as if he had been
in trance, cried: 1t is done and I will
abide by it,"
And then, exulting, John Adams
says: Il would give more for q perfect
painting OF the terror and horror upon
the face Of the old majority against
the declaration) at that critical moment
than for the best piece by Raphael >
1t Is little wonder that George Wash
ington made friends with a man Of such
courage.
One Of the many members OF Con.
gress who now are studying the prob.
lem OF growing unemployment due tc
this machine age and the chances o.
correcting the situation by shorter
working hours is Representative Charlie,
"A. Wolverton Of New Jersey. Even i
every manufacturing plant now idle
should Immediately start operation il
could not result in giving permanent
employment TO all" Mr.. Wolvertor
emphasizes
This condition arises from the fac
that by the widespread use of labor
saving machines and devices there !
an ever-increasing reduction in tn
number Of workers required and a
the same time a greatly increased pro
duction. For years past one inven
ton after another has followed il
quick succession. Each has sought t,
increase production with the use O
less manpower. Men crowded out 0
employment by the use of labor -savinl
machinery have found it inoreasingl,
hard to find employment in their for
mer trades, or even in new industries
Mr.. Wolverton has made q study G
just how this has worked in some o
the larger industries and finds that
Improvements In oil refining hav,
enabled production to be increased g.
per cent, while the labor force ha
been reduced 5 per cent Tobacco ma
chimes have increased output 50 pc
cent with l3 per cent fewer operatives
Meat products, 20 per cent greater, ar
marketed with 10 per cent fewer work
men, Steel production is s per cen
larger, with an operating force re
duced 9 per cent. Railroad transpor
tation has reduced the number of EN-
ployes and at the same time increase,
operation by 80 per cent. Cotton ma
chinery has enabled per cent in
crease to be handled with Is per cen
fewer workers. In the coal industr
reduction Of IS per cent in the mum
Der Of miners has not prevented
per cent increase in production. Thi
is sufficient" he argues. ito illustrat
that reduction Of force goes hand il
hand with new inventions in ever
kind Of employment
His conclusion is that "the presen
unemployed cannot possibly be utilize,
full time in modern industrial plant
without resulting in overproduetlon t
degree that would prove disastrou
and again bring about condition o
unemployment. 1t is necessary to Civ
consideration to a new basis CT EN-
ployment. At least a partial solution
can be found by adoption of shorte
working week, or the shorter day, O
both, that will enable . spread Of worl
to include all