Evening star., 1933-01-19
BAN ON N0N-UN|ON
GOODS IS PROPOSED
0ut|awing Of "YeIIow Dog"
Contracts Asked With
Five-Day Week.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Legislation to prevent shipment in
interstate commerce of goods produced
under yellow dog" contracts was pro-
posed by the United Mine Workers of
America today in indorsing the Black
five-day week, six-hour day bill.
Philip Murray. vice president, told
the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
considering the Black bill that with
10000 coal miners job!ess. the shorter
work week was "a necessity" but he
urged amendment of it to outlaw the
'yellow-dog contract under which
labor is employed with the understand
ing it will not organize for collective
bargaining.
Murray testified before a subcommit-
tee headed by Senator Norris, Repub-
lican, of Nebraska. who sponsored the
bill to prevent enforcement of these
contracts in Federal courts.
Legislation Defied.
Despite that legislation, Murray said
''the yel.ow-dog contracts go on
They are still enforced in the State
courts and they still impress their trade
mark on goods shipped in interstate
commerce" he added.
Murray suggested the yellog deg con-
tract amendment as substitute for
minimum wage law, which has bean
proposed by some labor spokesmen to
prevent wages from going down with
working hours.
Murray estimated 10000 coal miners
are jobless. in throwing support of the
United Mine Workers of America be-
hind the Black bill.
He said a reduction in working hours
is "a necessity in view of the increased
use Of machinery in the mines
He presented statistics showing the
average tons mined per man day was
$50 in 1881, as compared with 2.56 in
1890.
The existing misery and distress and
unemployment make the present the
logical time for granting this needful
relief he said.
Declared Inevitable.
THE six-hour day is inevitable New
inventions. new processes. new methods,
new machines have been. are, and in
the years to come will produce an ever
increasing amount CT Pathological un-
employment Hours of labor must be
reduced as productivity increases.
But. although inevitable, the six
hour day may not be universally adopt
ed for many years unless some man.
datory legislation is enacted into law
for the simple reason that no indi-
vioual employer will voluntarily take
action that hampers competition in the
complex business world"
At similar hearings by the House
Labor Committee On the Connery five
day week, companion to the Black
measure. Thomas F. Mcmahon, head
of the United Textile Workers of Amer
ica, expressed his full Endorsement OF
the plan.
1T is the greatest step yet proposed
to bring our industry to a more normal
condition" he said. I'VE feel it will
bring about stabilization.
Manufacturer Opposed.
without shorter working time there
is nothing to look forward to in tbs
textile industry but chaos and still
further chaos"
Representative Rich. Republican. oi
Pennsylvania. woolen manufacturer
opposed the bill. contending that no
blanket rule could be written for all
industry
Il believe it is necessary to reduce
the hours of labor. but I believe it
would be wrong to go under eight
hours" Rich said. L believe it would
be better t6 have four eight-hour days
than six six-hour days
Rich said his mill had tried to give
all its workers continued employment
Ito the extent of going into the red
by thousands and thousands of dollars.