Montana labor news., 1934-11-15
ASUBVERSIVE BUSINESS LEADER


States Steel Corporation, is one of the outstanding represen-
tatives Of American business Bourbons who, since the depres-
sion began in 1929, have thrown millions of workers into the
unemployed army. Up to the beginning of 1880, these re-
dictionary corporation executives had locked the doors of in
dustrial plants against 100000 a~ble-bodied adults. The
wholesale discharges increased month by month until, in
March, 1888, the jobless numbered 136S9O0Q
When the National Industrial Recovery Act was passed in
1888, Mr.. Taylor, with other s%tandpatters for the old regime
of long hours for labor and maximum profits for coupon clip
pers and dividend receivers, demanded and secured the 40
hour week for most of the codes established by authority of
the Recovery Act.
From the date of the first code the American Federation
of Labor took the position that the 40-hour week would not
solve the unemployment problem, which was declared by
Congress to be the main purpose of the Recovery Act. After
the codes for the larger industries had been in operation for
a few months the Federation declared the 30-hour week was
necessary to r~e-employ the millions of idle workers and
sought to have the codes amended along this line. The in
dustrial magnates headed by Mr.. Taylor, backed up by the
National Recovery Administration under the leadership of
General Hugh S. Johnson, Recovery Administrator, opposed
this shorter work week. Because Of this opposition the I'M
employed army has stood for months at the enormous figure
Of between ten and eleven millions, the figure for September,
1884, being 10951,000.
With these millions of jobless workers still pounding the
pavements looking in vain for employment, Mr.. Taylor re-
Gently came out with a half page appeal in the newspapers of
New York City uging contributions to the 100000 fund
sponsored by the Citizens Family Welfare Committee to give
private relief and consolation to certain out-of-works in the
udtiJh > nCllOpOLo, WIN dlN d OholluChL pat VI tMC OJCOO,
600 families, comprising about 100000 persons. whom
Harry L. Hopkins, director of the Federal Emergency Relief
Administration, declares are now provided with food, cloth
ing and shelter from Government funds.
Visioning a considerable portion of this jobess army as in
evitable and permanent under the long work week system to
which he persistently cings, Mr.. Taylor in his appeal indorses
the policy of having them supported by public and private
charity instead of giving them an opportunity to earn a liv-
ing by their own labor under the shorter work week.
TIE feactionary long work week policy held by the chair
r III f-f r IT. TTs-1 CAA. CT r. u
ypifies the utterly antisocial plan advocated by most of our
industrial executives, who, themselves, are solely responsible
for the terrible plight of the unemployed.
He has refused to cooperate with organized labor and
other progressive movements in the nationwide effort to
secure the 3O-hour week for all industry in order to provide
work for the voorhees,. And now his major appeal is for
large private charity funds and sympathetic dole distributes to
maintain the morale of those who are ready and willing to
work, but whom Taylor and the other ~long-hour captains Of
industry refuse to employ.
How Numerically different is the constructive policy Of
the American Federation of Laborl
1t has persistently reiterated the economic axiom that a
job at good wages is the inherent right of every working man
and woman.
It maintains that the 3o-hour week will realize this justice
for millions of the unemployed.
1t declares that four years experience has proven there is
no other way to abolish the army Of 100000 jobless and re
store them and their families to their rights and duties as
citizens of the Republic.
The 3O-hour week and the reduction Of the unemployed
army to zero is organized labor's p~re-emm1nent demand. 10
the realization Of this demand it has consecrated its organ
lied strength, its economic power and its political influence.
Every individual who stands in the way of this eminently
just proposal is headed for industrial oblivion as a subversive
citizen who blocks recovery and consequently renewed pros
perity for the masses of America.
Evidently Myron c. Taylor, chairman of the board Of the
United States Steel Corporation, is scheduled to head the pro-
cession inevitably bound for a thoroughly deserved economic
desuetude.