Montana labor news., 1935-12-26
A. F. Of |. Survey
Hits Profit Motive

AA&A AAH A 49, -
Masses Would Easily Provide
An Annual Income of $4,370
For Every Family.
Washington, D. CA criticism Of
profit as the major motive in industry
instead OF larger real purchasing power
and better standards of living for the
masses, features the current issue Of
the Monthly Survey Of Business pub
Ilished by the American Federation Of
Labor.
To prove that as business RECEIVERS
the profit motive is intensified, the Sur
vey uses the record OF 1900 corpora
tons which in 1888 appropriated more
than one-half OF the entire profits made
by all OF the 447,0O0 corporations in
the United States.
Inequitable Distribution Of Earnings
In 1888 the profits OF these 1900 cor
porations were 81, 3l4,000.O00. In 1884
the profits were increased to $l,733,-
100000. For 1885 competent financial
bureaus estimate that the profits will
total $2,340,O00, 1000. These figures show
an increase of profits Of the 1000 cor
operations OF 70 per cent in two years.
In emphasizing the present inequi-
table distribution OF the earnings of in
dustry dominated exclusively by the
profit motive, the Survey declares that
wages today are not keeping pace with
production and statistically buttresses
this declaration with the assertion that
in the first three-quarters of 1885 pro-
duction has exceeded last year by 81
per cent, workers buyins power by less
than l per cent"
Profit Greed Keeps Factories Closed
Pointing out that although millions
Of workers are jobless there is a short
age Of 100000 homes, 100000 auto
mobiles and similar needs in other
lines, the Survey declares it is the pol
icy Of those who own and control in
dustry to keep their plants closed or
working on part time until business
can make a profit" by providing the
people with these necessary elements,
adding
Profit, not our need, is the control
ling factor"
Jobs for All, Poverty for None
Turning to the possibilities in terms
OF economic welfare Of shifting the ma
jor purpose OF industry from maximum
profit to higher living standards for the
masses, the Survey says
"A recent study by competent engi-
neers shows that in America today no
one need be unemployed or in poverty.
Proper use of our industrial resources,
equipment and man power, can produce
enough to give every family an income
of at least $3.50 a year.
This means that it is possible for
every family to have a comfortable
home, plenty Of food, clothing and other
essentials, an automobile and radio, OPP
p%ortunities for education and culture
adequate medical care and provision fol-
old age. With modern industrial tech
niques, plenty is within our grasp, moi
for the favored few alone but for every
man. woman and child in America.
an the world Of today, it is sheer
stupidity to condemn millions of mer
and women to idleness, poverty and de-
~pendence while we run our industrial
plant at half capacity and pillow under
the cotton we need for clothes.
Workers Living Standards Kept Low
1--WE know that when industry oper-
ates without control, depression mus
follow prosperity as surely as night fol
lows day. Periods of prosperity brinl
large fortunes for the few but never hai
any period of prosperity lifted Ivinl
standards for the masses to the level
modern industry makes possible, In oui
year of greatest prosperity, one-sixth o
our population were living below thC
minimum necessary for health, wher
all might have had a comfort living
standard.
Under proper control, our industries
could supply a steady stream of good.
lyear after year SUFFICIENT LOT our leeus
IOur living standards could be RAISED
progressively, in proportion with i'm.
proving industrial techniques we neeC
mot throw millions out of work every
few years to create a shortage Of good.
so as to make profits.
Social Planning Necessary
1.-THE American people are beginning
to realize that if we would shift iron
control to make profits over to contro
t to make higher standards of living VI
must have the machinery for socia
planning. Any satisfactory measure
/, for control for human welfare mus
5 grow out of the thought and experienc
of business and labor leaders and o
: experts who know industry and agri
culture. and know how to make then
E serve our needs.
e Depression abroad has swept nation
. into Fascism. If we want to avoid
e similar fate in this country, we mus
( be ready before the next depression ]
upon us"