Evening star., 1938-03-01
LABOR PROGRESS
SHOWN IN FORUM
Secretary Perkins Reviews
History of Department,
Is Years Old.

History OF Department,
Is Years Old.
Secretary Of Labor Frances Perkins
last night reviewed labor developments
on the National Radio Forum, ar
ranged by The Star and broadcast
over q cost-to-c coast network of the
National Broadcasting Co. Her ad-
dress follows:
1t is a pleasure indeed to have the
Forum program for the fifth time in as
many years and it is particularly
gratifying at just this time when the
United States Department of Labor is
about to celebrate the twenty-f1fth
anniversary Of its establishment. The
department was created on March 4,
1918, Ito foster, promote and develop
the welfare Of the wage earners of the
United States. to improve their work
ing conditions and to advance their
opportunities for profitable employ
ment."
The quarter Of a century that has
passed since then has been an era OF
rapid and striking change. Beginning
with the upheaval of the World War,
successive developments have tended
to place upon government more and
more concern for the welfare Of
workers. Among those developments
are industrial and chronological ex-
pansion and change, and the rapid
shift from national economy based
on agriculture to one conditioned
largely by industry.
Machinery Role Great.
Any review Of this period cannot
be complete without attempting to
recall some Of the outstanding events
Of the past, the events responsible in
greater or lesser degree for the situa-
ton OF the moment. One of these Is
the part played by machinery.
Forty-flve years ago Carroll D.
Wright. commissioner of the United
States Bureau of Labor, wrote:
I'VE are living at the beginning of
an age OF mind, as illustrated by the
results Of inventine genius. 1t is an
age of intellect. of brain; for brain is
king. and machinery is kings prime
minister"
Since that far-away day inventive
genius has given us q thousand and
one machines. The automobile and
the airplane, employing hundreds Of
thousands of workers in their manu-
facture, are illustrations of the devel-
opment in mechanical devices in the
period.
These inventions have had a vital
bearing on the lives of workers. their
families, the whole social and indus
trial structure Of the Nation. People
have, OF course, been thrown out Of
work. Yet employment, the production
Of goods and per capita income have
been increased. This is one of the
modern paradoxes. No great degree
Of imagination is required to foresee
many more changes in labor-saving
devices. In the movement to shorten
the hours of labor. to raise wages, to
improve living conditions, the machine
has played no small part, especially in
the last quarter of a century. To the
people involved some of the individual
situations have been tragic. At the
same time general progress has been
: made.
! With the development Of machinery
mass production engulfed the indi-
vidual craftsman, the higher skilled
artisan with his natural pride in his
. product. Membership In privileged
union meant something more to him
than belonging to an organization
interested solely in his material well
fare. The feeling Of mutually moved
him also.
Ambitions Of Workers Rose.
As the union gained in strength and
influence, through agreements, legis-
lation and other means the employees
ambitions rose, and his demands for a
better living and more security for
himself and his dependents increased
With greater opportunities for educa-
ton through schools, the press,
libraries. public lectures, the radio,
the workers field of interest broaden
ed. In the period under review the
World War was fought. Every worker
played his part in it, either in this
country or abroad, and that struggle
gave labor an even larger stake in
the Nation.
American labor is not revolutionary;
1t stands for the ideals of American
democracy, asking no special favors,
having no desire for the destruction
Of capital but rather to build up and
share in the prosperity of industry.
The growth in numbers and in
huence Of unions has been rapid in
recent years, and it has not always
been possible to avoid the errors of
= inexperience. In general, real prog
ress has been made.
Every day we show our faith in the
skill, honesty and integrity Of the
American workman. When we ride
j on fast train, in an automobile. in
an elevator we are confident that the
. workman has been faithful to his
trust. built and tested every part of
the machine with the same care he
would give to it If his children were
to use 1t. They are machines, but
they are built by human beings with
minds, conscience and skill.
: The conditions Of wage earners in
. America have advanced greatly since
: the Department Of Labor was created
: IN 1873. The recent years have seen
!, many gains through legislation and by
! custom. The department has con-
:, tinued to promote and assist in de-
: veloping . program Of
3; /. Reasonably short hours of labor.
: 2. Adequate annual income from
/. wages.
: ). Safe and healthful conditions Of
= work.
4, Practical ind1istria1 r.1ot,on.