Evening Star Newspaper, November 11, 1926, Page 24

24 FORD'S EMPLOYES SUSPICIOUS OF AIMS OF 5-DAY-WEEK PLAN WOrkers Fear System Is Way to Cut Wages. Declare They Are Overworked—Other Employes Question Sincerity. (This_is the third of three articles en the fveday week as inaugurated by ;{:'n:l& Ford in his Detroit f"" The *ceding articles gave Mr. Ford' BY CARROLL BINDER. Dispatch to The Star. . Mich., November 11.— Carcful survey of the industridl situ- @tlon here reveals no disposition on the part of Henry Ford's fellow em- S in or dut of the motor in- to follow his lead in inaugurat- week as a deliberate qually It to perceive is any indication that the workers of Detroft want the five-day week, as they un- derstand it to be practiced in the Ford plants, to be extended to other nd other industries. Workers elsewhere, would like to see the work weck and the work day shortene t they want the reduc- speeding up ord policy. talked with local employers, in the various Ford plants end n other Detroit men and we men and 'a can I find enthu . business . and nowhere sm’ for the Ford five-day week as practiced. If the five-dav policy is to spread, either Detroit will undergo a change of heart or the impetus for the new moye- ment will come from outside Detroit. Workers for Plan, Say Executives. The Ford executives told me that the new policy met with favor on the part of their employes. Chats with foremen brougit out universal testi- mony that as men come to un- derstand the five-day plan and to see the daily wage rate boosted, they drop their orlginal hostility or suspicion and heartily approve the innovation. In support of this view the executives cite the low labor turnover of the lants or 30 men a day in the ~Fordson plant with 41,000 employes Wwas one of the figures cited. That, however, is not the attitude most frequently voiced to this investi- gator of the five-day week. Numerous Ford employes in their own homes were critical of- the policy, because they considered it an ill-disguised wage reduction, ac- companied by a speeding-up process which was an undue tax upon their strength. The obvious comment upon such a statement as the foregoing is that disgruntled spirits are bound to be found among the employes of a large plant. I tried, however, to see workers who were not soured or {ll- favored in lif whose qualities XTRA warmth and comfort are provided quickly with the least possible amount of trouble and at lowest cost, when fi‘ have a LAWSON Odor- Radiant Heater in your home. Many beautiful new designs to choose from. The LAWSON Burner insures safe heat—absolutely odorless. S Let Us Show You These Heaters Fries, Beall and Sharp 734 10th St. N.W. Main 1964 To make ferns grow best! Give tender roots ‘ A nice light eoil. / l Keep out of Strong sunshine! 3 But place ko Close to window. ] { Water enough to Keep soil slightly Damp And sprinkle fronds Often. Feed one PLANTABB Each week! Follow these Instructions and Your plants will Grow Vike magic! PLANTABBS are clean, odor- lesatabletsjust chock-fulloffood for your plants. He y ¢ ‘make ferns, begonias, geraniums and all other gorted plantesnd flowere grow better than they ever grew before. Plantabbs 25¢, 50c, $1.00, $3.50 packages 8old by Druggists, Seed Dealers and Florists everywhere. other community organizations. It is their testimony that I am setting down—testimony which is backed up by their pastors. Complaint of Decreased Earnings. These men had not yet recelved the increases in pay which are being | put into effect at the rate of a thou- sand u day. They formed their con- clusions on the basis of a year's experience with the five-day week, while Mr. Ford did not announce his intentlon to give higher pay for five days’ work until six weeks ago. It may well be that they will tell a different story when the pay Is raised to the old per-week rate or higher, as Mr. Ford promises. For the present, they complain of di- minished earnings and too strenuous tasks. All of the men with whom I talked, were whit are known as production employes—the men who work along the conveyors. Some of these men said they were so ex- hausted by the eight hours' labor, that they fell asleep on the cars com- ing home from work. The criticism of the Ford policy voiced by these men was vigorously seconded by a Detroit clergyman, who has many Ford employes in his parish and is widely known for his studies in economic and social prob- lems—the Rev. Reinhold Neibuhr, pastor of Bethel Evangelical Church and contributor to many perfodicals. “Autocracy is never quite human,” Dr. Niebuhr said in a sermon dur- ng my sojourn in Detroit. “I do not know whether Mr. Ford is aware of what is going on in his plant or whether he is decelving himself, but his policles are wearing out the lives of his employes. The five-day week thus far has meant an average loss of $300 a year to the great majority of Mr. Ford's employes.” Will Ignore Ford Policy. Detroit employers did not wish to be quoted concerning Mr. Ford's new policy, but they were unanimous in declaring that they had no intention of following suit. Asked whether there was not a demand on the part with whom I talked |of their employes for Saturday off, now that Ford employes enjoyed a two-day week end, they said they would meet with opposition if they adopted such a policy. John L. Lovett, former Chicago newspaper man, who is now secretary of the Michigan Manufacturers’ Asso- ciation, to which Mr. Ford as well as most of the other Michigan industrial- explained that there was ition on the part of Michi THE FEVENING STAR, WASHINGTON gan employers to turn to. the five- day week and no demand for the shorter week from the employes out- slde of Ford's plant because 90 per cent of the employes of Michigan plants, other than Ford establishments, operate on a piece-work basis. When business warrants, these plants oper- ate 50 hours a week. “Any reduction in the working day or working week means a decided re- duction in earnings and our em- ployes have no taste for that,” Mr. Lovett said. *“The five-day week would be a heavy drain on family income, and you may be sure that there is no agitation among the Mic! igan factory workers for such a cut.” Mr. Lovett says that piece work is popular outside the Ford works. The Fords, on the other hand, will tolerate no plece work, cons.dering it unfair, uneconomic and impracticable. They say their men prefer flat wages. Rivals Question Ford Sincerity. Mr. Ford's statement of his wage policy as outlined in the preceding articles remove the sting from a criticism which is heard throughout Detroit—that is, that he misled the public into believing that he was paying six days’ wage for five days’ work. On every hand the investiga- tor is assured that this was a sly trick, but careful perusal of Mr. Ford’s announcement, shows that he never said he would take such a step—that the six-day idea was tacked on in the press reports and head- . Detroit, thus far, has not ped the idea that the full six- day rate is on the way, for I was often assured that the new policy meant a permanent though euphemis- tic pay cut. ‘Ancther prevalent bellef which the investigator meets in downtown of- fices as regularly as in the humble cottages of the workers is that the five-day week is a clever way of meet- ing an alleged radical and permanent decline in business, while at the same time getting valuable publicity. “Mr. Ford is the victim of present- day prosperity,” one is told. “‘People want a higher-priced car and install- ment buying makes it quite as easy to purchase a more expensive car as to get a Ford. The.prices of the heavier cars have come down and down until they rival the Ford rates in attractive- ness to people of small means. Mr. Ford could cut his price in half and still not halt this tendency to buy the more expensive cars—unless a long and deap-seated depression sets in, which would be the greatest boost Ford could get. Faced with a plant larger than the present demand calls for, there is nothing for him to do but reduce the working week.” Give Version of Ford Reasons. From a Detroit man whose profes- slon it is to keep in touch with all phases of the auto industry, and who is not connected with any plant, I re- ceived the following comment on the situation: “Sinee the first of the year the Dodge and Buick plants have doubled their products. The Hudson-Essex output has increased one-third. Oak- | 1and, Pontfac_and Nash plants have | broken records. General Motors re- vorts that in the nine months just rds for Loth 'Lastweek we held our first dollar sale. In five hours w e sold over 2,000 Hats. Many cus- tomers were disap- pointed, sorry. In but we were this sale pos- itively no hats will be sold to merchants. Washington’s greatest value-giving event. Come early as the num- ber is limited. earnings and cars produced in anyz preceding 12 months, including the record for 1925, which was the best in the history of the company. “General Motors is giving Mr. Ford his stiffest opposition. In spite of what he calls absentee ownership and diversified models, which Mr. Ford has always held to be millstones about the neck of a plant. General Motors today makes one of every four cars sold. Last year they made only 19 per cent of the cars and in 1923 only | 16 per cent. In 1924 Ford made 62% per cent of all the autos produced. In 1925 he was making only 42 per cent, | and now he makes only one of every three cars produced. What more nat- ural than that he should reduce his working week and thereby his costs S0 as to meet this mpw situation?"” Having no knowledge of the motor industry, T make no pretense at pass- ing judgment on this analysis. The person quoted is a widely recognized authority, and he summarized what 1 heard from other quarters. These comments are also supported by the ! auto license statistics for Wayne County, which takes in Detroit, and | is held to be a fair sample of \\'hati people are buying these days. Ford: Reepliig Own Counsel, || The Ford answer to these comments | is given in the interview which pre. | ceded the present article. When I was at the Ford plant I cound learn nothing concerning the gossip heard on every side to the effect that Mr. Ford is about to answer this compe- | tition with a_medium-priced car or that he is going to introduce revolu- ' tionary changes in the gear shift and in the price of his product. Mr. Ford is keeping his own counsel in such matters. Whatever the import of the auto- mobile sales figures, there is no sigr of anxlety about the Ford offices or the Ford factories. From Mr. Ford himself and from his associates there radiates a sense of well being and of confdence in their ability to meet the future, which indicates that the | Fords expect to be doing business at the old stand for a long time to come, and that, be the times good or ill, the men will work no more than eight nours a day five days a week and the company will make money on that basts. (Copyright. 1926 ) $10,000 IN GE_MS FOUND. Four Held in Connection With $21,000 Wheeling Theft. PITTSBURGH, November 11 (®).— | Diamonds valued at $10,000 were | found last night at the home of | Maude Anderson, colored, police said, after she and three other negroes had | heen arrested in connection with a $21,000 jewel robbery last September at the home of H. F. Behrens, Wheel- ing, W. Va., banker. The jewels were concealed in a fur neckpiéce. Police said they had ob- tatned confessions which probably would lead to the recovery of the rest of the jewelr D. C, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, _1928. Rhinelander Decision Reserved. NEW YORK, November 11 (P).— Decision on an appeal for a new trial of Leonard Kip Rhinelander’s suit for annulment of his marriage to Mrs. Alice Jones Rhinelander, daughter of a negro coachman, was reserved yes- terday by the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court. ORIENTAL BUILD- ING ASSOCIATION NO.'6 600 F St. N.W. Established 1861 Savings Accounts —are safely and most profitably deposited with us! We Have Never Paid Less Than 5%% On Regular Monthly Payments T T Sharp blades \ that cut easily, and \\ don’t need frequent | sharpening. D aats Zdnch king SCISSORS Wonderful Culters THoodmard & Wonthrap & Huothrm Charming Trifles of Christmas Greeting McCall Transfer 1513 1513—Designs for different painted handkerchiefs and scarfs. Enough for several — gy, iy \ Wy, WK L R A 1k, " .4,/1/ :4',/,”//,, ///,/,//,,I{ AN -f.'(f’/‘/,’a,", .il,'l,!flflfl% 1474—Raffia flowers embroi- dered on cross-stitch canvas. Directions given in McCall Needlework. 1468 — Floral boudoir set— several designs. Directions for painting given in McCall Needlework. g oy g \ »fl,ffélflg\l"n:d 1547—The newest pillow doll —directions in the pattern. McCall Needlework and Decorative Arts— 25¢ oCall Pattern Section lecond fioor. Woodward & Lothrop DOWN STAIRS STORE riday is Remnant Day Remnant Day Merchandise is not returnable or exchangeable; not sent C. O. D. or on approval; Phone or Mail Orders not accepted Women’s and Misses’ Ready-to-Wear Reduced 40 Sports Dresses, of jersey and novelty materials. Sizes 14 to 44. And Crepe Satin and Flat Crepe Dpr::u, in sizes 38, 40, 42 and 44. \{’ere $16.50, now.. .. $5 10 Afternoon Dresses of silk. Black, chanel red, tan and jungle g Sizes 36 to 40. Were $16.50. Reduced for clearance to 3 Lace Dinner Gowns, combined with georgette. Black and tan gowns, lips. Were $25, now . o ..$11 2 ';‘L%!eu Ev:ninl Fi peach and coral. Basque style, sizes 16 and 18. Were $32.50, educed to.. R ST ibas e ..$13.75 40 l'Silll:m;u-mmn Dresses, of crepe satin and nd 36 to 40. All wanted shades. Special ......... esabavaasshbras 12 Misses’ Afternoon Silk Dresses of crepe satin. n, tan and navy. Sizes 14 to 20. Were $16.50 and $20, now et e R L e L Satin de chyne lined and braid trimmed; straightline 10 Winter Coats, of heavy suede material. { models. Fur collars. ice of four colors. Sizes 16 to 44. Were $19.75, reduced to,.u.....s.‘fls zes $4.95 in si crepe. 10 One and Two Piece Dresses, of flat crepe and jersey. Shades of tan, wine, rose and green. 16 to 40. Were $10, now. . tereesieaseresisesen . 25 Rubberized Raincoats—the latest styles. Cemented straps. Powder colors o red, tan. Sizes 14 to 44. Very special & DOWN STAIRS STORE All-Silk Crepes, $1-25 Were $1.65 yard. 200 yards all-silk Printed Crepe de Chines, in pleasing de- signs and color combinations. Bath Robes—Reduced Lawrence Robes, in all The patterns, Very spe- $245 ue, green and $2.65 Underwear—Reduced 6 pieces of Underwear at this reduced price. Including Crepe Gowns, Seco (rayon) ~ Step-ins and Camisoles. Were $1; .26¢ 13" Rayon Costume Slips g and assorted sizes. Fancy flounces. Were $1.95; reduced to . -$1 Sillc Crepe Chemise, 75¢ 36, in flapper style. Small sizes. Pastel shades. Very specially priced. Brassieres-Bandettes 24 Glove Silk Bandettes, special, 45c. In pastel shades, of lovely, soft quality. Sizes 30, 32, 34 and 36. Garter Elastics, 5c; were 20c. 24, white and flesh. Good colors. 12 Brassiers, 35c; were $1. Long line, side and back fastening styles. Broken sizes. Reduced for clearance. Reducers, $1; were $5. 6, of mercerized rubber, in front-lacing style. Large sizes, 30, 34 ‘and 36. Flannelette Gowns, 65¢ Were $1.50 and $1.95. 5, in broken sizes. Soft warm quality flannelette. ors Corduroy and sizes and desirable colors. too, are exceptionally good. claily priced t................. Hair Nets, 25¢ Dozen 261 dozen “Cap-it-all” Hair Nets and “Darling Hair Nets.” Both single and double mesh, in light brown, dark brown, black, blonde and auburn. Were $1.18 Silks, 65¢ “osis All-silk Pongee, Striped Broadcloth. Chi- nese Damask and Printed Stk Radiums. Reduced for immedlates disposal. in Assorted Novelty Perales and Checked Ginghams, in Coverall and Waistline models. Contrasting bindings and rickrack trimming. Sale—600 Crisp, New Aprons DOWN STAIRS STORE 2 6 Women'’s 4 and %5 Pumps, $1* Variety of styles 105 pairs—at this remarkable low price—marked for quick disposal. & ut and leathers including patent leather, blonde and gray kid and satin. Broken sizes, all sizes 3 to 8 in the lot. Women's Slippers, 850; were $1.25 to $1.95. Rubbers, 45c pair. 75 pairs men’s, women's and Boys' Rubbers, all of first quality. All Boudoir slippers of satin, suede and kid, in sizes in women's rubbers, boys’ and men’s a full range of desirable colors. All sizes in lot. sizes broken. Men’s Leather Slippers, *1 Pair VERY SPECIAL. Men’s Leather House Slippers, in brown opera style, with soft, comfortable padded soles, at this very special price. Sizes 6 to 11. DOWN STAIRS STORE Silk-Mixed Hose, 35¢ Men’s Overcoats, $15.75 SPECIAL. 300 pairs Silk-and-Rayon VERY SPECIALLY PRICED. 16 of k 3 LY hese fine Coats {n double-breasted style. Hose, silk to the garter band. SLIGHTLY = & IRREGULAR. Shades of champagne, Sizes 35 to 44 only. Good colors. No al- black, gun metal, stone gray, French nude terations. and nude. Sizes 8% to 10 in the lot. Men’s Shirts, 78c; were more. Slightly Novelty c“fl Fal)ric Gloves, ssc solled. Broadcloths and madras shirts in lot. Sizes 14 to 17. Part-wool Unlon Sults, $1.15; were $1.95 100 pairs. Turn-down cuffs, with colored embroidery. Mode, oak, caramel and to $2.50. Medium-weight, part-wool suits, blonde. Sizes 6 to 8. long sleeve, ankle length. Sizes 36 to 48. Children’s Hose, Special Men’s Flannelette Pajamas, $1.28; were $1.65. Sizes A, B and Large, medium and sm: Men’s Ti Children's Ribbed Hose, 6 pairs, $1. Very special. 200 pairs, in wide-ribbed style. Camel, gray and tan. Sizes 6 to 9 Children’s Fanoy Sports Hose, speci in the lot we are closing. out. Scarfs, speclal, 78c. 24 “Scotchman” plaid pair. 200 pairs, in tans, grays, buck, fawn, and sizes 6 to 9% in lot. Scarfs, in various patterns. 850; were Infants’-Girls’ Wear Boys’ Flannelette Pajamas, 7 Baby Buntings, $1.95; were $295 to $1.16. 62, in sizes 6 to 16. Boys’ Corduroy Pants, 75 $5.95. Of good warm Eiderdown, slightly soiled. $1 to $2.95. 7 to 16 years. Boys' Blouses, 55c. Samples of high- 12 Infants’ Bonn 36 pleces Girls’ and Infants’ Wear, 68c. Sweaters, special. Sizes priced lines. Sizes 8 to 16 years. Boys' Cotton Slip-on Sweaters, special, Were $1 to Dresses, Sacques, Hose and few other miscel- $1. All colors, and sizes 26 to 84. laneous articles. Domestics Reduced 9 Girls’ Coats, $2.95; were $8.95 to $10.95. All-White Turkish Towels, 45c. 200 of heavy weight. Slightly imperfect. Flannels, serges and tweeds. Sizes 6, 8 and 10 years. pieces Underwear for Infants, 65c. Some garments are fleece lined. 3 Sweater Sets, $295; were $3.95 and $4.95. In knit and brushed wool, desirable Turkish Towels, 5 and 6 for $1. Blue or pink borders, SLIGHTLY IMPERFECT. Soiled Huck and Turkish Towels, 16c and 26c. 200, samples of higher-priced grades. Turkish Towel Sets, 50c, 65c and 85c. In- cluding one towel and two wash cloths, or two towels (different sizes) and one wash cloth. colors. Bedding—Clearance Priced Sheets, $1.10, $1.18, $1.25, $1.30. Of seam- less, bleached muslin. These wanted sizes, 72x90, 72x99, 81x90 and 81x99. Sheets soiled from display. 72x90 Bleached Muslin Sheets, 76c. Soil- ed from display. Part-Wool Blankets, $3.95. Block designs, bound with sateen. Plllow Cases, 4 for $1. 42x36-inch size, of good quality bleached muslin. Children’s Shoes, $1 Were $1.95 and $2.48. 84 pairs Children's Shoes, in broken sizes. Tan, black and patent leather. Lace and bufton oxfords and pumps. Mostly small sizes. 20 Imported Anatolian Rugs, light unwashed patterns, in very artistic medallion and prayer designs. Average size, 3x4.6 feet Scatter Size Anatolian Mats, $4.95; were $7.80 9x12 Seamless Tapestry Brussels Rugs, $17.75. and $950. Turkish-made Mats, of heavy Very Specially Priced. 14, in medallion and all-over carpet designs and good color: Curtaining Reduced Plain and Fancy Weave and Colored Dot Scrims, 5 yards, $1; was 25t to 35c yard. Rayon Fancy-Weave Scrims, 5 yards, $1. In gold, green and pongee colors. Wash-and-Ready Crepe, 6 yards, $1. Also Japanese Crepe and Volle Ratines at this same extremely low price. . Bridge Lamps, $].85 COMPLETE WITH SHADE, very special price. Wrought-fron Lamps with dec- orated parchment paper shade. Wrought-iron Bridge Lamps, $2.35; were $3.95. 6, with gllt floral trimming. ‘wool yarn. 46x6.8 Seamless Axminster Rugs, $9.85; were $14. 4 of a popular make, good quality and designs. 9x12 Seamless Velvet Rugs, $20, very special. 8 of this popular room size. Good patterns, colors and deep pile. 24x48 Reversible Cotton Chenille Rugs, special, $1.95. 50, in many designs and colors from which to seleot. The latest effects and new wear features in these rugs. DOWN STAIRS STORE