Evening Star Newspaper, January 10, 1933, Page 12

SHORT WORK WEEK VITAL, SAYS BLACK Forum Speaker Calls Want in _Midst of Plenty Paramount Problem. . : ‘The shorter work week and the chorter work day will go far toward ‘aking the curse of intolerable wealth irom the United States, Senator Hugo L. Black of Alabama, declared last night in a speech in the National Tadio Forum, arranged by The Even- 1g Star and Broadcast over a coast- io-const network of the National Broadcasting Co. “The men,” he declared, “who leave their bloodstains upon the snow-covered streets of our National Capital are not cnoeless because of a scarcity of shoes. They are not compelled to endure their | ngony because nature has failed to vrovide the raw materials out of which vhoes are manufactured. Their con- dition is not the result of a scarcity of labor to work in American shoe fac- wries. “These unfortunate people, and the other millions suffering like them, can- not buy shoes, cannot buy food, and cannot buy shelter, because they have no way to work and earn the money to | buy the abundance of shoes, food and | sheltor stored up in huge quantities| through the Nation. America’s Paramount Problem. “This widespread human want in the | midst of plenty is America’s paramount | problem. ~ Upon its solution hangs our Iuture.” Later he declared: “When long hours of bitterly hard human labor were necessary to supply human wants, self-defense and self- | support demanded hard work and long | hours. Machines have been welcomed | by every far-sighted and progressive | civilization. Hours of labor have grad- | ually declined with each generation on account of laws, economic adjustments and public sentiment. Too frequently this reduction, so necessary to readjust- ment, has been gradually granted.” “We are now,” he declared, “at the crossroads, where we must choose be- tween the evils of a dole system and somel method of supplying work to our The text of Senator Black's speech follows: Text of Address, ‘The text of Senator Black’s address follows: Ladies and Gentlemen of the Radio Audience: Tonight it is my privilege to talk with you for a few minutes on a subject of vital importance to every Amerigan citizen. It concerns an ef- fort to give jobs to millions of people now unemployed. I propose to aid America’s unemployed by a general law frnvldmz a shorter work week and a horter work day, in factories, mines and industry. There is no disagreement among our citizens as to the desirability of pro- viding gainful work for the unem- ployed. There is not, and there can- not be, any disagreement among thoughtful people, that neither indus- try nor agriculture can today provide employment without a change in methods or operations. All must agree that the very safety and perpetuity of any Government de- mands that its citizens may, by hon- est work, earn their living. History and principles of justice unite to prove that poverty, misery and destitution of the many, in the presence of privilege, wealth, luxury and plenty of the few, is the greatest danger that can con- front a national existence. It is also self-evident that if our modern inven- tions and sclentific advancement can now produce more of life’s necessities and comforts in one year than cam® be sold at a profit, the end of the year will find an unsalable surplus. What- ever the commodity, an unsalable sur- plus clogs the market, and if perpetu- ated in industry, results in decreased activities, decreased employment, and decreased purchasing power of men and women thrown out of work. Cites Appeal for Relief. Let us consider an illustration of such a situation. Last week a chari- table institution in Washington made an appeal for old shoes in the follow- ing language: “We need men's shoes and socks immediately. It is tragic to turn down applicanis who come in with tattered shoes that have chafed their feet so that they actually leave = trail of blood as they Ump along. An average of 700 shoes is needed daily.” This request was for old shoes to be given free to people whose naked toes were said to be actually projecting into the frozen snows. The stores of Washington and throughout the coun- try were at that very moment stacked with shoes that could not be sold. Fac- tory warehouses were bulging with mil- lions of shoes. United States shoe factories can | #produce 2,500,000 pairs of shoes dally; 75 million per month; 900 million_ per year. The greatest number of shoes | ever sold by American factories in one | year was approximately 300 million | pairs, or one-third of the present ca- | pacity to produce. Let us look further for an explanation of this condition. | The time required to produce 100 pairs of shoes in the year 1863 was | 1,832 hours. In 1927, with advanced | machinery the same number of shoes could be produced 100 hours. Reasons for Suffering. | These men who leave their blood- | stans upon the snow-covered streets | of our National Capital are not shoe- | less because of a scarcity of shoes. in approximately | Radio Forum, arranged by The Evening network of the National Broadcasting THE EVENING Urges Shorter Work Week SENATOR HUGO L. BLACK Of Alabama, who last night spoke in favor of the five-day week and the six-hour day, to take the curse of intolerable wealth from the Nation, in the National Star &nd broadcast over a coast-to-coast Co. —Star Staff Photo. ually declined with each generation, on account of laws, economic adjust- ments, and public sentiment. quently this reduction, so necessary to readjustment, has been gradually granted. Whatever arguments and sophistry may now be presented to establish the unproved assertion that machines cre- ate new wants and absorb displaced labor, the undeniable and inescapable fact confronts us today that machines have not absorbed their displaced workers. It is difficult to convince 12 million unemployed, perhaps 12 million partially unemployed and millions of their helpless dependents, that such a theory is correct. Especially is this true, when all about them they see life’s first necessities—food, clothing and shelter—rotting before their very eyes, as they cry out in helpless be- wilderment and hopeless want. Mr. Willlam Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, who has spent his life in aiding the men and women who toil, testified last week be- fore a Senate committee considering my bill for a shorter work week and a shorter work day. He stated that his close touch with conditions and his studies have convinced him that ad- vanced, scientific labor-saving devices make it impossible for America to hope that all her people can ever again be employed unless the work week and work day are shortened. Willard Saw Unemployment. As far back as 1931, Mr. Daniel Wil- lard, president of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and who is recognized as one of the outstanding railroad ex- ecutives of the Nation, said this: “We have & productive capacity in every- this wealth that we have in such ex- and uses, and the problem is what to do with it; where can we get rid of all this wealth that we have in such er- cess? * * * the fact is we have so much of everything that that, in a way, is responsible for our troubles. After all, 1 see only one real problem, and that is unemployment. If we were not so well supplied with everything, our men would all be busy making the things that are needed. But we have already got so many things more than we can use that seemingly we do not need the work of several million men now un- employed.” It will be noted that Mr. Willard said that “seemingly we do not need the work of several million men now unemployed.” Of course, this means we do not need the work of these sev- eral million men if we continue to use machines and continue the present work week and work day. It is a startling fact that in 1929, the very year that marked the topmost peak of our so-called prosperity, 2,406,000 people were unemployed. In the factories of the land between 1919 and 1929 production increased 42 per cent with a reduced working force of more than a half a million, white the actual work week only declined from 52 to 50 hours. Even now, with the distressing evidence of widespread un- employment on all sides, we find in many instances that work hours ac- tually increased since this depression began. Average Work Week. The average work week per individ- ual in the woolen and worsted indus- try in 1930 was 49.6 hours. In 1932 the work week was 50.3 hours. The average work week in Southern mills was 53.6 hours in 1930 and 55.7 hours in 1932. The average work weeks of several industries in different localities were these: Card tenders, Vermont. Loom fixers, South... Loom fixers, New Jersey... 58.7 hours Weavers, South . 57 hours Weavers (women), N. Jersey. 58.3 hours In open pit mines workers average from 56.4 hours to 64 hours. Mr. Wil- liam Green testified last week that the adoption of a five-day work week and .+ 57.1 hours 56.7 hours They are not compelled to endure their agony because nature has failed to pro- | vide the raw materials out of which | shoes are manufactured. Their condi- tion is not the result of a scarcity of labor to work in American shoe fac- tories. These unfortunate people, and the | other millions suffering like them, can- | not buy shoes, cannot buy food, and cannot buy shelter because they have no way to work and earn the money | to buy the abundance of shoes, food and shelter stored up in huge quanti- ties through the Nation. | This widespread human want in the | midst of plenty is America’s paramount problem. Upon its solution hangs our Tuture. | Let us take a few more examples from those all about us, indicating_ the increased productivity of machine America, in its relation to labor. Man- hour output in the manufacture of pneumatic tires has increased 86 per cent since 1926, 172 per cent since 1922 and 581 per cent since 1914. Eleven men, machine aided, can now produce as m tires as 581 men | could produce in 1914. | In 1927 the iron and steel industry | production per man had increased 4928 per cent since 1850. Between 1902 and 1927 the output per person in the electric power .ustry in- creased 260 per cent. With one blow of a new invention for wrecking houses, as much work can be done as | two men in an hour and a half, and | ‘a machine can do the work of 100 men | mt one-eighth of their cost. Increased Output. Increased output per man between | 1920 and 1927 was 27 per cent in ag- riculture; 38 per cent in mining; 43 per cent in manufacturing, and 12 per cent in transportation. In every line of business activity, the inventive genius of man has made it possibla to produce and manufacture life’s luxuries and necessities with ever-increasing ra- idity and ever - decreasing human bor. When long hours of bitterly hard human labor were necessary to supply human wants, self-defense and self- support demanded hard work and long |. ours. u‘?hmi?h ;navz h;en weleg::‘ed every fars an ogressive {‘m-tfn. Hours of labor K:n grad- five-hour work day in industry would employ more than one-half of our total unemployed. It is impossible to estimate the effect of such 'an employ- ment on the workers or the Nation. It would bring hope to millions now | in’ despair; release a purchasing power | that would call for the operation of factory, mine and industry throughout the Nation. It would bring a new de- | mand for the products of both farm | and factory, and, best of all, it would show that America still believes that government should be operated for the many instead of for the favored few. One thing is clear in all the tumult | of conflicting views and clashing_the- ories—our people will not permit the starvation of these unemployed mil- | lions. Two_courses are open to pre- vent this. It will not stand delay. In some way they should be given a chance to earn an honest living by work. Failing this we must broaden, expand and probably perpetuate a sys- tem of public care. We are now un- mistakably at the crossroads, where we must choose between the evils of a dole system and some method of sup- plying work for our people. Solution Proposed. Timidity of action; failure to face the inescapable facts; clinging tena- ciously to theories that sarve men, women and children, are all inconsist- ent with American ideals and Amer- | ican hopes. Clarity of vision; willing- ness to see, and boldness in action on the part of our people and their rep- resentatives can alone avert the dis- | aster of growing misery and stinging | | poverty, in the midst of abundance and plenty. I admit without hesita- tion that my profits of capital and would increase the aggregate wages of labor, and the total income of the American farmer. My own belief is that the major con- tributing cause to our present di- lemma is that labor has been under- paid and capital has been overpaid. Our present lack of trade comes be- cause of @& decrease of customers of two classes—foreign and domestic. Our foreign trade has been curtailed by reason of troubles abroad and our high | tariffs that have discouraged foreign trade. While I favor a reduction in these high tariffs, I shall not discuss that tonight. The largest group of customers of Too fre- | lan would decrease the | | American farms and factories American citizens themselves. In nor- mal times more than 90 per cent of America’s trade is in America, and at present more than 95 per cent. We must then chiefly depend upon Amer- nomic system. The overwhelming proportion of American customers for American goods and products are American farmers and industrial wage earners and salaried employes. In other words mass production is dependent upon mass distribution and mass consump- tion. The farmers’ products, in the main, must be sold to wage and sal- aried employes. ,The products manu- factured by labor must in turn be sold chiefly to wage earners, employer and salaried farmers. Thus we find the farmer and the wage earners mutually dependent upon each other.® Since 77 per cent of the product of American farm and factory are bought (if at all) by those with incomes under $3,000 yearly we see that if the farmer and ‘wage earner do not receive a sufficient return from their own labor to buy what they need, the business balance is ?efitmy ; depressions come and panics ollow, Cause of Conditions. What has happened to those farmers and wage earners? Herein lies one of the chief contributing causes to pres- ent conditions. Since 1926 the wages in America have decreased 62 per cent. ‘The interest and dividends of capital during the same period have increased more than 60 per cent. All know that farmers cannot pay taxes, interest, and buy the products of factories on 5-cent cotton, 10-cent corn, 25-cent wheat and other farm prices in proportion. Since the World War farm prices have decreased 50 per cent below the prices of factory products. In other words, one bale of cotton or one bushel of wheat before the World War would buy more than two bales of cotton or two bushels of wheat today. ‘Thus we find wage and salaried em- | ployes with purchasing power reduced, and farmers with their purchasing power reduced. This week's bulletin of the National City Bank of New York contains three pertinent statements portraying this ment brought about by over- payment of capital and underpayment of farm and industrial labor. Bank Bulletin Quoted. ‘This bulletin says: “The inability of the farmer to buy is keeping factory workers out of em- ployment, and the unemployment goes around the circle.” ‘This shows that the farmers’ pur- chasing power is necessary to operate the factories. ‘What about the necessity of in- dustrial purchasers for farm Kroducu? ‘The same bulletin answers this ques- | tion as follows: “It should be added that the decline | in prices of dairy products seems to | have been due in less degree to an in- | crease in production than to a decline in the purchasing power of consumers.” ‘Thus we see the two largest groups of America’s consumer-purchasers are mutually dependent, one upon the other. Their purchasing power is gone, al- though they produced enough wealth | to buy, if the economic system had functioned fairly and adequately. Where did their products go? Idle Funds Feature Markets. | _Let the National City Bank answer { this question, which it does in the fol- | lowing language: “Inasmuch as the deposit liabilities |of these banks have greatly shrunk over the pastear, it is apparent that the banks are the ors of far larger reserves than they can find safe and profitable use for under present conditions.” The existence of this huge share of idle funds is the dominating feature of the money markets. Clearly, the volume | of funds awaiting the beck and call of business is enormous. ‘These bank statements show the re- (sult of an underpayment of farmers | and industrial workers and an overpay- | ment of capital. These huge idle funds paid to capital in excess of its just part of production thus congest the chan- nels of trade. If, as was contemplated by our economic 'system, labor had re- | henYourCough Hangs On, Mix | L This at Home Saves $2. So Easy! No Cooking! The best cough remedy that money could buy can easily be mixed at home. 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It is only by recognizing this fact, and giving to farmers and laborers their part of production, that normal busi- ness activities can be restored. My bill is not offered as a complete sélution of our economic ills. It is ur- gent, however, that we do not sit com- placently, adopting the fatalistic phi- losophy that conditions will take care of themselves.” I repeat that the paramount prob- lem of America is our unemployed mil- lions and our harassed and impover- ished farmers. Up to this time our leg- islation has not struck at the root of our problems. I would not deny the $75.00 Seven-piece Walnut Dining Suite, consisting of ex- tension table, china cabinet, buffet and four chairs.. $109.00 Ten-piece Genuine Walnut Veneered Dining Suite. Table, server, china cabinet, buffet and six slip-seat chairs. . $149.00 Ten-piece Gen- uine Walnut Veneered Suite, consisting of a dou- ble pedestal base exten- sion table; server, china cabinet, buffet and six slip- seat chairs...... $249.00 Ten-piece Gen- uine Walnut Veneered Suite, consisting of a large refectory table, court china cabinet, console server, buffet and six slip-seat ehmirs: <o oo . 3-Piece uHH' $5.95 Includes a scoop seat chair, end table and smoker lamp. A splendid value in The Hub’s January Clearance. Easy Credit—The January Clearance of Dining Room Suites '109° \ D. C., TUESDAY, JANUARY necessity of regulating and stabilizing our money system, nor underestimate other remedies that must be applied. I do not subscribe to the more or less commonly expressed philosophy that because we have periodically had depressions, with their suffering and | desolation, we must accept them as in-, evitable and “grin and bear it.” If| such is admitted it gives strong argu- ment to those who attack our system of government. Declares Greed Y/n!t Go. As conditions change, and these changed conditions increase human suffering, we must courageously make such alterations as will raise human 10, 1933. opportunities and add to human piness. When greed and privilege grasp unearned wealth and condemn millions* to - undeserved poverty and misery, government is useless if it iiou not curb greed nd destroy privi- ege. It is true that my bill would give leisure to American workers. It is also true that it would give more work and opportunities to American unemployed. I look upon reasonable leisure as a blessing, not a curse. One reason for the machine is that it gives a chance for leisure. It gives workers a chance to_relieve their strained muscles and )up-‘ possible in order to swell the profits of a favored few. was intended, and it is right, that all the le should be the beneficiaries the labor-saving machines created for the public good. It is not just to continue to exact 50, 60, and even some stances 70 hours’ work per week from men and women while others are driven into poverty and misery from unemployment. My bill is in line with progress. It to advance still further. It seeks te es- aching backs if its benefits are but |tablish the principle that all the peo- equitably divided. It is unfair and un- | ple, and not a small handful of people, The HUB—W ashington’s Popular Credit Furniture Store at ¥ PRICE - The Radios in this sale have been reconditioned and put in first- Each set complete with TUBES. Highboys, Low- class condition. boys, Baby Grands and others. Limit, one and two of a model. Each a marvelous bargain at the advertised give-away price. a week The HUB $47.80 569.40 chairs $21.75 Cavalier 5-Tube Table Model Radio... $68 7-Tube Philco Baby Grand, No. 20.... $88 Philco 7-Tube Console Radio, No. 20.. $49.50 7-Tube Philco Baby Grand, No. 70.... $137.50 7-Tube Majestic Radie, No. 91.. $169 Philco Highboy Radio, No. 87 $59.75 6-Tube Majestic Radio, No. 153.... $69.50 Philco Lazy Boy Radio, No. 370... $99.50 10-Tube Majestic Radio, No. 214 $66.50 8-Tube Columbia Radio, No. C-83 Room -Suites $59.00 Overstuffed (tight seat) 3-piece Living Room Suite, in velour. two armchairs Settee and $104.00 Overstuffed 3-piece Loose Cushion Suite, in 1007 Mobhair. Sette and two arm- $79.75 Overstufied 3-piece Suite, upholstered in 5-tone Jacquard velour. two chairs . Settee and $149.00 Carved Frame Living Room Suite, covered in 100% Mo- hair, Large sofa and two lounge chairs.. Renaissance Foot Stool 69c Nicely designed and carved. Padded top. HUB 89¢ *Overstuffed Living HUD Seventh and D Streets N.W. January Counter-Red Leader Dies. LONDON, January: 10 (P)—Right Rev. Henry Russell Wakefield, presi- encourages genius and creative ability [dent of the Christian Counter-Com- munist Crusade and former Birmingham, died here last n;.:hiw was 78 years old. The HUB’S January Clean-Up Sale of Floor Sample RADIOS— %l Less FREE Installation Service No Added Costs for Credit [ J Guaranteed ¢Every Radio Complete with Tubes ¢ Terms as Low as 50¢ a Week /\-\ Save 109} to 509 in The HUB'S .January Store-Wide Sale Clearance of Bedroom Suites $59.00 Four-piece Walnut- finished Bed Room Suite. chest Bed, dresser, dressing table 10 and '36 $98.50 Four-piece Genuine Walnut Bed Room Suite; 4- post bed, vanity, chest of drawers and dresser; Vene- tian mirrors .. $149.00 Twin-bed 5-piec: Suite, veneer. and robe, dresser . in genuine Hollywood twin beds and walnut vanity ‘98 $154.00 Genuine Wal- nut Veneered 4-piece Bed Room Suite; large chest, dresser, and bed ... Includes barrel, stand and 6 glasses. covered mattress. vanity $34 Twin Studio Couch 31 845 A couch by day—a twin or double bed when desired. Complete with spring and cretonne- 50c a Week! of He