Journal Stories From The 2000's

L.U. No. 230 Victoria, B.C.
Editor:

Gradually the plea, which the IBEW has been insistently urging for a long time, for higher wages and shorter hours as the greatest factor for the ending of the depression is at last beginning to bear fruit. Leading writers in all classes are accepting this doctrine and many excellent books are appearing along these lines.

“Balanced Employment,” by Lee Sherman Chadwick, a hard boiled business man, is an interesting discussion of the unemployment problem from a new quarter.

American prosperity, he says bluntly, stands or falls on the prosperity of the wage earner. In sheer self-interest business men must see to it that every man who wants a job can always get one. And he remarks:

“I cannot in the least understand the workings of the minds of our great industrial leaders. They make their entire wealth out of the labors of our wage earners, but in spite of that they will not do one single thing to spread or improve the buying or earning power of these people. What in the name of all that is holy is wrong with these short-sighted, selfish leaders?”

As a remedy, he urges business to adopt, voluntarily, the short work week; a 80 hour week if necessary, a 25-hour or even a 20-hour week if it seems advisable. When a depression comes, he says, let every factory keep every man on the job and cut the hours of work to a minimum. In that way every worker is always earning something, however little. Fear of unemployment, the great breeder of panic, is ended and hoarding is abolished.

Mr. Chadwick insists that this reform be entrusted to business rather than to the government; but although we may not agree with all he has to say, his book is a stimulating example of the way a business man can think along radical lines.

“Alec Trician” sure spills an earful to “Elmer” about the great show being put on at Washington, which appears in the June WORKER. Say “Goodie”? How about a cartoon showing President Roosevelt as St George very busy lopping off some of the many heads of the great dragon who is preying on the working class?

Shappy.



	Published in July 1933 - I.B.E.W. Journal L.U. No. 230 Victoria, B.C. Editor: Gradually the plea, which the IBEW has been insistently urging for a long time, for higher wages and shorter hours as the greatest factor for the ending of the depression is at last beginning to bear fruit. Leading writers in all classes are accepting this doctrine and many excellent books are appearing along these lines. “Balanced Employment,” by Lee Sherman Chadwick, a hard boiled business man, is an interesting discussion of the unemployment problem from a new quarter. American prosperity, he says bluntly, stands or falls on the prosperity of the wage earner. In sheer self-interest business men must see to it that every man who wants a job can always get one. And he remarks: “I cannot in the least understand the workings of the minds of our great industrial leaders. They make their entire wealth out of the labors of our wage earners, but in spite of that they will not do one single thing to spread or improve the buying or earning power of these people. What in the name of all that is holy is wrong with these short-sighted, selfish leaders?” As a remedy, he urges business to adopt, voluntarily, the short work week; a 80 hour week if necessary, a 25-hour or even a 20-hour week if it seems advisable. When a depression comes, he says, let every factory keep every man on the job and cut the hours of work to a minimum. In that way every worker is always earning something, however little. Fear of unemployment, the great breeder of panic, is ended and hoarding is abolished. Mr. Chadwick insists that this reform be entrusted to business rather than to the government; but although we may not agree with all he has to say, his book is a stimulating example of the way a business man can think along radical lines. “Alec Trician” sure spills an earful to “Elmer” about the great show being put on at Washington, which appears in the June WORKER. Say “Goodie”? How about a cartoon showing President Roosevelt as St George very busy lopping off some of the many heads of the great dragon who is preying on the working class? Shappy.