Journal Stories From The 2000's

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

Much against our wishes the gaunt spectre of unemployment has cast its sinister shadows over the whole civilized world, and though we have experienced recurring depressions in the past none of them appear to have reached the intensity and the seriousness of the present one. Much space is being devoted in the leading papers and journals of the day in discussing ways and means to alleviate the distressing conditions prevailing.

An article which appeared in MacLean’s Magazine of April 1 by L.W. Moffit draws attention to an interesting parallel in England in the year 1922, as follows:

“In that year the English privy council issued orders that the clothiers, who had received the benefit of good times, should bear a part of the ‘publicke losses’ when times became bad. That this was more than a pious aspiration is shown by a further order that laid on the justices the duty of seeing that the clothiers did not discharge in depression the workers who had served them in prosperity.”

Mr. Editor, the thought instantly arises in our minds of what a difference it would have made if that had been made a permanent law applying to all trades down to the present time. The rapid accumulation of wealth in the hands of the few at the expense of the masses is largely responsible for the present situation. This same evil in the year 1769 caused the poet Goldsmith to write those memorable lines so often quoted:

“Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, where wealth accumulates, and men decay.”

Are not the employees who have prospered largely through the faithful work of their employees responsible to a certain extent for the welfare of those employees when hard times comes a-knockin’ at the door?

Among other suggestions advanced by Mr. Moffit to cut down unemployment is internal reorganization of large manufacturing firms. As an example he quotes the experience of the Proctor-Gamble soap firm as follows:

During the depression of 1921 the head of the firm became interested in unemployment, and the idea of guaranteeing to his employees a given amount of employment per annum occurred to him. Soap being a prime necessity of life, it was revealed by investigation that although there were seasonal fluctuations, his firm sold approximately the same amount of soap each year. The sales system was altered to put the firm directly in touch with the retailers through district representatives, who each year estimated the probable sales in the succeeding year. The output was then allocated among the various factories and each was instructed to produce its allocation at an even pace regardless of seasonal sales. Warehousing was provided to take care of the surplus of production at times when sales to retailers were small. The firm guaranteed to each worker receiving less than $2,000 per annum 48 weeks’ work or pay each year, after he had been with the firm a probationary period of six months.

In point of fact the average employment has been 50 ½ weeks per year. The firm has gained considerably through having a more constant and loyal staff, while the communities where the factories are located have benefited by having a population with a more stable income. Another suggestion was the increase of real wages. Mr. Moffit argues, if industrial leaders see this situation as a whole they will see that their interests lie increasing the purchasing power of those most likely to buy their goods and these surely are those who consume the largest percentage of the incomes they receive.

Higher wages and shorter hours all play their par, provided they increase the actual share of the worker in the product of industry, and give him sufficient leisure to consume that share. This last suggestion, Mr. Editor, is directly in line with that advanced by our own Journal.

The Brothers are deeply concerned over the prolonged illness of Brother Grant who is at present in the hospital and sincerely hope that he may soon make a change for the better.

Brother Sid Neville gently hints that the press secretary should can the stuff about old times and old timers and tell us something about the future and has ignored my advice to consult a fortune teller so all I can do for him is to recommend that he get a crystal globe or a ouija board. But say, Sid, it was the old timers who laid the broad, massive, deep foundations upon which that splendid edifice of the IBEW is being erected and it is up to the present generation of workers to continue that structure, story by story, ever keeping our golden emblem on the topmost roof so that in dark days of adversity workers may look up and seeing the glittering rays emanating from the hand may take courage and carry on, and just think how proud you will be to have your children point to that building and say, “See what pop did!”

The sudden death of our late Brother Robert Lorimer was a great shock to us all.

His genial disposition and many amiable qualities had made “Bob” and a large circle of friends.

He was initiated in Local No. 230 in 1905 and, with the exception of three years (1915 to 1918) overseas, his card was without a break until the day of his death and his sudden passing has left a gap in our ranks which will long be felt.

Shappy.



	Published in May 1931 - I.B.E.W. Journal L.U. No. 230 Victoria, B.C. Editor: Much against our wishes the gaunt spectre of unemployment has cast its sinister shadows over the whole civilized world, and though we have experienced recurring depressions in the past none of them appear to have reached the intensity and the seriousness of the present one. Much space is being devoted in the leading papers and journals of the day in discussing ways and means to alleviate the distressing conditions prevailing. An article which appeared in MacLean’s Magazine of April 1 by L.W. Moffit draws attention to an interesting parallel in England in the year 1922, as follows: “In that year the English privy council issued orders that the clothiers, who had received the benefit of good times, should bear a part of the ‘publicke losses’ when times became bad. That this was more than a pious aspiration is shown by a further order that laid on the justices the duty of seeing that the clothiers did not discharge in depression the workers who had served them in prosperity.” Mr. Editor, the thought instantly arises in our minds of what a difference it would have made if that had been made a permanent law applying to all trades down to the present time. The rapid accumulation of wealth in the hands of the few at the expense of the masses is largely responsible for the present situation. This same evil in the year 1769 caused the poet Goldsmith to write those memorable lines so often quoted: “Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, where wealth accumulates, and men decay.” Are not the employees who have prospered largely through the faithful work of their employees responsible to a certain extent for the welfare of those employees when hard times comes a-knockin’ at the door? Among other suggestions advanced by Mr. Moffit to cut down unemployment is internal reorganization of large manufacturing firms. As an example he quotes the experience of the Proctor-Gamble soap firm as follows: During the depression of 1921 the head of the firm became interested in unemployment, and the idea of guaranteeing to his employees a given amount of employment per annum occurred to him. Soap being a prime necessity of life, it was revealed by investigation that although there were seasonal fluctuations, his firm sold approximately the same amount of soap each year. The sales system was altered to put the firm directly in touch with the retailers through district representatives, who each year estimated the probable sales in the succeeding year. The output was then allocated among the various factories and each was instructed to produce its allocation at an even pace regardless of seasonal sales. Warehousing was provided to take care of the surplus of production at times when sales to retailers were small. The firm guaranteed to each worker receiving less than $2,000 per annum 48 weeks’ work or pay each year, after he had been with the firm a probationary period of six months. In point of fact the average employment has been 50 ½ weeks per year. The firm has gained considerably through having a more constant and loyal staff, while the communities where the factories are located have benefited by having a population with a more stable income. Another suggestion was the increase of real wages. Mr. Moffit argues, if industrial leaders see this situation as a whole they will see that their interests lie increasing the purchasing power of those most likely to buy their goods and these surely are those who consume the largest percentage of the incomes they receive. Higher wages and shorter hours all play their par, provided they increase the actual share of the worker in the product of industry, and give him sufficient leisure to consume that share. This last suggestion, Mr. Editor, is directly in line with that advanced by our own Journal. The Brothers are deeply concerned over the prolonged illness of Brother Grant who is at present in the hospital and sincerely hope that he may soon make a change for the better. Brother Sid Neville gently hints that the press secretary should can the stuff about old times and old timers and tell us something about the future and has ignored my advice to consult a fortune teller so all I can do for him is to recommend that he get a crystal globe or a ouija board. But say, Sid, it was the old timers who laid the broad, massive, deep foundations upon which that splendid edifice of the IBEW is being erected and it is up to the present generation of workers to continue that structure, story by story, ever keeping our golden emblem on the topmost roof so that in dark days of adversity workers may look up and seeing the glittering rays emanating from the hand may take courage and carry on, and just think how proud you will be to have your children point to that building and say, “See what pop did!” The sudden death of our late Brother Robert Lorimer was a great shock to us all. His genial disposition and many amiable qualities had made “Bob” and a large circle of friends. He was initiated in Local No. 230 in 1905 and, with the exception of three years (1915 to 1918) overseas, his card was without a break until the day of his death and his sudden passing has left a gap in our ranks which will long be felt. Shappy.