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Show ANOTHER FORD FALLACY Old Man Necessity, rather than- a coy demure ideal, has caused Henry Ford to inaugurate the five day week in his factories. At least that is the impression one gains from inside information informa-tion filtering out of Detroit for severa, ldays. Two weeks ago the industrial world read that Henry Ford, promoter of the minimum wage, had gone one step farther and established es-tablished a five-day week with six days' pay. Once more Mr. Ford Was hailed by industrial idealists as the savior of the workingman. As a matter of fact, Henry Ford's plants have been operating a five-day week for six months in fact, practically since the early weeks of the year. In recent weeks there have been slight pay hv creases given to a small percentage of the Ford employes. This raise has in no sense been general, but follows the line of the official offi-cial statement that those considered worthy would receive additional addition-al compensation. Those favored with increases announce that the: increase they received for the week is. not equal to a full day's pay. The prime reason behind the five-day week, it seems, is the drop in Ford sales. The present retail sale of Ford automobiles does not warrant a full week's production. Statistics prove that Ford production in the first six months in 1926 have not kept pace with sales in other years. Chevrolet, Dodgg, Essex, other leading low-priced cars, show tremendous gains in the production and sales. Ford virtually quit advertising in country weekly newspapers some time ago. Other companies advertised more- than ever. That had much to do with the unprecedented Ford slump-- in production, produc-tion, profits and prestige. Others, in times past, have also learned this lesson. |