New-York tribune., 1886-04-23
EIGHT HDVRS,

EIGHT HOUR%
1t is possible that the working people OF this
country may pay pretty heavily for failure to
understand principles of political economy.
People who govern themselves have to suffer If
they do not have understanding enough to
govern wisely. 1t Is not yet too late for work
ingmen to consider what 1t means for them TO
insist upon eight hours work daily and no more.
Tho changes proposed arc complicated. 10
simplify matters, and without altering the
nature of tic problem to make it more easily
understood, let it be supposed that all wage
earners in the country want to reduce the day 5
work from ten hours to eight hours.
That means smaller production. When the
hours of work were reduced from twelve or
eleven daily to ten, it was claimed with some
reason that the longer hours were beyond the
capacity of man for the most efficient labor,
aud that the reduction of hours would lessen
production but little if at all, because the more
willing and efficient work ten hours would
produce as much as the less willing and
efficient work eleven or twelve hours. But no
such claim is made or can with reason be made
regarding a further reduction. Honest and
faithful labor ten hours is not in fact found
beyond the capacity Of the human frame for
the most efficient work in most employmcnts,
and the change is advocated not on that plea,
but Oh the ground that men will then have
more time for recreation and improvement.
These are desirable blessings, for which men
have perfect right to strike. The question is
what the workers would have to pay.
A reduction of one-lifth in the productive
capacity of workers in this country would
diminish perhaps not by one-ffth the quanti
ties of products resulting. There is much
reason to believe that the reduction would be
nearly or quite one-ffth But lee it be granted
that il would be less the conclusion inevitably
resulting remains the same in kind, though
less in degree, whether the quantity Of prod
ucts be less by one-ffth. or One-eighth or one
tenth. One-ffth less product for everybody
let Us first see what that means
Clearly it means One-ifth fewer shoes and
coats and hats to be worn by everybody. All
that are now made are worn fewer would be
made, and therefore all must be content to
wear fewer. SO there would be fewer hOuses
built and fewer chairs and tables, and fewer
carpets and fewer tools. Notice that it is not
yet question of prices or of wages. There
would be fewer things provided by labor, and
therefore fewer things to divide as the rewards
of labor But the people who have most
means would not be content with fewer things,
and would therefore pay higher prices in order
to secure more than their share. The result
would be that other people, having less means,
must also pay higher prices or be content with
less than their share. Thus prices and wages
would have to adjust themselves to the general
necessity that, there being fewer things, fewer
can be divided as rewards of labor. Now n
man gets as his share, in return for work in any
other occupation, his proportion of all the
boots and shoes now made; let us suppose,
pair Of boots for one days work. Then his
share would be only tour-ffths Of pair of
boots for days labor, and he would have to
pay more money or else be content with even
less than his share So of other things the |
wages may be put nomnally as high as any |
body pleases, and prices will adjust themselves |
so that the days work will still bring only its |
share of the results of all days work, that is,
fifth less than before, and to the poorer inev
ltably less than their present share.
But the earth will go on producing twenty
four hours out of twenty-four, it is said; so
that the cost of food will not be increased.
That is mistake. The earth does not produce
WITHOUT human ldUOTs III OluclS luslSt Cu clSul
hours for a days work, farm labor will make
its charges accordingly. 1t will have to pay to
all others the same days work for fifth less
cloth and tools, railroad transportation and
house building. The necessary result will be
that farm labor will either produce less food,
or charge more for what it does produce.
1t comes to this, then, that in order to work
fewer hours, we must all be content with one
fifth less results of labor, less food, clothing,
tools, travelling, cigars or beer. 1t matters not
IN what form a man peases to take the return
for his labor; he must be content with less
return, if all work less and produce less. Have
The woIkingmen of this country more things
% satisfy desire than they wantH Surely not,
when some suffering If they insist upon
less, the inevitable result will be
greater suffering for those now in want, and
many will want who now are satisfied.