The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-02
Who Will Be Benefited, and Who win Not

Who Will Be Benefited, and Who VIII Not
By Prof w. T. Harris. of Concord, Mass.
favor the eight.hour law on the whole, be-
lieving that it will suffice for the production OF
all the food, clothing and shelter that is needed
by our people, and at the same time adjust the
distribution somewhat better.
I think that the increased energy and inteu-
sity that comes from shorter hours of labor,
and consequent greater freshness will raise the
production eventually to the present standard.
Meanwhile, wages may have to be slightly de-
creased to enable us to compete with foreign
markets. where the days work produces a
greater amount. But an immediate gain would
be felt because of tho need of employing the
surplus Iaborers now said to be out of employ
ment for the eighthour plan permits of re-
lays so that two sets of laborers may be used
whenever there is q demand for ilc reased pro.
ducton. The economy of water power. an d
even OF steam and machinery, favors such re
lays. From in the morning to | in the after
noon gives one hour intermission for breakfast
from to TO- afternoon, gives another hour for
supper; and thus two sets of laborers are pro-
vided for within the limits OF the hours counted
as belonging to daytime
In regard to the working man being benefited.
morally and intellectually, by greater leisure. (
should say that he would, certainly, although I
know that few at present use the leisure they
have for such improvement. Invention is filling
the world with labor saving machinery, and the
consequence of this is that there is an increas-
ing demand for dir ective intelligence in the la
borer. This will be sufficient to impei the la
borer more and more into the use of his leisure
for the acquisition of the general and
special education that furnishes what we call
intelligent directive power This increased in
telligence, of course. increases the production.
The invention of machinery is constantly caus-
ing surfeit of producing power in the DEPART
ments where manual labor counts for most, ana
is thereby driving surplus to seek employment
in other vocations This occasions Inconvenience,
and in some cases suffering, but gradually the
surplus gets absorbed in those vacations thai
produce ~ articles of luxury and creature COM
fort, (2) the means of amusement and recreation,
~ the instrumentalites of culture, moral and
intellectual, including the production of art and
ornament and the cultivation of taste, the COLI
lection and diffusion of intelligence and all that
goes to ethical training. These vocations con-
stantly gain laborers as civilization progresses
and the perfection of science and art enables
society to provide for the necessaries of food.
clothing and shelter by the labor of fewer indi-
vduals.
The eight-hour movement is In the right direc-
tion because it utilizes this increased productive
power by distributing portion OF its benefits az
once upon the class that most needs them. Bun
it should not be overlooked in this connection or
consideration that the largest class of laborers
in this country will not be reached by the eight.
hour law. The agricultural iaborers, and thoss
engaged in stock raising, in fishing or In trans
portation by land or sea not free from tho
vicissitudes of nature-the weather the seasons
of the year--and their employment is of an in
termittent character, requiring intense and pro-
tracted labor for certain seasons and Offering
comparative leisure at other seasons.