The Ottawa free trader., 1890-06-07
SAYINGS AND DOINGS.
REVIEWS OF THOUGHT AND MOVE
MENT IN ECONOMIC FIELDS.

Day-Hints to the workingmen-Dr.
Tsimage and the Burning Question.
Cooperative Boarding Houses.
In an article on the May day labor
demonstration CNew York Sun, May 81
Mr. Matthew Marshall makes several
statements which must not be allowed
to 90 unchallenged, especially because
Of the recognized ability Of the gentle
man and his career as a writer for many
years on financial and social topics.
Mr.. Marshall's usually logical and clear
cut style Of reasoning makes his utter
ances worthy Of the most careful consid-
Grafton by all seekers after truth. He Is
always willing to look at the labor Ques-
ton from fair standpoint and is entire
ly free from the class feeling which DOM
mates so many men Of position upon the
other side. These qualities, which in
spire the admiration Of all fair minded
opponents of his doctrines, make 1t the
more necessary that his errors should be
pointed out, for such man can do more
damage than a whole host Of narrow
minded and .prejudiced professors and
so called economists.
Mr.. Marshall has gotten the idea into
his head that a reduction Of the hours OF
labor to eight per day will lessen the
aggregate product of labor and conse-
quently decrease the purchasing power
Of wages. This is serious error that he
must correct before he can clearly un-
derstand the economy Of life, which Is
made up Of production, distribution and
consumption. To fully understand why
he is all at sea in the eight hour discus
sion it is only necessary that the student
of economy should read the following
extract from the article to which refer
ence has been made
ION the one hand, the reduction lin
hours tends to check the demand for Ia
Dor, and, on the other, to invite compe-
tition. The question is: With dimin-
ished amount Of work to be done, and
with more men to do it, can the present
rate Of compensation be kept up"
The fundamental principle Of the eight
hour movement has always been that
the reduction would increase the de-
maud for laborers and give employment
to the idle. Why Mr.. Marshall should
assume that the amount Of work to be
done will be diminished by the inaugura-
ton Of the eight hour day passes COM
prehension. The ability Of idle men to
consume is limited. If they are EN-
ployed they become able to buy the pro-
ducts of labor, and the aggregate of pro-
duction must be increased to meet the
demand. AS Mr.. Marshall has admitted
in another article, the unemployed are
the chief factor in keeping wages down.
The application of this truth to the
above is obvious.
It is contended by the gentleman that
the increased cost of production will re-
bound upon the workers as consumers,
because the cost of clothing, food and
shelter will naturally be advanced. Un-
less more than a superficial view is
taken this will look like a reasonable
statement. But when it is remembered
that a minority only of the consumers
are producers and that the increased
prices must be borne by the whole, and
not alone by those who obtain the ad-
vance in wages, it has another appear
ance. Besides, a considerable portion Of
the additional cost Of living falls, not
upon the individual, but upon collec-
tions of individuals-fa -families-rents, for
instance; hence it is easy to see how the
employment Of members of those fam
lilies who are now idle will be twofold
gain. Of course, if it was intended to
advance only one or a dozen callings on
short day lines, there would be some
thing in what Mr.. Marshall says; but
the programme includes the whole army
of labor
What folly there is in the statement Of
the gentleman that such movements as
this may lead to continued reductions in
the hours Of labor until the condition Of
the people grows so bad that we "at-
tempt the absurdity of supporting the
population with one hours daily labor"
Why not reverse this bit of wisdom, and
grade long instead of short? Why not
/ SdS tut IIlOIO LlOtAio VIC WI u VIC DCttCi
off we are. and advocate work day of
twenty-four hours? NO." Mr.. Marshall
would say. 1--WE need only labor long
enough to supply all our needs" Good
enough. That is just what social reform
ers say; and should the advances in
modes Of production be such as to enable
US to produce a sufficiency by working
one hour in twenty-four we will work
only that one hour The social reform
ers are not opposing the laws Of nature,
science and progress. They leave that
difficult task for the other side.
Speaking OF -le shorter work day sug
gests thought that may be Of service
| to organizations which have secured it
or are about to do so: The question Of
overtime is of considerable importance
Workingmen are human. and humanity
is selfish. Besides many may err in this
particular from pure thoughtlessness
For example. if the carpenters who have
now the eight hour day are permitted to
work overtime, just to the extent that
they are so allowed the object of the