Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-07-02

shorter Hdurn OF Labor.
One Of the ultlmates Of this great re
form movement must be shorter hour
OF labor in all industrial pursuits; and
as a consequence. more leisure, NOR
time for rest and recuperation, create
opportunities for recreation, NOR
hours for study and intellectual in
proyement
However great may be the efforts o
our opponents TO create division In TIL,
ranks Of labor by descanting upon thu
antagonstic interests between thos,
engaged in agricultural and other in
dustrial pursuits upon this question
tho fact is no such antagonism exists
| There is not in all cases, perfect .un
derstanding Of the conditions and needi
OF each class by all the others, bu
when such understanding exists there
can be no conflict In the ranks OF labor
While present conditions may not
now admit OF shorter hours In all indus
trial departments, one OF the ultimate
objects Of this movement is TO 80 revo
lutionize conditions as TO render such
change practicable; aud in all cases
WI ere 1t Is now possible its adoption,
instead OF operating to the detriment
Of anyone, is in reality benefit TO all.
II is in the shops and mines and all
Indoor occupations that shorter hours
should first be established. There are
many reasons why this Is true. In the
various trades and mechanical pursuits,
labor-saYiHg machinery has vastly null
tiplied the possibilities OF production,
and to a corresponding extent curtailed
the demand for men, the hours OF labor
remaiI ing as before. Under our pres
ent system the employer derives all Of
the benefits OF these increased facilities,
while thousands of men are In enforced
idleness in consequence. Shorter hours
to those now employed would afford op-
portuniiies Of labor TO those who are
now idle. Every idle man Anding en-
ployment would at once become a
greater consumer, not only OF agricut-
tural but also OF manufactured products,
and an increased demand would be thus
Mt once created. An increased demand
for agricultural products would improve
the condition of the farmer and likewise
increase his demand for the products Of
the factory, the shop and the mine.
This stimulus to industry would thus
extend itself 10 every depart
ment and eventually impart far greater
activity and more uniform prosperity to
all. There is, right in this one ques-
tion OF securing shorter hours TO trades
and occupation in which present eondi-
tions render the change now practic-
ably, an element Of future prosperity,
the influence of which cannot be over
estimated.
II is said that farmers cannot now
shorten their hours of labor, and II is
asked why other laborers should be
granted greater privileges than they.
There is "A vast difference in the cir
and conditions Of farm labor
and that Of the clerk in the store, the
mechanic in the shop and the employe
In the factory aud the mine. The latter
IS far more monotouous and enervating
Ia its character, and renders rest and
'hange much more essential. Other
hings being equal, farm life is more
conducive 70 health and longe vity than
my Of the other occupations; ana the
Importance OF aifOrding employment 10 |
he idle and thus transforming them /
rom burdens OF society into consumers |
n all the products of industry as before /
iointed out, is sufficient cause 10 re- |
move every objection TO shorter hours /
rom the minds OF the agricultural /
.lasses.
Again Farm labor is always more or
ess interrupted by atmospheric intlu-
nces In stormy weather the work OF
he farm must be suspended and when
{ is fair tins necessary loss Of time
rfraf In Z. aaaI .
" longer hours. uutil such time as the
armer in turn becomes able 10 employ
lore labor, by means of which the
ours upon the farm may be likewise
hortencd. Nothing will have ten
ency 70 hasten this condition more
apidly, other circumstances becoming
radually more favorable. than the CON
ersiOn Of the thousands Of now idle
Zen into self-supporting consumers Of
lis products A cBreful study Of in
ustrial conditions leads to an under
tanding Of the identity OF interests Of
lb0rers In all the active pursuits OF
-fe. Such a study has been pursued
lore energeticaliy in the recent past
nan at any former period in our coun-
'ys history; and hence the spectacle
ow so alarming 10 politicians Of an in
usirial political party composed Of
hat they are pleased to term so many
incongruous elements" yet in perfect
ecord upon all Of the political doctrines
hich are regarded essential to uni
arsal prosperity.
The prophecy was general that those
homogeneous elements" could never |
mite at Cincinnati That prophecy !
as not verified, and the systematic ed :
cation which made that union possible
i'll also reader the party there organ.
ed invinoible.-The Advocate. :