St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-09


TO the greatest number.
1t is claimed on behalf of the laboTing
classes thatb by cutting down the days
labor to eight hours, il will give them
more leisure for rest. recreation, self
Improvement and such duties to self
and family which will not alone help
him and family very largely, but will
on account of the Improvement of the
laboring classes raise the general scale
OF the entire community.
1t is further contended that eight
hours day is all that person should
employ who is engaged at hard labor.
Alfred Marshall, in his principles on
Economics" 1891, the latest and best
work treating that subject, says: ut
is probable that there are few trades
i'll which person can, with advantage
to himself and the community, be act
ually working hard for more than eight
hours day; though he may do light
work for longer, and he may be on duty
ready to act when called Lon, for much
longer "
There has been a marked reduction
in the length of "a days labor in nearly
every branch of the professions and
business concerns, and in addition to
that there are more days used for recre-
alton than ever before. The changes in
the method of labor, the improved facil-
tiles for completing work of all kinds,
have made this result possible with no
depreciation in the receipts or bulk of
business done being diScernible. In
fact much more can be accomplished
now than ever before, even with this
reduction of the hours and days of labor.
The beneficial effects of this cannot be
measured. 1t will not be contended that
the professional men, bankers. Office
holders and others who are enjoying
these advantages which our grand pa
rents did not enjoy, are using this eX-
ira time TO their detriment or wasting
their means on account of it. Neither
must that argument be used against the
laboring classes q use this term in its
common acceptation), as is so frequently
done. Many will undoubtedly fail to
benefit by this privilege, but large
number will hail it with joy and use the
Tune IN an advantageous manner, and
even those who will fritter away their
privileges at first may in time learn to
profit by the better examples of their
neighbOrs. at all events, what they
will not do when they have the oppor-
tunlties they certainly will not do when
they lack the opportunities. 1t may be
argued. and thCughtlessly is argued, that
those who desire to improve themselves
can find ample opportunities even after
laboring ten hours a day, andlthe eX-
ampleS of Lincoln, Garfield, Greeley and
other exceptional cases is cited. The
world is not made up of Lincolns
and GartieldS; we must take hui
manity as it is, AMI the average man,
after working day after day from early
morning until nearly bed time becomes
discouraged and instead of settling
down for intellectual Improvements,
would rather spend the short hours at
some light amusement, not always
harmless. Give him couple of extra
hours and it may be some incentive
and encouragement for something bet
ter. 1t may give the married man an
opportunity for becoming acquainted
with his wife and children, and enjoy
ing his home. 1t may give them time
to go to some lecture or other place of
profit, and if nothing more, it will give
him time to, at least. carefully go
through his daily paper and think and
discuss with his neighbors the thousand
and one questions which fills it col
umns, and in numberless other ways he
can, IT he so wishes, employ this time
with profit to himself and fellow men.
The opportunity Is there. Without OPP
portunity little or nothing can be done.
Another objection urged against the
reduction of the hours of labor is that
In places where costly machinery is
used 1t entails serious loss, unless the
machinery is kept in activity a certain
number of hours each day.
This objection Is Obyiated by having
what is called a double shift that IS,
having two men as partners run the
same machine, and relieving each other
at certain intervals. 1t is also objected
That this law could not apply to farm
hands. railroad employees, and a few
other lines of work. Provision might
be made for these exceptional lines of
work. but have no doubt that even in
these lines of labor the extreme num-
Der of hours now employed will be ma
terlally iessened, and equally good re-
suits obtained by the employers.
Lastly, all concessions, by those in
better position of life, to the laboring
classes is step towards the solution of
the great social problems of the day.
Every act which will uplift the common
element, and make better men and
women of them, and improve their tenn
poral welfare, brings the classes into
closer sympathy, union and fellowship,
and dispels all antagonistic feeling
which may prevail. We are all human
beings of similar flesh and blood. The
mental and moral differences between
individuals in the extremes of life is
100 tliuu VIC SupDOSc. uC
greatest difference is really one of
chance and birth, and for which neither
section is responsible. When the
Weather classes begin fully to realize
this, and treat the other half
of humanity accordingly, and
when the labOring elements learn
that the interests of employer and
employed are identical. and that those
better circumstanced in life have none
but kindly feelings toward them, all
labor and social troubles will cease.
These results will also deaden the force
of eommunistic ideas. The man who
earns 4 decent livelihood and has little
time FOR recreation and Self-improve-
ment is rarely the one who longs after
another mans accumulations. 1t is the
man, usually. who is able and willing to
obtain an honest livelihood, but cannot
do so because there are more laborers
than positions, who broods over the
wrongs of society, and when he sees
one man possessing thousands which he
can never use, and which might keep
hundreds from starvation, while others,
willing and able, find nc means to earn
their daily food, he becomes desperate,
and If he does net commit crime it is be-
cause human nature is better than we
usually give it credit for.
II. H. HERBsT.
st. Paul, Mimi, March 6, 1891.