The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-08
AN EIGHT HOUR DAY.

In view of the recent agitation in u
own state of Montana in favor Of the
enactment of an eight hours day the in
itial number of the Economic journal
contains some interesting reading. In a
bright and lucid contribution Mr.. John
Rae tells of the operation OF the move
ment in the British colony of Victoria.
Success, in this particular instance. was
attained, not by the action of a legisla-
tive body, but by the combined energies
Of the various trade unions. They seem
to have come to the conclusion that
eight hours ought to constitute a reas-
enable days work for their members,
and eight hours it was. 1t is perfectly
safe to say that the perusal of MIR. RAGS
paper will satisfy the extremists OF
neither side Of the question. The en-
thusiasts who have advocated the change
as the great panacea for all labor ills
will be disappointed to find that OF all
the benefits they have prophesied many
have failed to materialize in Victorian
experience. Equal disappointment will
to the lot of the uncompromising OPP
ponents Of the proposed change when
they learn that all is not yet chaos and
ruin in that section Of the Antipodes.
AS pure matter Of fact, the change has
not increased the wages of the laboring
mep Of the colony. Neither has it re-
duced them. The unemployed are just
as mer as they we're under the
former system. Women are the worst
enemies to the effectnal and thorough
working of the scheme. They are al
WAYS prepared to work more, il they can
earn ore
But here are some telling strokes in
favor of the measure. Experience has
proved, according to Mr.. John Rae, that
the change has improved the powers OF
both employers and employed. The
work that was formerly done in ten
hours is now done in eight. That seems
a strong statement to make, and, if il
can be thoroughly corroborated, it ut
terly demolishes one Of the creates
objections to the change. Over ano
over again it has been urged that the
central idea Of the agitation was to So
cure for less work more pay. But the
critic goes further than that. He as
serts that the universal opinion Of the
colony declares, not only that as much
work is done in the shorter time, bu1
that the production is of absolutely bet
ter quality. The laboring mar has ap
preciated at it's true value the opportu
mites which his enlarged freedom con
fers, and a tremendous impetus ha
been given to healthy outdoor exercis
and education. There is another state
ment worthy of careful investigator
and appreciation. Working men hav
not spent their added time in debasin
pursuits, but have used it for the builc
ing up Of their mental and physlca
health. The saloon interest, Mr., Ra
significantly AYERS, has always been OF
posed to the movement.
He sum up as follows:
"Altogethsr. the more we examine I'll
subject the more irresistibly is the impreS
sion borne in from all sides that there
growing up in Australia, and very Target
in consequence of the eight hours day,
working class which for general morale, ii
telligence and industrial efficiency is pro
ably already superior to that of any 9th
branch of our A~nglo-Saxon race, and f
happiness, cheerfulness and all-round Cor
fort of life has never seen its equal in Il
world before. For all this advantag
moreover, nobody seems to be a shilling t
worse. 1t is truly remarkable how INN
tsrial, apparently, has been the cost of ii
eight hours day in Victoria. Look for t
effects of it whore you will, they still ey
elude your observation. Wages have L
fallen, wages have not risen, production b
not fallen except in certain trihing cast
prices have not risen except again in CO
tain trifing instances; trade has not su
fered, profits have not dwindled Cor
should have heard croaking); the unel
ployed have not vanished, not so much
shrunk in any p%erceptible degree; the wor
ing classes-the great body of the nation
have an hour more to call their own, that
ALL
Here is a field for investigation
students OF the labor problem.
WHAT are our Montana farmers dol
this season by way Of experiments
sugar beet growing? Neighboring stat
are securing the establishment Of fact