The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-09-01
ing and not a curse to labor.

iHk all ntN II CURSE W lAnOr-
But says the employer of labor, you
do not expect us to pay as much per day
for eight hours work as we now do for
ten hours de you?
We expect the employer of labor with
II shorter workday to pay just what the
market price compels him to--no more
or less. Tho purchaser of wheat cant
not afford To pay as much for two BUSH
els AS for three bushels, but when the
demand for wheat equals tho supply of
1t no can often afford To pay moro for
two bushels than he can afford to pay
for three bushels when the demand is
less than the supply. Let tho demand
and the supply control tho price for
labor rs we'll as for any other COM
modify. 1t would, of course, be neces-
sary for tho worker to accept reduced
wages for reduced hours at the outset,
but by lessoning the hours of work tho
demand for labor would equal tho sup
ply, and thus tho rate of wages would
rise to fair level. Tho increased con
sumption caused by giving all steady
employment would greatly stimulate
the market for manufactures, and this
i'll turn would give still more work and
better business
Nor would tho lessoning of tho hours
of toll affect employers of labor. Every
buyer of labor can afford to pay rs much
for it AS his competitors pay i'll an open
market. Tho paying of less or more
simply demorali2es business.
But the pseudo political economist
will probably rise to say that lessening
the hours of work would so increase the
cost of production that tho workingman
wonld loso what he gains in steady
work by tho increase in what no pays
for goods. Let us SEQ how much truth
there is i'll this hypothesis; A factory
employing 300 hands will produce. by
the aid of improved machinery, 100
cases of shoes per day, or 1900 pairs.
a reduction of tho hours of labor from
ten to eight per day would increase the
cost of manufacture ono. fifth, or, lot us
say, 5000 per day, which is IA liberal al
lOwanec This would add less than
cents per pair to tho cost of shoes to the
consumer, or. estimating the average
price of shoes mt ~ per pair. it would
compel the purchaser topny y per cent
moro for his shoes than he does ut pres
ont. Adding a similar increase to the
cost of tho production of leather and
machinery, it could not possibly raise
tho cost moro than 3 per cent And with
steady employment to all labor and the
better wages consequent 10 an oqunliza=
tion of its supply aud demand what
nottingham could complain of AN nd
ditional cost of D or even 10 per cent TO
his living expenses
An Economic Aspect.
In tho discussion of this question We
often hear it claimed, and ms often
hear it used NJ I'M argument for reduced
hours of work, that men can do as
much work i'll eight hours AZ they can
in ten hours. If such would really be
tho case, then tho proposed reduction IL
not enough, and those who mako the
statement rs II reason for tho shorter
workdny exhibit painful ignorance
of the economic aspect of the question.
Tho reason for lossening tho workday
is not that mon should perform as much
in il az they do now, but that they
should accomplish less. When it was
first proposed to reduce the hours Of
work Of the United States letter car
riers, the postmaster general opposed it
| because it would take moro men to do
| tho work, yet this was really the only
economic reason for favoring it,
The value of labor or anything else
that can ho bought or sold, no matter
whether it be beams brains. diamonds,
money, potatoes or putty, depends upon
the supply of it and tho demand for 1t.
The strike, the riot, the swoatshop and
the conflict between capital and labor
will continue until tho hours Of toll arc
80 reduced that tho demand for work
ers will be equal to tho supply. Tho
ono exchange above all exchanges on
which tho we'll being and progress of
society depend is that between those
who purchase labor and those who sell
| it--between capitalists and laborors. 1t
| is pernicious that either of these classes
should fall into the hands of the other.
| Combinations among workmen designed
TO restore something like equal terms
OF purchase and sale for tho work of
| their hands are commendablo. No mo
| tive cOuld be moro laudablo, no effort
more just. Strikes and riots are the un-
desirable and unfortunate incidents of
this movement, but tho movement it.
self is ono absolutely essential to gen
eral prosperity.
The proposed effort for Il shorter
workday beginning May /, 1893, is
therefore wise one and should DO as
much favored by the employer AZ the
employed. Its consummation will great
! ly diifuse moderate welfare and advance
general prosperity. Let every good citi-
zen and wise citizen do all in his power
% uphold it. JEROME Woob