The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-06
A Proposition from Boston.

We have received from Mr. HENRY Ell
WELL at Boston request for an opinion
upon the proposition made below:
THE proposition 10 for nve daysof labor in
"1-This consid. ration appeals to all classes OF
men.
-. For any number of men isolated group
to attempt to it's possibility by practical
trial will determine nothing.
20. II is believed that in order to approach It In
the only comprehensive way the hrst step 10 to OBJ
tain the consensus Of universal opinion.
-. Your opinion as = due part Of this universal
opinion is desired, and a. much desired II you do
not feel competent to have An opinion as II you do
feel competent. for In so far you are Interested
your opinion Is OF value.
80. II you have an idea that somehow It 10 pos
sible IT Is not needful that you formulate reasons
why 1t might not be possible The world is 1nitely
able to remove any obstacles which you as m indi.
vidual might think Of II comes TO practically one
mind about the matter.
"e. And. finally, II interested. you are in that
measure bound assist ~ you think so) in putting
the question to the world"
We comply willingly with Mr.. ELwELL's
request, for we have an opinion on the sub
ject and have neither ditf1dence about
expressing 1t nor any feeling OF incompe-
tence to form 1t. Exactly what he Is driv-
ing at we do not understand. unless 1t Is
to reduce by one-sixth the amount OF labor
done by given number Of workers, so that
in order to get the work Of the world done
more workers will have to be employed and
unemployed labor so far be reduced.
His proposition does not say whether he
intends that the weekly wage shall be re-
duced by one-sixth also. and that accord
ingly the workers be compelled to pay for
%Iar,
selves for the benefit OF those who cannot
get work under the present six-day system
Obviously, il people work only five days
they will get pay for only live days. Wages
under the restraint OF the law Of supply
and demand are adjusted necessarily by the
amount OF labor done. II, then, the reduc-
ton OF the working time by one-sixth isnot
accompanied by corresponding reduction
of the supply, wages must go down pro-
portionately. and even IL In certain cases
the supply is not increased 1t is question
able if there would not have to be the
same lessening OF wages. The proper
| tonate profits Of business, the margin OF
| profit, as it Is called, have already been
reduced steadily by competition and by
the increase Of wages, until business is
| getting down to the state OF the horse
whose forage had been reduced gradually
to one straw day. The reduction in the
| cost OF production, because Of the coincident
improvement in labor-saving machinery,
has helped to compensate for the high
wages, but the decrease in the margin OF
| profit Is Indicated by the diminishing rate
Of interest for money and the enforced
| tendency to the concentration OF business
in the much-assailed trusts"
Even IT, however, labor could lay Off two
days in tho week instead OF one day with
out lessening its wages, would 1t gain ir
any substantial comfort or any actual
enjoyment? What are men going to dc
with the extra holiday All things con
sidered, every one knows that he Is better
off with something to do; 1t keeps him out
of mischief and relieves him OF the neces
sity OF hunting for something with which
to fill his time. The weariest, the most un
satisfactory lives are those Of people wht
are chasing after pleasure - something
with which to occupy themselves. TIL,
pitiable man Is not the man at work, bu
the man who can get no work to do; lool
at the benches OF the parks.
Moreover. why propose five days o
labor in seven2" Why not agitate for fou
days. three days. or only one day, or no dis
agreeable work at alp 1t is hardship tina
any man should be- compelled by necesst.
TO exhauss his strength in work. In per
feet world no one would be tasked. 70
every man would find his greatest pleasur,
in his work, so that instead OF begging
day of he would count it misfortune to b
separated from 1t. But this is not per
feet world, and some men undoubtedly ar
forced to work too hard, including boil
rich and poor. Instead Of enjoying thei
labor, they wear out under Its exaotions
but. as things are, most Of them are com
PEELED to earn their bread in the sweat O
their brow. II they rest they must pay 70
, the let-up, and the cost OF the let-up take
away from its enjoyment. They canno
often afford the luxury.
Mr.. HENRY ELwELLs proposition is tn
suggestion OF an impracticable and vi
philosophlc mind.
, The Problem OF the Volunteer and tn
Reasonable President.
gentleman In Orange New Jersey VIII