The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-06-01

the views OF the employer or the trade
unionist just cited and those held by
the logical advocates of the movement.
The apparent discrepancy is the result
OF failure to comprehend the full bear
ings Of the subject. The shorter work.
day will increase the actual expenses Of
the employer. Admitting that, it IL
merely another way OF gazing That it
will increase the wages Of the employee
The shorter workday will not reduce
the individual, product Of labor. Ad-
hitting that, too, it will still increase
the chances of work for the unemploy-
ed. But, as we have said, these points
are immaterial. The main point is that
the shorter workday, by increasing the
leisure time of the people, will increase
the demand for the products Of labor
by stimulating the desire for the graft
fcation OF old wants and the creation
of new ones, thus increasing the con-
suming power all around. Though the
positive expenses of the employer may
be increased his relative expenses will
be less than formerly, because his sales
will be larger. Though certain workers
may produce as much in eight, as in
ten hours, the reduction of their hours
will still make work. for the unem-
ployed because Of their demand for the
products of workers In other crafts.
In the prolific literature OF the Eight
Hour day no words so :tersely;; vet com.
prehensively. set forth the argument Ia
favor of shorter, hours as the Eight
Hour Series of pamphlets issued by the
American Federation of Labor. In one
OF these, the "Eight-Hour Primer. the
author, Geo. =: McNeill, gives the fol-
lowing very clear statement of the is
sues involved: ~H
III there was no such day as the Sab
bath or rest day and all wage-workers
were employed the seven days of the
week, not only would wages not be adj
Vanced but they would be reduced, be-
cause the present wants of Sunday
would be- lost, = - The Sabbath is
a reduction of the hours of labor. and
like every other reduction of working
time Increases wages through the level
Ing up process of leisure. = It Is
not claimed that with the present faci-
lities Of production a man can produce
as much in eight hours as he can in
ten hours. We claim that the reduction
of the hours Of labor will increase the
demand for laborers. The tus-
tice of demanding as much for eight as
for ten hours labor consists in the fact
that the masses are earning enough
more than their wages to give a few
individuals and the various manufac-
turing, railroad, commercial and bank
ing enterprises hundreds of millions of
dollars; and it is safe to claim that 20
per cent less time for labor would not
result in more than ten or fifteen Der
cent less production.
"A general adoption of the system
Will increase wages, reduce the profits
on labor, cheaper production, increase
the intelligence of the worker, and so
gradually provide him with the capital
and knowledge necessary to cooper
ate."
The shorter workday is a practical
need Of the moment. It is In no sense
revolutionary" scheme, but is per-
fectly conformable, and, in fact, neces-
sary, to the natural and healthy growth
OF industrial society. All elements of
industry should welcome it as q COM
mon remedy for a common i'll.