Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-07-31
HOURS AND WAGES "a
sHoRTsIoHTEoNEss AND ihcoNsisr.
ENcv OF EMPLOYERS.

The Logic Of the Msehi.ists' Strike
For = Shorter workAay-TAe "Tes
Hoars' Pay" Sonsense-Is Not tho
Industrial System FsuNyf
In the great labor strike for shorter
workday Hartford manufacturer and
official who shut out all his employees
on the opening day Of the struggle gave
his case plainly away in an interview
regarding the situation when acknowi-
edging that shorter hours were bound
to come and there should be no objec-
ton to them and then the wages would
have TO be advanced provided they re-
mained at the same rate per hour as mt
present. because the men couldn't live
on less than they are now receiving.
Here are the words as found in the re-
port Of the interview:
But after the nine hour day the same
pay would naturally follow in course
of time, as the men would have to have
about the same money to live on as
when working ten hours"
Exactly. This is the logic Of the SIT
uation. And, being so. isn't II somewhat
inconsistent TO object to the demand
for ten hours pay for nine hours
work." as the thought 10 phrased? II
the men viii have to have about the
same money to live on while working
only nine hours day as they did when
working ten, where 10 the logic in de-
nying them that amount, az they must
live in order to be able to work?
How much simpler the matter would
appear II the question were only divid-
ed? First, let the hours Of labor be set
tied. Ia or Is not nine hours for days
work sufficient II Is generally 80 con-
ceded. and We are told by those who
have made a study Of the subject that
even four hours labor, II all would
work who can, are sufficient to give to
the world all the necessaries and luIu-
ries Of life. Now that part Of the prob
lem settled, the next question Is simply
as to the reward In dollars and cents
that that days labor Is entitled to. And
without at all going into the depths Of
the question 1t ought to be self evident
that he who performs the days labor 10
at least entitled to q decent and COM
Portable living. and his share Of the
dollars and cents involved ought to be
sufficient to guarantee him as much.
So when we speak of ten hours pay
for nine hours work we only befud-
die the question. There is no such In
congruity in the demand. for there is
no such thing In existence as an abso-
lutte "ten hours pay" The ten hours
pay Of one man may be one thing, the
ten hours pay Of another vastly dlfYer-
ent. And with the ga me man II may be
one amount today and another tomor-
row.
But the immediate question involved
is the difficulty Of the employers ad-
justing prices 80 ns to be able 10 meet
what they regard as increased cost of
product. This may be reality In some
cnses, but not In all. Even were 1t 30,
1t Is q matter for the employers to see
to and not for the men to take into con-
sideration. 1t Is entirely out Of the lat
ter's Jurisdiction. However, even with
in the employers own immediate con-
fines, can't the matter be adjusted to
some eItent7 Won't the salaries of
some Of the officials bear a little modi-
fcation7 II 81 or 50 q day is considered
sufficient recompense for the man who
works with head and hands to produce
the product that brings the dollars and
cents to all concerned. why must the
man who works with head alone be
considered ms deserving from 2 to 20
times as much7 Or, in other words, II
81, 900, 10000, 500, 900 or $50, 900 a year
Is only sufficient for a decent and COM
Portable living for one man, how are
the others to get along on the compare
lively Insignificant amount first refer
red tor
Surely the wage question and salary
question are all wrong from beginning
to end. And the Industrial system Mt the
bottom Of II must be all wrong too. 1t
Is the basic cause Of nearly all the sin
and suffering in the civilized world. IL
the word Civilized" can be properly
used In this connection. 1t begets the
pauper and the millionaire, the thief,
the drunkard and the prostitute. 1t has
millions Of people forever on the rng-
ged edge OF suspense for the morrow
that the few may roll and rule In luxu-
ry IL not riot in dissipation. 1t has the
great majority OF humanity ever in
trouble for the want Of enough while
the few are in trouble because Of hav-
ing too much. There can be no lasting
peace and happiness in the world until
something better takes Its place as the
basic structure of our civilization
Hartford Examiner.
Chinese Labor Too Cheap.