The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-26
SHORTER HOURS OF LABOR.

Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: This seems to he the oyerwccnng desire
ot all men who arc required to labor for daily
subsistence. shorter hours and higher wages Is
the demand of almost an of the labor orgaul1a.
tiouN. \ preacher IN uur Of the churches in New
York city said three huuIs day of labor would
he sufficient If relations were properly adjusted
between labor and capital. 10 the writer tho
suppositiou is prcpo,tcrous. In the first place
hours tcw with wages as now, would increase
the cost ot every product from two to three
times what it is now, because workman could
do in three hour, only ouC.third aS much a, he
now docs in nine. II such thing could possibly
exist, tnco Times the humher OF men must be
cmployod to do the work done 10y one man.
The cost oi the work would be trcblcd. The re.
suit would he that every product necessary Tor
his use or happiness would increase in cost in
like proportion. and hc would have no more
money at the end OF the month.
o.
For example, let any mechanic ldborrS
man who is his own employer buys his own
stock, manufactures it himself, and has all the
profit over and above the cost of material, with
the estimate he may put upon his labor gagged
by what lac is willing TO pay another working
for him. judge whether hc can support himself
and family on three hours work day lIcIc
| is an opportunity Tor carpenter, shoemaker,
| tailor or blacksmith to work out the problem
! for his own satisfaction The farmers work il
also lahorious. lie would hc glad to lie by halt
| day, but would it pay him To do so?
| Many ldboriuC men seem to have the idea that
| man ot wealth obtains it dishonesty! and
| think that lie ought to divide it with them.
| They would become wealthy themselves il they
| had tho prudence to economic their ealningS,
| For example, a mechanic in any Kind OF busi-
ness employs an additional man 10 work with
| =. -
| cent. profit. lie is slowly but gradually increas-
| ing his capital. lie adds another. and so up
| to 10 or 100 His profit on each mans labor al
| though but little. in icT wears will make him
| a large capitalist. Our great capitalists, like
| Vanderbilt, Carnegie and Rockafclcr commenced
at the bottom OF the ladder, and by iudicous
| savings and Investments, rave reached the ppSl'
! lous they occupy. Brains arc also an mppr'
| tant adjunct in helping the ldborng nm NJ
| wards. We have in our city very worthy eN-
ample of what brains in connection with energy
will do. gentleman came to tarbondale some
thrty.dvc years ago. He had product to dis
| pose of if he could find purchaser. Being sue
ccsSiul he bullt a small manufacturing plant
| sufficient for his present need. where not halt
dozen men were needed To do the work. lie
gradually enlarged his plant until now hctwecr
80 aud 200 men are employed. That is the way
| capttists are made, and in greater works, Ikt
| railroads, mines iron and steel works, ETC.. clD
talStS combine for the purpose It erecting and
! carrying these works on. These combination
| have great risks, and 70 carry on their works sue
| ccosiullv must keep a large reserve capital &c
| keep good the wear and tear, destruction Of prop
Crty, and damages whenever they occur. Ii work
ing men. who had saved their earnings woult
| by cooperation establish an important industry
| they would he equally anxious to make all The
profit possible. and 10 doubt would be anNiou,
as any other corporation to get their labor dont
| at the lowest possible figure
Capital aud labor should he friends Neither
can prosper alone. They are necessary TO cacl
others prosperity. Capital can hold ont III,
longest in case OF contention, but the public il
general are made involuntarv To suffer, whil'
the labor element loses about throe-fourths o
the cases in which contention is raised.
T., W. Jay.
| CaIhundale, Sent. -.