The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-01-26
THE SHORTER WORKDAY.

What the working day will be one
hundred years hence is a question to be
answered by those interested in trades
union and social problems.
When the ninteenth century was
born men and women toiled from day.
light until dark and frequently beyond
the hours given to natural light. In the
various occupations fourteen, sixteen
and eighteen hours of the twenty four
were devoted to labor. It was only
when the century had been we'll spent
that the shortened working day became
anything more than a dream.
Through the efforts of trades unions
our country was the first to reduce it to
twelve hours; then it was lowered to
ten; and now in several branches it is
down to eight. I'm Europe there has
been a shortening, but not to the ex-
tent that it has been carried to here.
The rapidity with which Americans
work in the industries which compete
with, those OF the old world makes it
about equal in, the matter of wages.
This operates against an abbreviation'
OF. the working day in Europe, for it
would give the American manufacture
Ter too great an advantage in securing
the markets of the world. Until the
American manufacturer cuts down to
six hours his German and British rival
will keep it at ten. Two hours differ
'ence is as little as they can stand and
keep the foreign customers. To meet
us on equal terms in the hours of labor
would mean that the United States
would soon drive her competitors out of
the field.
And in regard to a still shorter work.
ing day it is pertinent to ask: Will the
non unionist Of coming years continue
sbenefted by the efrorts OF ms
fellow workrnen in securing reduce
ton of. hours of labor, or will he, too,
cease to be parasite and do his full
share?
Has there ever been a reduction of
hours to the employe which was volun-
tarily granted? u
To attain a shorter Workday without
a corresponding reduction of wages has
been the fight of organized labor for a
score of years. Every hour cut off
from the day has cost thousands of
dollars, but it has resulted in almost
every instance in victory to the en-
ploye, and with little hardship of the
employer.
With a shorter workingday inaugu-
rated in almost every industry, the I'm
tied States has forged ahead to the
first rank as a manufacturing nation,
competing with all foreign countries,
even where the workday is longer and
the wage scale much lower.
But there is one deplorable feature
to the whole matter. The union man
who devotes his time and efforts to
ameliorating the conditions of his
craftsmen, pays his ever increasing
dues and often sacrifices his position
to maintain his principles-he is the
martyr, and to a worthy cause. He
derives small benefit for his labors
compared to his non-union brother
who secures almost equal wages and
shorter hours without effort on his part.
What would the non-union man re-
ceive for his services, and how many
hours would he labor were it not for
the trades unions?
The length of the workday in the
twentieth century will be determined
by the thorough organizations of work.
ingmen into trade unionis, and when
labor can produce a solid phalanx, just
so soon can labor dictate the length of
the working day.