The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-09-09
THE NORMAL WORKING DAY.

AT the meeting OF the British AZ
sociation for the Advancement of
Science in Winnipeg, Man, last week
Prof. 8. J. Chapman, president of the
economic science and statistics sec
tion, had for his topic. The value OF
leisure. the bearing of Industrial de-
velopement upon it, and its effective
ness in shaping economic arrange
ments." He said. among other things:
The increasing nervous strain of In
dustrial work, whether it results
from the progressive specialization of
labor or not, would account sufficient
ly for the curious circumstance that
there apparently is no tinality about
any solution OF the ever recurring
problem OF the normal working day,
though II is not the sole explanation.
The workman whose day has been re-
duced is scon repeating his demand
for shorter hours, and there are pes
simists who infer from this that the
shorter hours attained hitherto have
shifted the community on TO a slip
perry, ihIllne plane which leads from
the economic struggle for existence
by which is meant the competitive
striving for place, reputation and
ACHE, cment. whereby progress is ma
tIrally STINT lated-to economic stag
nation
We are not aware OF any move
ment Ia the Ui.ted States, outside OF
Socialism TO reduce the working day
below eight lcurs. Professor Chap
n,an must be referring to some es-
pecially fatiguing occupations in
Great Britain or this country that
do not come under the general rules
governing labor. of course. Many
men and women have to work more
than eight hours a day but II is
obvious that the scientist was not
thinking OF them. But it is evident
that the Increasing nervous strain Of
many kinds of industrial work has a
tendency to use up and lower their
vitality. They cannot keep up the in
a. trfa oil In
there has arisen the now well estab-
iished custom OF frequently taking a
''lay or" IL a substitute can be
found. This applies particularly to
the trades and occupations. which
commands a high rate always. In
this way men obtain rest and oppor-
tunity OF recuperation without a re-
duction OF the hours OF labor. But
when Industrial activities are going
through one OF their periods of ex-
pansion, substitutes are scarce and
men sometimes work harder than
strength will justify.
Prof Chapman describes as pes
simists those who fear that shorter
working hours will lead 10 economic
stagnation. With shorter hours OF
labor, the worlds production OF
commodities has enormously increas-
ed and there does not seem TO be any
immediate danger that men will be-
come too lazy and inefficient to sup
ply their own wants. The struggle
for existence is something that man
kind cannot escape. but II Is certain
ly not blameworthy to wish aid
strive to mitigate the conditions OF
the struggle. All machinery was NJ
venated with the Intention of red &C.
ing the amount of labor men would
have TO do with their hands, and
II II has increased the number OF la
borers In the world It has neverthe-
less encouraged the idea that ulti- |
mately the human lot would be made
very much easier than II ever was In
The past. The most important eco
nomtc fact In modern civilization is
he machine, the abundance of ma
hines that must be kept busy. for
vhen the wheels cease to turn we