The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-08-02
THE SHORTER DAY
What the New Eight Hour Law
Means to Labor.
GREAT SOCIAL ADVANTAGE.

Decrease of the Hours OF IolI lehos 10
Conserve the Vital Forces and Pro-
duetive Energy of the Workinsman'
Promotes Mental and Physical Visor.
After an educational campaign ex
nnding over half century 1t Is no
longer necessary to prove the industrlai
and social benefits resulting from
shorter workday. On the shelves OF
every public library are scores OF books
and reports telling of communities
made healthier, happier and more
enlightened by removing from the
workers the burden Of excessive toll
To grasp what shortening the WORK
day means in human values one mas
only TO read accounts Of Industrial con
ditions obtaining among the steel
workers. where the twelve hour day,
seven days week, skaters the ner'
vous system and undermlnes the phy
sioue Of strong men so that old age
overwhelms them at forty.
With industrial advancement. came
complicated and highly specialized ma
chinery. requiring greater tenseneSS
and concentration of attentions the
subdivision of labor and the speeding
up due to high pressure. Unmodihed,
these conditions would reduce tnteill
gent workers to practically physical
automatons. That deterioration of the
American people has been averted is
due to the organized workers, who
have persistently and insistently WELD
ed their consolidated power and Sc
cured remedial concessions from en-
plovers, as we'll as through legislation.
The enactment of the eight hour law
shows the remarkable change that has
come over the sentiment of congress,
due to the American Federation of La
Dor campaign begun some years ago,
not only to make demands but to back
them Mt the polls, and due also, in a
great measure, to the fact that organ
lied labor has been electinG trade
unionsts to represent 1t In congress
and to serve on the committees decid
ing the fate of bills introduced. We
expect much from the new lazy, since
any extension by congress of the policy
of the shorter workday will not only
give additional prestige to the move
ment, but will widen the field thus
opened to the benefcent influence
which will be exerted by compelling
companies desiring TO secure govern
ment contracts to comply with the
eight hour stipulation. 1t will also have
a great influence in the general estab
lishment of the eight hour workday II
all employment.
Nowhere has an eight hour day re
suited in decreasing production. Th'
fewer working hours have been offse
by increased physical and mental vigo
and my more effective use Of labo
power on the part of the workers; b!
the invention and use of improved ma
chinery and more effective methods O
production.
The eight hour workday carries will
it a great human as well as social ant
industrial advantage 1t conserves tn
vital forces as well as the productive
energy of the workingmen, thereb.
lengthening the period of their live
and their productive value. Industrial
statistics prove that the lives Of work
ers have been prolonged many year
by reason of the reduction Of hours o
labor. Men who are living longer tina,
their predecessors at the same calling
are obviously living better in all tina
the word implies.
Decreasing the hours of work, tn
establishment of a normal workday
has been attended by increase in wages
The underpaid industries are those Il
which long hours prevail. Thus tn
workers not only gain leisure. whic
means time for self improvement, cul
tivation of higher tastes, desires an
Inspirations, the opportunity to be some
thing more than mere work animal.
but they also gain the means 10
gratifying these desires and wants
Just little more money means littl
better home, a little better clothing
more comforts In the home, booi
perhaps some of the beautiful thing
in the world. A little more time fror
the workday means more sleep an
rest for tired brains and muscles, thf
the workers may have keener mind
and a chance to possess their ow
souls, to know something Of huma
friendship and intercourse. So closet
are the commonplace things of lii
interviewer with the Infinite and ult
mate that the shorter workday result
In better citizenship and manhood,
brighter womanhood and a happit
childhood Federationist