Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-12-02
THE SHORTER DAY
What tie New Eight Hour Law
Means to Labor.
GREAT SOCIAL ADVANTAGE.

Decrease Of the Hours Of Toll Tends to
Conserve the Vital Forces and Pro-
ductive Energy Of the Workinsman.
Promotes Mental and Physical Vigor.
After an educational campaign ex-
tending over half century it is nc
longer necessary to prove the industrial
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 has
only to read accounts of industrial con
dtions obtaining among the steel
workers, where the twelve hour day.
seven days week. skaters the ner-
vous system and undermines the ply
sique Of strong men so that old age
overwhems them Mt forty.
With industrial advancement came
complicated and highly specialized ma
chinery. requiring greater tenseness
and concentration of attention by the
subdivision Of labor and the speeding
up due to high pressure. UnmOdified.
these conditions would reduce intelli
gent workers to practically physical
automatons. That deteriora ton 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-
poyers. 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 at the polls. and due also. in
great measure, to the fact that organ
lied labor has been electing trade
unionists to represent it in congress
and to serve on the committees decid-
ing the fate Of bills introduced. We
expect much from the new law. 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 beneficent 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 In
all employment.
Nowhere has an eight hour day re-
suited in decreasing production. The
fewer working hours have been Offset
by increased physical and mental vigor
and my more effective use Of labor
power on the part of the workers; by
the invention and use Of improved ma
chinery and more effective methods Of
production.
The eight hour workday carries with
it a great human as we'll as social and
Industrial advantage. 1t conserves the
vital forces as well as the productive
energy Of the workingmen, thereby
lengthening the period Of their lives
and their productive value. Industrial
statistics prove that the lives of work
ers have been prolonged many years
by reason of the reduction Of hours OF
labor. Men who are living longer than
their predecessors at the same calling
are obviously living better in all that
the word implies.
Decreasing the hours Of work, the
establishment of normal workday.
has been attended by increase in wages
The undergrad industries are those in
which long hours prevail. Thus the
workers not only gain leisure, which
means time for self Improvement. cul-
tivation of higher tastes, desires and
aspirations. the opportunity to be some
thing more than mere work animals.
but they also gain the means for
gratifying these desires and wants.
Just little more money means little
better home, little better clothing.
more comforts in the home. a book.
perhaps some of the beautiful things
in the world. A little more time from
the workday means more sleep and
rest for tired brains and muscles, that
the workers may have keener minds
and chance to possess their own
souls. to know something Of human
friendship and intercourse. So closely
are the commonplace things Of life
interviewer with the infinite and ulti-
mate that the shorter workday results
in a better citizenship and manhood.
brighter womanhood and happier
childhood Federationist.