The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-04-05

tional competition continues, the policy
must be each nation for itself; and,
whilst thousands of laborers are out
of work 1t is madness to admit more
laborers.
Eut how is such a large readtust-
men. affecting millions of workers
and billions Of capital, and affecting
International trade and shipping, to be
bt ought about without dislocation, and
who Is to begin it,
slow movement. Patient pressure IN q
given direction towards an ultimate
result win eventually bring about that
result.
1t is not to be expected that Capital
will volunteer to shorten hours and
AS Labor is to benefit Labor must
act
And the first step is shorter hours
II a. ten-hour day employs eight mil
lion men an eisht-hour day VIII en-
ploy ten million men, and there you
have an end to the unemployed
The pay for eight hours must be
the same as was previously paid for
ten hours. The change will add moth
ing to the wages of those already EN-
ployed but will put a stop to absolute
poverty. It will add twenty-five per
cent to the payroll Capital must find:
the firm previously employing eight
hundred men being compelled to en-
ploy a thousand, with no increase OF
production.
Capital must have reasonable time
to adjust itself to this added burden:
and haSty, ill-considered strikes for
higher wages will but hamper the
progress of the great game.
One well considered step at a time.
with patient waiting between moves,
will be the slow-but- sure and-best
method.
The only means Of getting unAni-
nifty of action throughout the nation
at one and the same time, 50 that
all CAPITAL shall be on an equal foot
ing from a given date, is by legis1a-
tiCn.
Labor must frame a bill and force it
into law fixing reduced hours suit
able. for various trades.
There will be opposition but right
will prevail; for poverty ana munger
and misery and privation and the
cries OF starving. shivering, homeless
children must cease
Well, now let's assume that the re-
duced- hours bill has passed into law.
What's next?
The immediate result will be a big
boom in business: for all the pre-
viously unemployed will have money to
spend, and every factory will be work
ing cheerfully and happily, with never
a slack day. to keep pace with the
added demand.
Instead of Capital frowning over
empty order books It will be kept on
the jump to fill the orders fast enough:
and some of that twenty-five per cent
will be saved by the factory being in
full blast all the time.
The overhead expenses Of a factory
are the same in dull times as in busy
times, so that 1t costs no more 10
be busy than it does to be slack, and
hereby Capital will gain.
But hold, say you, you're overlooking
the loss of export trade.
Not a bit. There are heaps of for
eign manufactured goods imported
right now, and they must be kept out
by higher tariff. II your exporting is
reduced your importing must be re-
home. Your government statistics will
give you details Of both exports and
imports so that you can put your finger
on the expected loss and cover it by
protected gain.
The shipping interests will kick but
the greatest good for the greatest num-
Der must prevail.
But. says Labor, how about higher
wages?
My dear friend, Mr.. Labor. do you
realize how powerful you are? Do
you realize that you can have any
durn thing you please If you only go
after it liz the right way and with pa
tient moderation? Do you realize that
the government of your country is in
y our own hands? Do you realize that
you can use the machinery of that
provided 1t is good and wise and
necessary? OF what use is your vote,
to which will soon be added millions
of women's votes, unless you call your
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