The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-03-20
THE DOUBLE PLATOON.

The two platoon double shift system for city
men is again brought to attention by bill intro
duced the senate by Senator Jones' The bill is brought
in measure to promote the health of fremen in
cities of the first class"
The two platoon is being successfully operated in
several of the cities of the United States Seattle
and Kansas City being foremost among those cities
where the plan has been tried is expected that Pitts
burgh and Denver will decide by referendum
vote the advsabity of inaugurating the twelvehour
basis for the remen, while in Chicago the Firemans
Association in conjunction with the Chicago Federated
Trades Assembly is circulating petitions for the
of having the system adopted in that city.
The fire departments of the United States according
to Friedrich Howe envied by European nations The
fire department of home city very frequently the
subject of favorable comment by of national repute
In referring to the department in any city the
unfortunately given but secondary considerations
City councils commissioners and fire chiefs spend thou
sand Of dollars in purchasing equipment with
out efficient men would be absolutely useless Men who
are on duty "a hours day, six days week as they
in Duluth, cannot reach the highest point of effc
ency, and yet Duluth has one Of the most efficient
departments in the state. Men who denied tho
pleasures and convenences of the home as they arc
in Duluth should surely be entitled considerable
sderaton BY what right any citizen of this city
ask for himself an eight ten-hour day with all the
conveniences of home when at the same time they
force the employees of the city, in the most important
department of the city, to be duty "a hours per day.
SIX days week. BY what moral right does the citv
demand of with families, that they shall sleep in
the fire halls and neglect the welfare of their families
or turn the entire responsibility of their households
over to an already overworked wife and mother?
With all of the vast advantages Of the city of Duluth
her citizens her commission should be ashamed
this condition to continue while Superior at present
granting her fremen day in five and should pro-
posed law be passed at Madison this session egs-
lature will have the department operating on
basis of one day off in three for the fremen.
Duluth should not wait for the Jones bill to be
passed by the legislature The health the remen the
welfare of their families and the pride of Duluth de-
mands the double platoon system The question of
motor trucks at this time is of minor Importance
Grant the fire laddes twelvehour day and give them
the opportunity to develop their efficiency that NAV
at least equal the efficiency of modern equipment
This is no longer experiment; it has been tried
and found beneficial The Spokane situation really has
no bearing actual conditions the election last fall
in Spokane was won by reactonary forces through a
campaign of Misrepresentation.
The Federated Trades and Labor Assembly and the
affiliated unions of Duluth take this matter IN
proftably to themselves and the city at large Pass
the bill in the legislature by all MEANS but why should
] Duluth wait for its passage?