The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-08-12
PUBLIC OPINION

1t is very gratifying to know that fn spite of a considerable inner activity and transformation that the skilled workman world has been subjected to in the city of Bridgeport. a com paratively strong and calm undercur- rent of satisfaction and prosperity is flowing through the active heart of the city.
 those heads of theN manufacturing and other establishments who already have Adopted the eight-hour day in their shops or who are contemplating do- ing so.
 There are, however, to our sorrow number of concerns. whose manage rdenfs do not agree with the views Of the majority of the people. or who do not want to agree.
 The light of evolution. however, will continue to shine upon their selfish reasons and will expose all their acts toxthe intelligent public gaze.
 It seems as if they were endeavor- ing to take advantage over those brother-manufactur who already hays adopted the short-day system.
 It is, however, very probable that but few concerns do belong to this selfish class. and that many manufac- ti1rers do oppose the eight hour day for purely financial reasons, being un- able as yet to see quire fclearly now an enght-hour shift can produce as much to them as a 1O-hour day, for instance.~
 TO remove this obstacle, at least, from the roadway leading to a har- rnonious cooperation between the employer and the employee, for the sake of mutual benefit, the nanufac- turer but need to com pare the fnan- ciaI data. of such factories that all ready have passed from the long-day spstem Into the etght-hour day sys- tenn. It Is very probable that the man. l1facturers have already done this or are doing 1t now.
 From observation and deductions the writer has come to the conclusion that the production and profit will very neArIy be the same.
 Even in such cases, Where the ma- chimes cannot be run faster than usual, the gain lies in the act of set ting up of work, in the difference o1 time spent in moving about, in the starting. in the ending and changing of work.
 Tn the eight-hour day the efficiency of a healthy, willing workman will be matched against the unwillingness of the tred-out workman of the long hour shift. The whole problem o1 equal accomplishment lies in the diff ference of the state of spirit, mind and body of the skilled workman.
 In an eight-hour shift the employers can expect higher efficiency from theil employees. which the latter would vii ungly give.
 This should not, however, be under stood to meanNthat the employees arS lazy, but that they are less effcien because they are tired, and being tiret they work under forced interest ane forced willingness
 However, the main reason for al eight-hour day is not to be found il the above considered financial ques ton, but lies in a cause which exert it's influence upon the welfare and thu prosperity of this city, this countr. and the whole race
 The manufacturers evidently do no realize that by keeping their em ployees under the slavery of the long hour days, they actually by that ac become enemies of the city, the coun try and humanity at large
 In long-hour shifts the manufactur CTS not only make machinery ant other goods, but they manufactur also overworked men and women, hay ing long faces and short appetites people moving about in slouchy. drag ging steps.
 What are such individuals worth t, your own city? Or to your own coun try
 The federal government knows this and therefore, has instituted the eight hour day for all work under its juris diction.
 But this fact the city's and state governments do not seem to hay found out as yet. The long-hour shift act like a never-ending Eat-W ork ep-Eat-Work Mill, turning out m e, and women in a physical and mora condition that exerts a denoraHzin fnduence also upon others. and partic ularIy upon the members of the fam fly.
 There is no chance for the long day workmen to get the necessar spiritual and mental developmen without which no true success no happiness can be rea11ze6.
 No city or country's governmen can be of a greater morality and eff c;ency than that state of deve1opmer tc which the majority of people be long. But to get the necessary major ity of intelligent and moral voters, an intelligent and moral members of tn governmental institutions, we mus give to all the chance and should as s5st everybody to attain to the neces sary spiritual, mental and physical de vefopment.
 Who has the nerve to try to sto Inc people from their rightful portio