New Britain herald., 1916-08-25
WHAT TT MEANS.

buS as OIlC boithCu by l1lC ScbllSIioll and judgment of society. The move ment started short time ago and accumulated an impetus with the years. Eventually, every man work ing for a living will be doing so on the basis of eight hours a day. This does not mean he will work eight hours and only eight hours It means ho will be paid a stipulated sum for the work done within that space of time and a bonus" for work done in overtime. The great contention of the railroad brotherhOods now in the midst Of a controversy with their en- ployers is not for an eight hour day that means knocking off work at the end of that time, but for an eight for every minute spent over the eight hours. A man running an engine could not quit his post at the end of eight hours if the train of cars behind him happened to be somewhere in the Great American Desert. He would at least be expected to drive on to the next stopping place and there be re- ieved by another engineer; but he would be justified in asking for wages tor the time he worked overtime.
 While the presidents of the rail- tending the negotia tfons going on at the White House one of their num- Der. Louis J. Hill, son of the late James J., of Northwestern fame, was asked by 8 newspaper man what he thought of the eight hour day. Mr. Hill disposed of the question. in short shrift. He said: 1T can give no eight hour a day experience.'' By that he meant to convey the thought that men who limit themselves to eight hours work day never strike the true goal of success unless some special fortune Is attendant upon them. Of all the railroad presidents who are attending the conferences in Washington 1t is safe to say that the
 
 their time in early manhood watching the clock. This is the other side of the eight hour day question: Most men ir the various pursuits of life know that the empioye who measures his time too closely, who will not stay one fraction of a minute overtime on the job, rarely ever gets the chances for that come to those who show a willingness to contribute an over-share. Conversely, politics and special favor have done much to dis courage this. For some men, regard less of merits, have been pushed ahead of the pluggers, the men who stuck on the job through thick and thin. The mere willingness to work l however, is not everything. There | must be combined with 1t serious ness of thought, a f1Nty of purpose, and @ marshalling of various other faculties that will warrant promotion. attributes is what counts. Brains must ever have the right of way over brawn and muscle.
 So, In putting it's sanction on, an eight hour day society has taken into consideration many things. Civiliza- ton advances in direct ratio as the various members of any given race advance. And when the workingman is given shorter hours and a chance to earn extra increment by overtime, society in the long run Is made better. The difference between the eight hour @ day man and the clock watcher Is so great as to be apparent at first sight. The former is the man who is anxious to complete his eight hours, not in order to shake off the sha of work, but to do another turn at the wheel if by doing so he can add to his earning power The latter is he who does three hours work in the eight hours of day apportioned to him and then tries to quit before the time is up, grumbling all the while at his lot in life. The difference between the two, aside from being shown in the present, is reflected in the future where the really and truly eight t-hour- a-day man. gets his reward in a sum- 1r~-- of rest. moulded by the work of his own hands. The clock watcher will then be looking for a hand-out from his fellow members of society," The eight hour day is for the man who wants to work eight hours a day end more.