The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-02-04
SHORT DAY AND
STRONG DRINK
Why Printing Craftsmen Are consum.
ing Less Liquor

Pi4HtClS anu craftsmen III Jue dllleC
trades are drinking less intoxicating
liquors than in former years, for it is
a fact that habitual "rummies" are be
coming scarce in the graphic arts in
dustry.
In times now gone by the regular
working day consisted of ten hours
and overtime and Sunday work in
those days were common occurrences
Frequently the workers would labor
fourteen hours, day after day, with on.
ly half hour each for lunch and sup.
per. The writer remembers himself
doing ten continuous weeks of such
day and night work during one win,
ter season.
Then it was the general custom
among many printers to hurry for the
nearest saloon Immediately after the
evenings work was through. Then
the saloons offered about the only rec
reation for the men after working day
and night for long intervals. And as
in those days only half-hour each
was allowed for eating lunch and sup
| per a large number of printers dined
in the liquor palaces" for the reason
that there was not sufficient time to
eat decently in a restaurant. Not
many printers are in the habit of car
rying lunch to the shops
Now, printing and work of the al
lied trades are very tedious. 1t re
quires long years of practice to mas
ter any one of the graphic arts. Thus
the printing trades attract class Of
people who to a considerable extent
may be termed "temperamental" As
a class they are highly strung, and
nervous folk, liable to feel the strain
of their various tasks more readily
than out OF door workers, are affected
by their labors. Consider, for 4 mo-
ment, the proportion of brain work
that must be done by printing press
men, typographers, proOfreaders, lith-
ographers, engrayers, electrotypers,
etc, in addition TO their manual Ia.
Dor, and the majority of editors,
journalists and newspaper writers are
employed in printing plants and work
under practically the same conditions
as the printers.
The point in the foregoing para
graph is this: When such highly
trained indoor workers are forced to
toll constantly for long hours they
must afterward enjoy some relaxation
and recreation. Continuous overtime
will prevent them from going to the
theatres and from taking a part in
evening social affairs. In fact, de-
cade ago long working hours and eX-
ira work robbed these folks Of all or
binary amusements. and even their
home life was destroyed. Only one
popular and universal pleasure" re
mained-rhe brilliantly illuminated
saloon. That is why 50 many Of them
became steady patrons Of strong
drink
This is not q plea for the shorter
working day in the printing and al,
lied industries, for il is already here, /
thank Cod, and the effect 50 far
among the workers has been wonder !
full. Actually the health and morals |
of several hundred thousand people in |
the printing and allied trades have /
been greatly improved through the
coming Of the eight-hour workday.
Judging by this standard, the news
paper men, especially the night work.
ers, ought TO be leaders in the TEN
perance movement, for on a number
of the large dailies many Of them
work only seven hours each day
1t is a remarkable fact that since
the eight-hour day came in the print
ing world overtime has all but been
Seldom in these days
does one hear Of large establish
ment doing extra night work. There
are regular night forces in some Off
ces, Of course, but it is hoped that
these also will soon be an evil Of the
past for it Is not right that any one
should be forced TO work when nature
Itself sleeps.
So today at noon the restaurants
ire crowded with printing craftsmen,
and but few Of them are partaking Of
he saloons free % lunches, for now
many Of them enjoy a longer dinner
line. In the evenings the printers
md their families can be noticed at
he theatre or in many Instances at ,
he moving picture houses Heavy
thinkers are disappearing from the
printing business. Many have be.
.Ome total abstalners from alcoholic