The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-04-30

May marks the real coming OF
spring.
1T Is then that the farmer begins to
till his fields and SOW his seed, and
tho housewife begins to clean house.
Building operations begin. The laboring
man who has had an indifferent fall
and winter. during which he has been
Lorlpelle.; to skimp and save to keep
body ana soul together. takes stock and
views the outlook.
"For many years It has been the Gus
tom TO make working agreements be-
tween employers and employees on May
]. because II signalized the opening up
| OF onerations In which the working man
| Is the vital and most necessary factor.
THAT ia the Significance Of the day.
| by long experience. the working
| man has come to realize that unless
| his grievances or. let us say, his alb
| solute ne eds and Just dues. are adjusted
| on May l. they will be overshadowed
| or thrown into the background by the
| rush anC pressure OF business, And he
vii, be put off until some day more
convenient to the employer.
"On May the vorkingman sums rp
| the fruits of the past year. and figures
, whether or not he has gotten a square
deal. and whether what he has gotten
has enabled him to give his family n
square deal.
"He thinks of the constantly increas-
ing cost of living. of food. house rent.
clothing. and all the necessities OF life.
Iic thinks of the profits made or his
labor. and the dividends declared on
the sweat OF his brow.
Contemplates Past Year.
"He contemplates the past year with
a retrospection which calls TO mind no
material progress made unless II was
fought for. although a contest should
not have been necessary.
"He compares his lot with that OF men
engaged in similar lines OF trade in
other localities. States OF countries. He
ylrds his loins for the battle he realizes
he must make to get his just deserts.
This realization. that nothing In to
come to the workingman unless he
fights for tia realization wh.ch u =,
/, sad commentary on our CIVILIZATION. bul
/ one born of bitter experience-is one oil
, the strongest imDelling factors In the
: MAY Day labor unrest.
"It might be termed the very essence
of that unrest
"Aa the reasons for this realization
are removed, the ma cnitude OF MaN
Day unrest will diminish. but not unit
0 then.
: forced to realize that for workingmer
i to live, they must combat employer
[ as well as poverty. And laboring mel
Q are tho better for this constant struggle
y 1t develops their manhood. their char
8 acter and their courage.
"At the same time they are helpinl
I to educate their more fortunate err
: ployers. who must be taught by experi
Q ence that a mans Just dues are not t
t be forever denied him."
Labor Wants Very Little
What does labor want?" secretar
y Morrison was asked.
y From the vast volume OF discussio
Il throughout the land" he replied, =
II might seem that labor wanted a gres
: deal.
o But as a matter OF fact. very littl
n Is wanted.
: Labor wants an eight-hour day. an
u a satisfactory wage. Is that too muc
n for any man, a laboring man or an
Q other man. to ask Of life and his en-
y ployer?
Eight hours Is long enough for
a man to work. Investigations show thu
,c after that period of toll a man
!. efficiency. For not only that day bl
y for days to come, he is impaired.
% II am not putting up a plea OF veal
~ ness for the working man. Because v
i stand on the ground that eight hou
constitutes a days work. and day
work should end after eight hours.
"A man needs some time for recrei
ton, some time to spend with his fan
10 lily, few hours to devote to gardeniI
N or study or for the transaction of h
private affairs. He needs fresh air al
v, a change of scene. and he needs reli
n. from the mental and physical strain
- gruel!ng labor.
no Eight hours should constitute a d.
IN any mill. mine factory. or office.
Ia when the employers In this count
ne realiSe this. as they inevitably mul
Is one of the greatest grievances labor h
ne will he removed. There Is no val
Id reason given for denying the workil
man an eight-hour day.
y Employers Are Standpatters.
ne 'Ths employers say, In effect. No.
~ have you, and we propose to keep y
an where we have you. For years y
Ip have worked more than eight hours, a
lis we see no reason for a change now.
ne They are all standpatters. They ca
~ not see the necessity for a change. TIL