The daily Nome industrial worker., 1916-09-22
THE EIGHT HOUR DAY.

eight hour day-is the most import ant issue at the coming election. The eight hour day is to be voted upon by each and every person who casts ballot next November. It IS practically a referendum. It is a referendum because some didn't want to take the responsibility of voting for it at the last session of the legislature, so without offending those powers which wielded a great influence over that highly respect able body, they passed the buck along to the voters.
 They felt that was safer. Because they knew that not only employers but friends of employers could be lined up to oppose it, and they wanted to face both ways ana straddle two horses, in a typical ie- gislative style, with a leg for capl- tai and a leg for labor. It cant be done, but they think they did very well.
 In any event the eight hour day is coming up for consideration, and there should be no hesitation in vot- ing for it. It affects male and fe- male workers and. it will reduce the number of unemployed by necessi- tating three shifts.
 Shortening the work day is more important than getting the pay for the ordinary day increased. Every boss would rather give few cents or a few dimes extra to the man that will work harder, for that req son, during ten hours than would he agree to pay pro rata the scale ot the eight hour day.
 Moreover, as far as the workers are concerned, the wage question will take care of itself.
 There is no reason why there should not be a general eight hour day for Alaska. Eight hours Is more than long enough to work.
 The man who cannot earn wages in eight hours does not exist.
 The man who cannot make use of the increased leisure for his owr benefit and that of the fellow work CTS with whom he is associated ought to be cruicified.
 The boss will tell you that the eight hour day will put him on the bum.
 If it will, it is on the bum he ought to be. And by the same token we notice none of those who fought the eight hour day in this camp rolling in riches.
 But, don't forget that the very same arguments that can be worked up by the operators or other em ployers against an eight hour day can with just the same force, witf just the same silly fallacy, with just the same sweet unreasonable reason ableness be urged against ter hour or a twelve hour day as too short also.
 They will tell you the ground i' too poor.
 There is ground in this camI too low grade to be operated at profit for ten hours, twelve, thirteel fifteen or twenty-four hours a day But that's no reason why it should be worked The man who ha ground will not pay with the eigh hour day should realize the fact tha he has got no mine, and so for hi own sake and for his own welfare quit mining The same can be sait of other lines of business. I'm man that has to hire another helpe to assist him making fortune b. working over eight hours day doe not deserve to make cent. Eigh hours is enough to slave for any one. There is no good sound reasol why bank can keep its doors opel only six hours to make living, ant a mine or other business has to b operated the round of the clock t make ends meet.
 This. you say is impractical talg That's because 1t is not to the in terest of the business man. Blu it is practical. The eight hour da, affects the interest of thousand where longer day affects only tn profits of few. And it is the in terest of the many that should re