The Farmington times., 1916-09-01
Why Discriminate
Against R. r. Men?


labor unions. After the close of the
war eight-hour leagues were estab.
lished in various parts of the coun.
try, and hours were reduced in many
places. But the activities of these
leagues were interrupted by the crisis
Of 1873 and bad times following, and
it was not until the early years OF
the eighties that the work was again
undertaken, in this instance by the
knights of Labor, and it is now being
vigorously prosecuted by all unions
The benefits of the eight-hour day are
being extended to many classes OF
workmen hitherto deprived Of them
Owing to the fact that the work of
the modern world is becoming more
and more matter, Of nervous energy,
of skill, and intelligence, and less a
matter of brute force, the reduction
Of hours is not only Of advantage, but
Of absolute necessity. Even when
work is simply and purely physical,
it is not economical to work long
hours, but a shorter day of labor is
imperative when work is intense or
when intelligence, ingenuity, and in
ventiveness are required. You cannot
get more out of a man than is in him,
and if you take too much one day
there will be much less to obtain on
succeeding days. If you want a man
to work for you one day and one day
only, and secure the greatest possible
amount of work he is capable of per-
forming, you must make him work
for "a hours. If you would have him
work a week it will be necessary to
reduce the time to 20 hours day; if
you want him to work for a month,
still further reduction to 18 hours
day; for the year, Is hours a day; for
several years, 10 hours a day. But
if you wish to get the most out of
man for a working lifetime, you will
have to reduce his hours of labor to
eight each day. The most peculiar
history about the history of the re-
duction of hours is that in almost all
cases the unions have been obliged to
force employers, strongly against
their will, to grant reductions which
have ultimately proved to their ad-
vantage. Wherever reductions Of
hours have been made, the result has
been a decided benefit not only to the
workman, but to his employer as well,
In so far as lessened hours means in
creased production and cheapened
cost, there can be no question as to
the advisabilitv of shortening the
working day. and in such cases en-
ployers should be compelled to seek
their own permanent interest by ad-
justing themselves to reasonable con-
ditions. Even where the advantage
to the employer is not so apparent,
an excessive number of working
hours should not be tolerated. A re-
duction in hours means strengthen
ing Of the workman, the growth of a |
keener intelligence, and an improve
,ment in his home life. The work
mans self-appointed protectors among
the employing classes have from the |
beginning alleged that reduction in |
hours means more time spent in |
drinking and dissipation, since che
employe will not know what to do
with his newly acquired leisure. This !
assertion reiterated necessarily by
the employing class. has been COM
pletely contradicted by every-ray ex-
perience and by the history of the
working classes. Attempts have fre-
quently been made to ridicule the de-
mands of the unions for a reduction
of hours by exaggerating these de-
mands. When the employer is asked
to reduce the hours of his workmen
to eight, he frequently asks, ''why not
six or four, or two, or one?" The
might with equal Justice
retort, if you demand that we work
10 hours day, then why not Is, or
twenty, or twenty-four. Labor un-
ions do not demand or desire an un-
reasonable reduction of the hours of
labor, and they are willing that each
demand for such reduction be consid-
cred on its own merits.
Having in mind the fact chat the
M. R. & B. 7. Railway Co. is con-
stituent part of the st. Joe-Doc Run
Lead Companies, we would like TO be
why the men working in and
around the mines are favored with an
day and nice bonus ev-
cry month while the men Mt work on
inc railroad are denied both the eight
nour day and bonus, Notwithstanding /.
he fact that the duties TO be perform
ID upon the railroad are just as oner-
ous and irksome as that performed
lround the mines, and SO far as OPP
arating the mines are concerned the
railroad men are just as necessary a
init as are the miners who work un-
But it has ever been thus,
he employees Of this railroad have al
ways been Disseminated against by
hose in control of those pronertieS. i