The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1916-11-17
A PROTEST AGAINST
WORKING LABOR MEN
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
BY CHARLES STELZLE
Field Secretary of the Federal Councll
of the Churches of Christ in

minister OF I0e SOSpel We'll hllO"h anu
highly respected by the people OF
Washington, particularly by the wage
earners, will show the incredible
greed of an eastern steel corporation.
1t will also show the deep interest
"The Commission on the Church and
Social Service" is taking in industrial
afafirs. The commission is collaborat-
ing with the Committee on Industrial
Relations:
Shall an industry which already en-
ploys it's men twelve hours per day in
jobs which require great physical en-
durance be permitted to work these
men seven days per week throughout
the entire year?
This in substance is the question
which the State Industrial Commission
of New York has been called upon to
determine. The Lackawanna Steel
Company-just outside of Buffalo, and
employing 1000 men-has asked for
exemption from the one-day 's-rest-in-
seven law. 1t desires the commission
to legalize it's present unlawful prac-
tice of employing its men continuous
ly. The final disposition of this mat
ter is of importance not only to the
men employed in the steel plant, but
to every workingman throughout the
country.
No objection is made to continuous
operations in such departments as are
of necessity run continuously because
of technical reasons--we protest
against the men being worked con-
tinuously
The company insists that the ma
chinery in its plant be repaired at
stated intervals and that its furnaces
must be refined once every seven
days. This, the company declares, re-
quires the continuous service of it's
men. Do not these men also require
rehabilitation and recreation? Isn't
man worth more than a machine?
A man who works seven days per
week continuously has a very poor
chance to develop as man, a citizen,
a father and husband.
All the tendencies in industrial life
are toward the shorter work-day on
account of the increased strain being
placed upon all workers. The steel
D1ont ic RIM on u +u-o1vo- !, ann bocic
four hours longer than the generally
accepted working period-and now
asks permission to crown the evil of
twelve-hour day by the elimination of
any day of rest.
Seven-day labor has been con-
demned by practically all who have
given the question serious thought.
legislators, social workers, working
men, churchmen, physicians and EN-
ployers. A committee appointed by
the English government to consider
the health of munition workers re-
ported that weekly day of rest must
be allowed. If this recommendation
made in the interest of winning a war,
is accepted, is a nation at peace likely
to serve its ends best by following an
course?
1t is argued that the men prefer to
work continuously. 1t has always been !
possible to secure petitions protesting |
against a reform measure, even from |
hose who would be most directly ben
fitted. There are two reasons why a
nan may want to work a seven-day
week. First, because his wages have
Deen so small that he is compelled to
york; and, second, because he has be-
ONE so sOdden on account of the
everyday week that his finer sensi-
ilities have become so blunted that
e prefers to work seven days per
Ieek rather than to spend one day per I
eek with his family or in the de- !
elopment of his better self. This is
ne of the strongest arguments against
ontinuous labor.
1t is contended that a Workingman
as a right to work seven days per
eek if he prefers. There is no such
ling as absolute personal liberty in a
A man may exercise his t
ersonal liberty only insofar as it t
oes not injure some one else. The !
lief consideration is not the indi-
dual, but society. If working con- L
nously is a bad thing for the work S
gman himself, for his family and for |
lie state, then society has a right to '
sist that not only shall the state be C
'oteced, but that the state must pro o
ct such man against himself This
'inciple is accepted in practically
'ery human relationship. Ii
If exemption is granted the Lacka- it
ana Steel Company, other industries Ii
the state which are also "contin-
)us" will ask for similar exemption.
robably Is per cent of all the workers t
New York State are engaged in oc- d
lpations requiring seven-day labor. r
his would inVOlVa Cavara1 bup1ro1 n