Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-27
GOMPERS OPPOSES
LONGER WORK DAY
Not an Economy, He Tells
Patternmakers of Navy
Yard at Banquet.
FEELS SURE MEASURE
WILL NOT BE ENACTED
Representative Buchanan. Com
mandant Glennon. Frank Morrison
- and Michael Lynch Also Speak.

Increasing the hours Of employment
OF government workers is not move
that will make the national Legislators
popular with their constituents at the
next elections. nor is IL a move which
wifi bring the great labor forces IN
rally around the government in time
of International unpieasantness, Sam
uel Gompers. president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor. told the AS
ISOLATION or Patternmal<ers of the
Washington navy yard at its annual
banquet at tine National Hotel last
night. The idea of a normal work day
aud a fair standard of wages Will be
destroyed by a move of this kind on
the part of The government. he said.
"Organized labor has taught the gov
ernment.'' he said. that Icing hours of
service and low pay were not economy.
The shorter hours and better wages did
not come as a streak Of lightning, hut It
required wears Of organization and edu-
cation to accomplish that fact. To in
crease the hours of labor now would lie
to throw on the scrap heap the work "f
the wage earneIs Of the country.
The idea of a normal work day and a
fair standard of wages make fer earnest
active and capable workers and better
citizens in every way.
Wage Farmers for Preparedness.
I'VE hear and have heard in the past
few months the declaration that because
Of new weld conditions the country must
be put in q condition to protect itself
This has received no stronger support
than from the wage carriers. ard no ciii-
Zens would respond more promptly to as
Sist in the preparedness propaganda and
TO stand b.: the oountry's horror than the
wage earners
But" he went on. the attempt 10
increase the hours of labor is not cat
culated TO endear these men of the
service to the national legislators or
the government in assisting in the de-
Tense of the country. IT isn't good
sense. il isn't good economy. and II
isn't good practice or wise to lengthen
the service of the men who serve the
government
I'm time of peace and normal condi-
tionS to increase the hours Of la Dor for
the AXE of a few paltry dollars is not
likely to increase the feeling of the
working people for our national law
makers That the proposition viii he
defeated and that this attempted wrong
will not be perpetrated on the people.
feel sure. | trust that the project viii
not ma SucCeSS1ul anu
turn the wheels of progress backward"
No Economy in Longer Hours.
Declaring that the eight-hour day
gives one that freedom which carries
him above slavery. Capt j. n. Glen
non. commandant of the Washington
navy yard. said he didn't believe that
any economy would be based on longer
hours.
"a longer day than eight hours 10
not conducive to efficiency" he con-
tinued There is too much talk now
of economy. and too little of efficiency.
What this nation wants today is more
efficiency
The first thing in preparedness 10
to make men. There are people now
who are constantly preaching doctrines
to make young men old women. That's
the peace propaganda. suppose
ought not to say anything about peace
propaganda. because the peace adNo-
Gates will say that, coming from
naval man. it is prejudice. But this is
not We here to protect the
country.
The safety of the country depends
on men being men and not old women"
Michael Lynch. Frank Morrison. Sec
rotary of the American Federation of
Labor. and Representative Buchanan
OF Illinois also spoke.
At the Banquet Table.
Among those present were Samuel
Gompers. Frank Morrison. \. J. Bef-
ries. Capt. J. H. Glennon. l.. s ~. COM
mandant Washington navy yard: Capt.
A. l.. Willard. Lieut.. Commander j. H.
Tomb. Secretary of Aviation Corps
Richardson. NJ. \. Lynch. master me-
chanic Washington navy yard: +. ).
Curtis. chief clerk Of Navy Depart
ment; B. NJ. Aitcheson. II. Nelson, e. NJ.
Birrel r. r Whiting. Thomas King, T.
Berwick. H. X. Prosser. Il. w. Crisp. NJ.
T.. Robey. J. H. Brown. r. Carr. r. Z.
Maynard. Fred Dawson. 4. GibeI. Charles
Loveless. W. \. Burton. NJ r. johnson.
r. y. Bradford. l.. Storck. =. e. L, nch.
Il. J. Limbereer. &. Hartley. 4. Weeks.
r. Watts. !. Holman. W. i:abhet. &.
Weber. T.. Frazier. J. e. MOODY, a.
Logan. NJ. T.. Euckert. {. 'Winsi on,
Charles Gtiest. \. Griest. Il; Aeon, q.
Mats. f. Hey,ock. T.. Osthaus. For
rest Birrell. 4 y. Bradford. T. ileen-
fritz. 6. \. Wickes. Charles Brauns,
j. Jeens. Louis Niemyer, August Hem
son. Is. Gruber. NJ. Boone. ". Nam
nion C. w. Symonds, n. Walthcrs. q.
A. Parks, Thomas Hofferberth, e.