The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-03-31
FAvORS SHORT
WORKING DAY
Scientific journal Says That
It Makes For Economy.
ADVOCATES THREE SHIFTS.

Fact That Men Cannot Work az Vigor-
ously For Ten Hours as They Will
For Eight Has Been Indisputably
Demonstrated by Close Analysis.
Chief Aim of Mankind Is Not Toll.
Some Of our correspondents have &C.
cused us of partisanship with the Ia
Dor unions in advocating the adoption
of an eight hour day, says the Engi-
neering Magazine In recent editorial.
That, however, is beside the point. We
believe absolutely that the universal
adoption of the short working day will
take place within relatively short
time, and hence our object has been
to point out to, manufacturers what
others have done and what they can do
In preparing for this demand.
The eight hour day has proved a
commercial success in many lines Of
industry. Few enterprises can point
to that as the cause of failure. Those
who followed the Ford series in these
pages and those who have had the op-
portunity to visit the Ford plant in De-
troit, know how enthusiastic both man
agement and men are over the actual
working Of the three shift plan.
Men will not and cannot work as
vigorously for ten hours or even for
nine hours as they will for eight. This
has been indisputably demonstrated by
many close analysts. And G. ]. Nor
rison's arguments that men will do as
much work in an eight hour day are
amply supported by the testimony of
many others. Furthermore, it must be
Remembered by all emplayers that the
chief aim Of man is not work and that
therefore any toll which leaves him no
time for his own cannot but prove irk-
some and will most certainly be shirk-
ed by him.
prominent New England manufac-
turer remarked recently that he him
self didn't like night work, and there
fore he didn't propose making his en-
ployees do what he himself disliked.
This sounds like the true principles of
leadership. But is it? How does this
man know that his employees would
not prefer night work, especially when
such work would allow them some
daylight hours to themselves and
when, as now, under the present ten
hour day they have little opportunity
for their own gardening or sports?
Mr. Morrison has made the argument
that certain amount Of overhead goes
on Just the same during the night
hours when the plant Is idle. This is
so obvious that we will not discuss 1t
at length. One Of our correspondents,
however, advanced the question wheth-
er by adopting the three shift method
and thereby producing three times his
normal output he might not have diff
Guilty in selling his product. Such
predicament would be rarity, but If It
actually existed the answer would be:
If he can maintain his required output
by utilizing one-third Of his present
equipment working three times as
long, it would be folly for him not to
sell or scrap his excess equipment.
1t behooves the industrial manager
to study this question from every an
gle, for it is certainly something he
will be forced to act upon in the near
future. Unorganized labor, as we'll as
organized labor, is forcing the issue,
and much more credit will be given TO
that employer who voluntarily adopts
the short day than to him who is com
PEELED to do so. Undoubtedly there
are many stumbling blocks to be
avoided and many hardships will re-
suit, but much trouble can be avoided
by studious foresight.
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