The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-07-28
BY SAMUEL eoMPERs.

justice and must bear fruit in the COM
mon life The ideal that alone can in
spire our nation for the sacrifices of
this war is infallible assurance of JUS
tice to all.
From various localities come queru-
lous, complaints that employees must
inter'pose no resistance to any demands
of employers or they are guilty of in
! terfering with preparations for the
war-or treason"
Yet these same employers have made
no war sacrifices-their industries are
still organized for private profits. They
are hour by hour increasing their in
comes through wartime opportunities
Under these conditions they have
sought to heap greater burdens upon
wage earners that would sap their
vitality. but without attempting to rec
ompense them through increased
! wages
The working people Of this country
are too intelligent to be deceived by
employers who seek to exploit them in
the name of patriotism. Some employ
ers have even been so audacious as to
demand of employees an oath of fideli-
ty-to employers!
There is, among workers, an honest
patriotism that will dare all for ideal
ism. 1t has been nurtured in the strug-
giles for idealism of industrial justice,
better life and work. 1t will serve the
cause of humanity and democracy and
it will resist all prostitution in the in
terests of capitalism and profiteering.
In order that the workers may rem
der honorable service to the nation in
time of need, labor asks that volun-
!, tary agencies be recognized or estab-
lished so that industrial grievances
may be equitably adjusted.
There seems to be manifest among
those intrusted with the defense of the
nation desire to profit by the expert
ences Of those countries already en-
gagged in war in all matters except
those affecting labor. In the ernotionsa
period of transition and confusion that
followed the beginning of the Euro
pean war, every effort was made to
speed up production. Under the con-
few months, workers were urged to
work long hours to the exhaustion
point, supposedly to increase output.
After a few weeks the volume of out
put markedly decreased. Long hours
result in only an immediate increase.
When continued for long period they
undermine or destroy the productivity
of the workers.
England found it necessary to make
a scientific inquiry into welfare of mu-
nitions workers. AS result of ex-
perience and the investigations of spe-
cialists, 1t was recommended that en-
ployers re-establish normal hours of
work, guard against overtime, provide
for Sunday rest.
Despite this experience of Great
Britain one of the first acts of this
government after the declaration of
war was an executive order suspend
ing the federal eight hour law.
This action of the federal govern
ment was the signal for terrific on.
slaught upon all protective labor legis
lation. The workers, recognizing the
futility and injury in the lowering of
standards to lengthen working hours
will resist all efforts, in that direction
Their position is justified by expert
ence wherever the eight hour day has
been tried.
This is the declaration of the Ford
Motor company:
"a certain group of men working
nine hours under the old system as
sembled 75O radiators. The same
group working eight hours under the
new plan assembled 1900 radiators. A
group of men working nine hours un
; der the old plan turned out 80 tenders
Under the new, working eight hours
the same men turned out so tenders
A group of 65 men working nine hours
under the old system turned out S0(
gas tanks. Under the new, working
eight hours, the 65 men turned ou
1900. Hours were reduced, wages in
creased and cost went down."
The McElwain Shoe company reach
ed this conclusion:
ITO sum up, our whole experience
tends to justify the shorter hours move
ment We are absolutely convinced
that it is right for the community, as {
whole, because we feel sure 1t woul(
increase the net productivity of so
ciety. We believe 1t is right for tn,
individual factory unit because we
have come to realize that even In al
individual plant the real problem is tt
get the maximum amount of worl
: done by given thousand people, not IL
a day, in week, or in year, but in {
lifetime
The contentious of the workers ar,
based upon facts. They refuse to b,
swept from their position by war hys
terra.
Eight hours In peace or in war is on
slogan to conserve human life and in
/, sure greatest output.
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