Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-06-21
Defroifers Think Well of
Daylight Saving Plan

special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
DETROIT. Mich. June 21-Tel
years ago the question of daylieh
saving was first agitated in Detroit
Two years ago the plan was formal,
adopted. To-day as merely one in
stance Of its successful operation the
Z ira hour Of daylight is saving S30o
10 annually from Detroiters light
But you couldn't have made many
Detroiters believe anything good
about eastern standard time when the
movement got under way No indeed
control standard time was good
enough and it had proved quite safe
lhere wasn't any telling what tam.
~pering with the clock might do!
General apathy was supplanted bv
aggressive opposition TO the plan
when its advocates organized the
More Daylight Club in 1907. This
body was compelled to work against
the teachings of the Board Of Com.
merce. labor bodies and every other
society approached on the subject as
well as some that were not an.
preached.
Finally public interest was suf7ci.
emily awakened to obtain a vote on
the question, but here was more woe
10 the followers of BENJAMIN Frank
lin. who had first conceived the dav-
light saving scheme! The vote result
ed in decided defeat, more daylight
railing to carry in a single precinct
out Of $50. This was in 1908.
In 1911, the More Daylight Club,
continuing its educational campaign.
felt strong enough 10 submit the is
sue 10 another vote. This time the
agitatOrs carried eight wards out OF
eighteen. a decrease in the margin Of
defeat that gave them much encour-
agement.
Another impetus came in May. 1914,
when Cleveland changed from cen
trail TO eastern time Detroit didn't like
10 think of its rival being ahead in
anything
Public spirited citizens got busy as
reports began to sift in from Cleve-
land Of the many advantages which
the additional hour Of daylight there
afforded right from the start Investi-
cation developed the fact that eest-
ern time was doing for Cleveland
everything that Detroit's more day
light advocates had been claiming II
would do for Detroit Newton d.
Baker. now secretary Of war. but
then mayor Of Cleveland. gave his
in writing. I'VE
made the change without the least
difficulty" he made answer to De
troit's inquiry 1T had met with uni /
versal favor and I think nobody in /
Cleveland would now be willing to |
change to central time"
Railroad and transportation com |
panies which had led the Board of |
Commerce fight against advancing the /
clock began 10 say they personally /
liked the idea. but feared some con
fusion in business.
However explains Walter C. /
Cole, secretary of the Board of Com
merce, I'VE finally reached the posi- /
ton where we could not see why the /
entire population Of Detroit should /
be deprived OF one hour OF daylight /
every day for fear few travellers /
might he confused for a day or two
as to train or boat time"
Under central standard time. II was /
shown. Detroit in year experienced /
sos hours of daylight before a. m /
256 hours OF artificial light before s I
p m. and only 40 10 hours Of day !
light after p. m.
Under eastern standard time. tho /
city would have only 800 "a hours OF /
daylight before a. m. only 50 10 /
hours of artificial light before 6 Pm,
but total Of 306 hours of daylight /
after p m.
Railroad interests came to see the
point eventually. Up spoke F. A. De
anO. president Of the Wabash Rail /
road Co.: Il think II would really |
facilitate business If the big cities
between the Mississippi river and the
seaboard all had the same time"
Then the board of directors OF the I
Y. NJ c. A. got back of the movement.
THE main object of this association
Is 10 aid the young men OF Detroit /
In every way possible" they said.
I'VE give much attention to physical
Improvement because we believe
through a healthy body the average
young man will develop a healthy
mind
"As daylight would last one hour
later by the clock under eastern stan !
dard time, we believe the advantages /
TO be derived in natural healthful |
out-of-door recreation. would be OF in.
estimable value. There are also moral /
We know vice thriyes +
under the protection afforded by +
darkness Under eastern standard
time daylight would last we'll into the
evening for all summer months. We
are unanimously in favor Of its adop-
ton for Detroit"
Nineteen different labor organizs-
tions OF Detroit petitioned for the
change in time.
at would be a veritable boon 10
baseball" said President Frank J.
Navin, Of the Detroit baseball club. /