The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-08-21
WERE:TOO STRONG
FOR WILSON
that Caused Congress to
Repeal Daylight Saving Law
Over His Veto
ASSOCIATED Press

Washington, Aug. Agitation
for repeal of the daylight saving law
first came from farmers but recently
has been buttressed by labor unions,
mothers clubs, rural school authori-
ties and many other interests. Urban
opinion also became divided and otfic
ials of many cities and smaller towns
came out against the law. Congress
was flooded with petitions for repeal
of the law, in collision with counter
food urging retention of the statute.
Loss of time in farm labor was the
principal objection raised to the law.
This complaint came principally from
farmers employing hired hands and
opponents of the law declared that all
farmers, at some time during the
summer season, are employers of la
hor and suffered from the law.
The complaint of loss of labor was
based principally on the shortening of
the working day on the farm by ad
yancing of the clock one hour from
March to October. The farmers de-
clared they couldn't adjust farm work
to the advanced time because, with
the clock advanced an hour, farm
work couldn't begin as early in the
morning as under the normal time
schedule and must close an hour
earlier. This is because the dew on
the ground in the early morning pre-
vents plowing and other farm labor
under the advanced time schedule.
Farm hands-hired men, etc.-it
was contended, will not work after 6
y. m. clock time, or at most z o'clock.
Advancing of the clock an hour, there
fore, caused loss of an hours work
ing time at the end of the day, when
the ground is i'll good condition for
work but with farm labor refusing to
work after or o'clock, clock time.
Individual farmers, as well as those
employing help, also declared they
suffer from great confusion from the
advanced time. Various farm activi-
ties, it was said, must coordinate with
clock time in adjacent towns and
cities. Farmers, it was explained,
must deliver produce to trains, fre-
quently early in the morning. If the
farmers work by sun time, in order to
meet ground conditions, milking OF
COWS, etc., it was said, they suffer
hardship in rising and working an
hour earlier in order to load wagons
OF produce to meet trains. They also
declare cows, chickens and other farm
animals cannet adjust themselves to
the new clock time but require atten-
tion according to natural custom and
sun-time hours.
"The rooster crows regardless of
the daylight saving law" one farmer
declared in petition to Congress.
Mothers objections to the daylight
law were based upon confusion of
conditions in the home and, funda-
mentally, loss of sleep by children
They declared children are Weakened
an hour earlier than usual under the
law and lose another hours sleep at
night, because of refusal Or inability
to sleep during daylight of the eve
ming. These conditions, it is said
cause loss of weight, fretfulness, mel:
Vous troubles and other ailments OF
childrenAand the mothers, too, from
contact with the children.
Protests against the law from labor
unions and workingmen are basec
upon the requirement of the daylight
law for earlier rising. Wives Of
workingmen, it is said, are compelled
often to rise before daylight, and pre-
pare breakfast by artificial light
Some labor unions say the hours add
ed daylight at the end of the day doe:
not compensate for the loss of sleeI
and early morning hardships of the
advanced clock time.
Rural school authorities objected tt
the law because, they said, it was {
hardship both on pupils and teachers
who often have to walk from one t.
six miles to school and must aris,
before daylight to arrive on time.
Objections of town and city official
were varied. Some toYns in agricuI
tural regions, observing farmers op
position to the law, refused to adjus
their clocks. Maintenance of the "old
time in such towns caused confusion
in meeting trains and other civic af
fairs. Other municipalities, principal
iy in the middle western time zone
passed ordinances advancing time
pieces an hour, adopting the tim
standards of the eastern zone, befor
the daylight saving law was enacted
The law, therefore, required thes
central time" cities to advance thei
timepieces still another hour. Som
observed and some declined to observ
the law, making for further confus
ion.
To the argument of champions o
the daylight law, that it makes fo
actual economic gain, in savings o
light and fuel, opponents of the Law
contended that really an economic los
develops-that farm production wa