Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-12
Union Labor C1er.Steps.

Union Labor C9er.Steps.
1t is perfectly pat at to the most
casual reader OF the daily papers
that labor, capital and production of
goods IN all their aspects and ramifl-
cations are in q state Of confusion,
unrest, and ominous rumbling. and
that q crisis in regard to these funda-
mentals Of daily life must soon be
faced. Labor, being the more numer-
Gus, vociferous and aggressive of the
two factors in production, makes the
more noise.
The war raised the common man
to an elevation he had not expected
to reach for q long time. He made
the shoes and ships and sealing wax,
the shells and submarines and soup,
the thousand and one things needed
for the army and navy; and then he
became the army and navy and by the
simple, honest doing Of his duty he
became hero on pedestal. This is
the day. pre-eminently. Of the COM
mon man. He toppled three great
monarchs, to say nothing OF the
smaller ones, from their thrones and
ended the days of dynastic autocracy.
He is listened to when he offers an
opinion and consulted when he does
not. His importance is recognized
and very fairly evaluated by those
who can see him as he is.
The danger is and the fact is that
he cannot see himself in his proper
relation to the rest of the world. 1t
is not surprising that his sudden rise
in society has turned his head some
what. has perhaps proved intoxicat-
ing But even so, this situation is not
to be condoned or allowed to wear off
until he becomes sober again and goes
back to his job and his regular way of
living. He is likely to break up too
much furniture and cause too much
trouble for himself, his family and his
neighbors.
In the first place labor has no RICH.
to a postwar spree. Nobody argues
any more in defense Of mans moral
right to make a fool Of himself. 1t
simply isn't done. Public opinion is
against it.
In the second place there is no time
for it. The worlds productive
mechanism has been diverted for the
last four years to making things to
destroy and to be destroyed. Pro-
duction of necessaries was limited as
strictly as possible, and luxuries We're
eliminated. Now. with the near APP
proach Of peace people are asking for
the things they were accustomed to
have and the demand for goods will
shortly create the best markets that
have ever been known--if all goes
, WE'LL There is also a need and an
opportunity for labor to make up time
on building construction and land i'm
provement projects that have been
| lying idle for two or more years. And
there is the no less real need of keep
ing things moving as a matter OF
readjustment and reconstruction.
| But what is going on, in our coun-
try alone, leaving the Russian boil
sheviks, the Irish strikers and the
English and French labor troubles
out Of consideration?
In Biddeford the Saco-Lowell ma
chine shops are adopting Il 4o-hour
week with Saturday holiday; the
| Peppcrell and York textile mills are
idle. waiting settlement of troubles;
| at Lawrence the Pacific Mills dyers
are insisting on "a hours pay for As
! hours work with time and half for
over time; at Woonsocket four mills
are closed and four are running with
but few hands; many Rhode Island
mills are running on the 4Shour plan.
recently adopted and are now start
ing agitation for a shorter week.
In all. more than $4,000 textile work.
ers from Maine to Georgia are OH
strike for shorter hours.
| There are sound arguments for the
eight hour day as principle of liv-
ing-which is what it should be, not a
bylaw Of the trades union organiza-
lions. The worlds work can be done
in an eight hour day. If everybody
will do his part, and the remaining
sixteen hours should be utilized for
education, social intercourse, rest and
recreation. Scientists say no better
| division can be made.
But we are constantly faced with
the demand for a shorter and shorter
TO ALL WOMEN