Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-05-03
HOURS AND


The International typographical Union has publish
ed . pamphlet presenting statements ana arguments in
support OF the demand for . reduction in the lengths Of
the working week from 4s to ~ hours in the commercial
printing trades. One chapter is devoted to the relation
OF hours OF labor to longevity.
According to figures quoted from the records of
the New York typographical society. in 1880. when print
ers worked twelve hours a day their average age At death
was IS. By successive stepsSthe working day was reduced
to eleven, ten, nine and eight hours, the last reduction
having been made In 1906. We are told that these
changes were followed by extensionsin the average age
OF printers at death to IS. 1878. 4s.4s, and 5s.l7 years
respectively.
The figures Of the American Experience Table of
Mortality are cited to show that the average expectancy
of the 2l-year-old American citizen indicates his death
at about s: years Of age. If the printers life, on the
average. extends only to 53.l7 years, the printer still dies
about nine years earlier than the average American citi-
zen. The additional reduction Of four hours a week
in working time is therefore demanded in order to give
the printer nine more years Of life.
These figures were quoted in substance at the open.
forum meeting Of the Commercial club last week, and
a plea was made for the shorter working week on the
same basis.
Assuming them to be correct, the trouble with these
figures Is that they prove nothing. There are some things
concerning which figures are needless. No statistics are
necessary TO show, for instance, that the twelve hour
workin day is too lons. There are many persons who
work hard for more than twelve hours a day, and thrive
on 1t. But when the length of the working day is under
discussion the subject which is being considered is not
how long a man may work without injury to himself
when he has the incentive which comes from proprietor
ship, or when his activities arc SO varied and intermit-
tent as to be relieved Of monotony, or when other con-
dttions peculiar to the individual exist. The discussion
is Of the number Of hours proper for the employee in an
occupation requiring fairly close and continuous applica-
ton. In such occupations the twelve hour day is 'obvi-
ously too long. 1t deprives the individual of needed rest.
recreation and family life. If figures should be used to
point to a different conclusion there would be a hitch in
them somewhere, because they would be contrary to the
manifest facts.
The figures quoted above are misleading because
they are used to prove something which cannot be proven
In that way. Two sets of facts are shown to exist, there
result from the facts in the other. Observation and the
terial shortening Of the working day from the carly ex-
as a whole. But how much it has increased the longevity
and we have no means of finding out.
There are many influences which have affected hu-
man health, and consequently human life. entirely apart
from the length Of the working day. There has been
constantly increasing attention paid to matters Of health
and sanitation. Working quarters are better lighted and
ventilated. More thought is given to the prevention of ac-
cidents. And. in the printing trades, especially the intro
duction Of machinery has created a demand for work
men Of an entirely different type from the old-time
tramp printer. once SO common. but who has almost
disappeared.
In so far as the former working day was of ex-
cessive length. its reduction to moderate limits has un-
doubtedly been beneficial, and has had its influence, not
only on the comfort, but on the length of life Of the
printer. But when all that is good is ascribed to this
one cause, the argument is weakened, as it always is when
1t involves an absurdity.