Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-11
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proposal to fix by law 4S hours as
the limit of all workers has a un:
versal application, and becomes
matter Of serious importance TO each
citizen: and leads inevitably to a
consideration of whether, after
weighing all the facts, it is either
wise or necessary or even possible to
establish an eight hour law in Maine
without serious results following in
its wake.
Should this measure become law,
the next step will he to limit the
amount of work one Will be allowed
to accomplish in a day. custom
which p svails in many Of the states,
when the earning capacity OF the
most efficient workers is restricted
and curtailed. for the very appar-
ent reason that the inefficient
workers cannot be elevated to the
higher standards, resulting in lower
ing the earnings Of the best work
men. Such a condition is not in the
interest of the wage eaTncrs, and is
destructive of the ambition of those
of the greater ability to do things.
Every person should have the UNI
restricted right to earn all that they
arc capable of doing without any
limitation. II they can earn twice
what another can within the same
time they should be paid twice as
much as the other. If this principle
is not to he the practice, what in
CcntiVe is there for those capable Of
doing an extra amount OF work with
in a given time. and doing it extra
well. what incentive is there 70 be
to Sucn persons to go on and develop
TO their full capacity, If they are to
1. i Il
the same plane with those vino have
neither their capacity or efficiency?
This must be the result of the adOp
ton of such practice because it APP
plies most adversely 10 the capable,
for the reason that the poor work
man cannot he brought up to the
higher standard. Does Maine want
to open the door for such a policy
which prevails in many other states
If SO the quickest way Will be to
adopt this proposed 4S-hour law.
The last Legislature enacted law
limiting the hours of employment of
minors less than sixteen years OF age
to IS hours per week. Which takes
care of minors wherever employed
in Maine.
SO far as the advocates Of the pro-
posed law arc to he affected. it is
very evident that in most cases 1t
will result in reduced wage for
they will not he able to hold their
Jobs and demand the same wages
for eight hours work that they re-
ccivcd for nine hours. if they do they
are due for a disappointment. for
YOU cannot pull a rope only so tight
before it breaks. and many of the
businesses OF Maine arc at the
straining point Any further burdens
placed upon those businesses Will
cause their suspension, and the sus-
pension OF one business naturally at-
tects all other business. \ nine
hour day is not an unrcasonaDlN
long day. on the contrary it is a
reasonably short day. and under
present conditions the nine-hour day
works to the great disadvantage of
many kinds of business. II they
have additional handiCaps imposed
upon them they must cease to func-
ton. to the injury of all other lines
of activity.
Many are disposed to scott at the
idea. of New England being in any
danger of losing its textile industries,
but. to those who are well informed.
il is a real danger. and unless some
cheaper dependable power is found,
other than coal. MANY of the indus
tries OF New England will be COM
PEELED to move nearer to the base OF
supplies Of the raw materials which
enter into their manufactures. l
have it from most reliable authority,
q man who is at the head of one OF
the largest OF Massachusetts in
dustries. that. it has been tho policy
of his company for Years to build
up a sinking fund for the construc-
ton of a new plant, this fund has
now reached several millions of dol
lars. but he says we have decided
to make no move towards new con-
struction until the question of the
hours of labor are definitely settled.
Statistics of the most reliable sort
conclusivelv prove that New Eng
land is fast losing its supremacy in
the manufacture of the textiles, as
the center of population of the
United States is moved farther west
with each decade. the tendency to
establish manufacturers of all kinds
is to follow the centers of population.
We must not delude ourselves with
the thought that Names mdevClop-
ed water powers furnish a resource
that cannot he matched in other
parts Of the country. il VIC do VIC
will awake some dnN to Il realization
that we have nurturcd. dream.
The Columbia river alone, with its
tributaries. has Dower possibilities
greater than all Names water
water powers combined. and as the
center of population moves further
and further westward with each de-
cade. those powers become more &C
ccssible. and will he utilized for
manufacturing in the not distant
future.
We need TO make the most of our
natural resources by development OF
industries which will result to the
benefit of the entire state. by in
crcasing our population and broad =
Fastening our home markets. which
cannot he done by placing obstacles
in the way. We all want Maine to
grow and prosper. but it will not be
brought about by imposing arbitrary
restrictions upon our present in
dustrics, which will prevent capital
from investing in Maine. The pros
poritv Of the State is dependent upon
the prosperity of the individual. and
Cver% employer of labor is anxious to
retain his most efficient workers, and