The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-12

Fl try frc.a which most is feared in the Way of competition by and by2
 The Federation of British Industries < has issued comprehensive information. E Ihe normal, or rather nominal working ] time in Germany .s 4S hours q week. z But in most industries employers have 4 che right to demand 54 hours work with ' cut having to pay. any extra rate for S Che additional six hours.
 Beyond 54 hours a week, workers 1eceive an increase of 10 per cent in ' their rate
 Employers have to receive permission 4 From trade unions representatives to work members be- ond 54 hours as general rule.
 These figures represent what may be S termed the minimum. For example, in Che Cologne metal industry, 54-hour week prevails and employers can de- mand three additional hours per week s at 10 per cent extra pay, with 20 per { cent rate beyond g hours. \ In the woolen industry the normal working time is 56 hours a week. Public sentiment in the United States would sternly oppose, any such working tkours in this country. Moreover, over time pay here is not 10 per cent above She regular rate, but most often is ~time and half" with double pay for holidays and sometimes for Sundays.
  Instead of the war having been fol- lowed in this country by any demand for a longer working day, the effect has all been in the other direction. But it 4s not difficult to understand why there should have arisen pressure in Euro pean countries for longer working hours These countries have felt the pinch of necessity. Whereas the United States, by comparison, has been Enjoying pros perity and luxury.
 But what of the future?
 Gan America, with short working day, hold it's own in the markets of the world with European countries that have q long working day?
 One mans guess may be as good as another. Mine is that by and by for sign competition will become much keen CT than 1t has been during recent years. very much doubt, however, whether there will be any general return in this country to Il longer working day.
 If not. what?
 I believe that enlightened trade union leaders, and enlightened wage earners will come to realize the necessity for doing away with any and every rule and regulartion which tends to cut down production per man.
 l believe that we shall experience con ditions which will move labor leaders to urge workers not to do simply enough to ''get by but to do their level best to improve output.
 If the idea can be spread throughout the length and breadth of the land, among all classes, that the time has come, when not merely tHe interests of employers but the interests of the na- tion as n whole, demand that every worker put forth every day his best ef- forts, and that to do otherwise would be distinctly unpatriotic, then I believe that the response by American workmen would be most cfeditable
 The demand for longer working hours in certain European countries has been classed on the grounds of patriotism and the, response has been at least part ly prompted by patriotic motives.
 We have in this country probably a larger number of intelligent, clear thinking workers, than any other coun- try possesses. And certainly the pa triotism of American working men as a whole is second to none.
 Therefore, if real need arises, if the necessity for increased effort becomes apparent; to the general public and to wage earners. l, for one, believe that American workers will rise to the emer- gency, just as the great majority of them did during the war.
 Should such a state of affairs arise. it would not be harmful but beneficial to the workers themselves. We all know that if, for any reason, we are doing less than what we are easily ca- pable of doing, our self respect, our character, our happiness and satisfac- tion suffer.
 And no man of healthy mind relishes the feeling that he is more or less a stacker, shirker. Something inside of him tells him that he is not playing in the world of best and biggest and mo- blest part of which he is capable.
 If each one of us do our part, Amer ica, never fear, can hold it's own against any nation and every nation no mat ter how severe outside competition may become,