Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-09-04
COMPARED TO REST UF WORLD
AMERICAN WORKERS BEST PAID

erS were secured understand the trials
and sacrifices made by the pioneers of
the labor movement. The wage-ean-
RS have had to fight for all they have
won. They have received no gifts.
When the American Federation of
Labor was organized men and women
We're working from ten to sixteen
hours day. They had little or no
time for education.
AS the result of organized labor's
long and persistent struggle for the
lght-hour day working hours were
reduced gradually until now it is an
accepted principle, approved by near
| ~ all people, that no wage-earner
should work more than eight hours
a day.
In the shortening of the workday
one Of the first notable results was
the large number Of men of mature
age who attended night schools to OBJ
tam the education that had been de-
med them because they had been
compelled to work from sun-up to
sun-down. With the invention of ar
tltlclal light they had to work at
night.
1t can not be disproved that where
the eight-hour day prevails the COM
munlty is more prosperous than it
had been with longer working hours.
Many employers conducted their bus
mess on the principle that men would
work for less wages an hour if they
were given a longer workday.
AS the hours in a days work are
decreased, it has been demonstrated
That wages are increased. In the old
hand-typesetting days, newspaper
compositors worked from ten to four
teen hours for less money than they
receive now for eight hours. 1t was
not so many years ago that building
trades workmen were paid $1.75 to
S2.75 a day. Now they are paid from
$8 to S14 day.
The economic conditions of the
workers have been improved in this
country more than in any other. In
the homes of the Wage-earners can be
found many if not all of the comforts
that make for the happiness of the
family.
And these conditions, not given vol
unfairly, were gained little by little,
and often only after great sacrifices.
The credit must be given to the
trade-union movement. No other or
ganization has for its purpose the
economic advancement of humanity.
Today the American wage-earner is
better housed, better fed and better
clothed than any other wage-earner
in the world
1t has become recognized econom-
lc TACT that the prosperity of the COM
munlty in general and of those of
means in particular depends largely
upon the increasing wants and the
elevatlng of social life and character
OF the wage-earners.
Considered from this point of view
the whole subject of industrialism
assumes more rational and humane
aspect.
1t brings into play the science of
human welfare, making the social life
OF the producers an end to which the
creation Of the commodities is a
means.
1t no longer sees masses crowded
TO the verge Of starvation, but wit
nesses a life bearing a message of
prosperity and progress to the whole
OF humanity.
Policies suitable to a previous pro-
ductlve era are no longer applicable.
The gospel of cheap labor is generally
considered hostile to social advance.
Trade unionism is rapidly gaining
the recognition to which it is entitled.
AS result the workers are being
considered as an initial point of OBJ
servation in all discussions relating
to production and distribution.
We have entered a road that is
built upon the principle that it is an
economic fallacy to expect our indus
try to prosper when wages are low,
working hours are long and wage
earners are mentally and physically
depressed