Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-02
Labor Day Finds Gain
Toward Five-Day Week
RY. HARDEN COLFAX.

Labor day of 1923 finds the organs
ICED workers of the United states APP
preaching high tide of their EFFORT 10
bring about five-day work week, WIN
hundreds Of thousands already on that
basis of employment.
A century ago, the forefathers OF the
nresent generation OF economic ana
social campaigners we're beginning ne
ootiations for the reduction OF working
hours to ten q day, six days week.
By 1910. the ten-hour day was the
custom In most trades. In 1854, the
campaign for the eight-hour DAY ~as-
sumed organized form:
Advocates of the five-day, 4O-nour
week will speak from hundreds OF plat
forms tomorrow at celebrations OF the
holiday honoring workers;
THE American Federation of Labor
two years ago adopted program look
ing toward adoption OF the fve-day
week through a campaign OF educa-
tton recognizing that 1t could not De
accomplished against stubborn opposl-
ton. nor In all industries Immediately
AT the annual convention TO be neid
in New Orleans In November. the
executive committee will be able to re-
mort definite progress The campaign
Il more extensive than generally rec
ognized The five-day week already
has been established by some plants
in many lines--automotive, construc-
ton, printing, garment-manufacturng,
mining, steel etc.-often by employers
at their own suggestion.
" " y
Speaking the past week at the con-
| yention OF the New York State Fed
Grafton Of Labor at Rochester, William
Green, president Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. pointed out that the
object of organized labor is the same
| wage for five-day week as for six
or ve-and-a-half-day week. "Hign
wages and greater production go hand
| in hand and combine TO make high
standard of living" the labor chieftain
said, adding that the productivity OF
the American worker has increased 20
| to so per cent within the last 10
years"
Behind the movement for the short
er work week are two ideas: First, the
worker should be given opportunity for
greater rest and recreation, particu-
| larly In those occupations where spe-
ciallzation and Standardization mean
| that the employe performs the same
task with a machine steadily, making
one relatively small part OF a great
whole: secondly. the increase OF ma
| chinery In production has displaced so
many workers that there are not as
many jobs as formerly. output consid-
| cred
Trade disputes are on the decline.
, The number of serious strikes, or lock-
outs, Is decreasing steadily, partlcu-
larly In the United States. The Ma
tional Industrial Conference Board an
nounced the results Of q study OF con-
ditions In eight countries, showing that
| the ratio OF workers involved In indus
| trial disputes was per thousand In
| 1927 as against 40 per thousand In
| 1919 In the United States, with similar
decreases In the other countries with
the exception OF Australia, where an
| increase was recorded.
Employment In selected manufacture
| Ing industries. as reported by the De-
partment of Labor, Is tending upward
after slump. but III July was 3 per
cent below the level of che same month
| last year, with pay rolls 10 smaller
Explaining the movement for the
shorter work week, President Green of
the American Federation of Labor has
| pointed out the federation's position as
| involving both wages and hours.
las the workers productivity fn~
ereases, his wages first OF all must In
crease In proportion In order that they
shall help to absorb this increased out
| put" Mr.. Green has said. Secondly.
| there must be u progressive reduction
of the hours of labor. so that men
and women may have time TO rebuild
exhausted physical energies This is
more than ever important In the highly
| specialized processes OF modern In
dustry. where speed and monotony
tax physical resistance TO the utmost. !"
1.-THE tendency OF modern industry
TO produce goods In larger and larger
quantities calls Tor a continuing In
crease In power IN buy on the part of
the public" the same authority In the
shorter~week movement says, When
the balance between these two economic
forces Ia not kept and pro-