Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-11

Although Henry Ford has been eX-
perimenting with the f1ve-day week LOT
come time. his recent decision to in
crease the personnel of his plant IN
order to use the machinery six days
each week causes much speculation.
Some observers wonder whether he mas
abandoned his original idea that WORK
ers could produce as much in flve Gays
as they did formerly in the full week.
Others think he simply intends TO get
the maximum out of machinery without
wearing out the man. There is some
skepticism as to the general adoption
of the five-day week in American in
dustry, partly because of the problem
of using the leisure provided TO the
advantage of the individual.
On the latter point the Baltimore
Sun suggests that Ito be released from
drudgery is an advantage in itself 10
the individual. but neither he nor the
public will be helped in the long run
unless he is able to discover a satisfy
ing way of improving his freedom. One
would like to believe" the Sun ADDS
this could be easily done. but observa-
ton of cotemporary popular recreations
and amusements does not give too much
ground for indulging the hope"
A similar point is made by the Fort
WAYNE News-Sentinel. with the state
ment that Mr.. Ford would far better
have waited until Americans have been
educated to make better use OF the
leisure time already at their disposal
before increasing that leisure" The
history of reduced hours of labor Is
mentioned by that paper. with the COM
ment: ut has been only a few years
loA- rovs
would be ruinous to abolish the 12-hour
dav in some departments of the steel
industry. Now, of course, the eight
hour day is working out very satiSfac-
toriiy. But there Is limit to all such
matters"
Economic effects of leisure are dis
cussed by the Hartford Times: THE
five-day week Is likely to lengthen the
week end This means not only an in
crease In the consumption of gas and
oil but it fosters trade in a dozen diff
ferent lines. So a certain section of
industry has come to argue: Increase
the leisure of the great mass of people,
giving them more time and opportunity
for spending money. and their increased
purchases will speed up trade and in
dustry and promote the general pros
perity. Thus, strangely enough,
it is seriously proposed to capitalize
idleness as motive power to accelerate
the turning of the wheels of industry"
* X X *
with an extra day each week"
suggests the Rock Island Argus. pro-
duction costs will be reduced through
the use of the plant on the extra day.
The company's purpose, then, Is to en-
ploy another days personnel and gain
another days production without dis
turbing the policy of giving each man
two days of leisure week" The st.
Louis Times finds also that "it is the
conviction of the great car builder that
while more than five days work week
may tire the back of man 1t cannot
do the same thing to machine" The
Times views Mr.. Ford as one who Is
lin some spots sentimentalist" and
''in business an inspired idealiSt."
1t is pointed out by the Columbus
Ohio State Journal that "the American
Federation of Labor Is pledged to the
principle of che five-day week. not only
as means of giving workers more
time off but as means Of relieving