Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/545

 SOCIAL EFFECTS OF THE EIGHT-HOUR DAY 525

for the eight-hour day. Employers will pay for production, and no more. It is a most dangerous fallacy that looks upon work as definite in amount, that must be done regardless of wages or number to be employed. Employment must rest ultimately upon the amount of wealth created. Consequently, the eight-hour- day question resolves itself into this query : Can as much work be done in eight hours as in ten ? It is evidently presumed in the philosophy of the movement that this is impossible, since u great army of the unemployed are to re-enter the ranks of industry when such a day is secured.

As a means of solving the unemployed problem the eight- hour day has no value except as it abolishes overtime and all its kindred evils. The phenomenon of non-employment is due in a large measure to sickness, shiftlessness of individual laborers, and the fluctuations of commercial credit resulting in the closing of mills and the discharge of workers. Upon the first two the eight-hour day has no visible effect ; upon the third, by abol- ishment of overtime, it may have a most important bearing. Employment and production would be rendered more stable, and periods of non-employment and overtime would be displaced by continuous employment of the worker. Objection to over- time as a usual thing is more on the ground of the destruction of seasonal trades and the failure to supply press orders. In some instances the abandonment of overtime would not materi- ally affect the season of employment, but there is no reason why press orders may not be anticipated by buyer and seller, causing a more equitable distribution of work throughout the year. On the other hand, it is urged that to cut the hours of the day will give greater opportunity for overtime, but this may be ade- quately answered by the vote of trade unions upon this point ; although individually the members may favor such practice, in the long run it means a lowered rate and a contracted area of employment.

The vast majority of the advocates of this movement favor it because they hope the blighting competition of the unemployed may be removed by the reduction of hours of labor. Such experience as has been had in various lands where the eight-hour