Economic and Social Importance of the Eight-Hour Movement

"There is nothing new or novel in the proposition for a general reduction of the hours of labor."

There is nothing new or novel in the proposition for a general reduction of the hours of labor. It introduces no new principle into society. It proposes no arbitrary interference with economic and social relations; it disturbs no existing interests; it does not change the relation of buyers to sellers, or laborers to employers; in fact, it does not in any way arbitrarily disturb existing economic and social institutions. All it asks for is that the laborer shall have more leisure; that the development of his social character may be commensurate with the increase of his productive power and the comfort and culture of his home may grow apace with the wealth-cheapening capacity of the factory.