Show trade union success in effort to shorten the hours of labor by SAMUEL GOMPERS president american federation of labor ABOR day brings to the workers L ot of america the tha right to cheer and confidence in III lie ilia trade union movement there have been tests and crises that have proved its ts there have anve been opportunities that have tested its ita practical effle lency through thein nil the trade union movement hiis has made sure progress and gained in confident vision for the future every national and international every local union affiliated to the american federation of labor lias has made definite nite progress in securing for its members greater advantages in those things which tire lire fundamental of betterment in all reint ions of life in some organizations tho the success has bas avell phenomenal there has bas been great progress in securing the lie eight hour day or the shorter workday tile alio ine meaning aning of tho the vic c tortes can be interpreted only in the light of full understanding of the lie meaning of the eight hour day tile shorter workday Is something more than an economic demand it Is a demand for opportunity for rest recuperation ver pe ration atlon and development things which make inake life more than mechanical drudgery tile the workers whose whole periods are re short are arc essentially different from those who are so BO worn by toll that they have neither energy nor mind for other kotlier in life they become more energetic more resourceful workers with keener and greater producing power it inevitably follows that tho the short hour bour workers are tile aliu best paid workers with every reduction in hours there Is always a corresponding sp increase in wages wherever demands for the shorter workday rind higher wages have been presented and urged by organized workers during tile the last year they have met inet with success these economic gains have a potent relation to the social side of life shortening the period of work lengthens tile P of development 10 it i and for till nil at af the other oilier activities that delong to tile hie nominal in in wages give tin tilt workers tin tile means for taking inking advantage of like ini in creased opportunities of tile shorter workday the workers of short hours S x and better wages become very different citizens from those who are arc so ex hausted by the dolly daily grind that tiley they anve neither the time nor the energy for thought or aspiration galus metin bettor better homes lio roes better food better clothing tame and opportunity for tile cultivation of the best and the highest that Is possible in tile aitio of an |