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THE ATLANTIAN
November, 1916
The Eight Hour Day
Much criticism has been leveled at President Wilson
because of his approval of the 8 hour day.
The critics are mostly men who sit in comfortable of
fices and keep such hours as suits their convenience.
We do not hear much criticism from the men who are
doing the drudgery of life. One of the critics boasted
that for 15 years he did drudgery work and has now
reached the point where he can sit up.
Follow out that idea, let us suppose that every
man who starts at the drudgery work is so endowed
that in a few years he gets away from it. Who then
will do the heavy labor? How long will the wheels go
round when every man gets to the point that he can sit
up” in a comfortable office?
who are so qualified that they rise above the common
All men are not equally endowed in ability. The men
level should recall the long days of hard labor and try
to curb their greed so that those who can not rise may
have decent hours and a living wage.
The 8-hour day is here to stay, and the less friction
which accompanies its 'general acceptance the better
for the country. It is founded in justice, and will pre
vail. . ,
Henry Ford, probably the largest single employer of
labor in the country, pronounces it just and has found it
profitable.
Another big concern, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber
Co., established the 8-hour day in their gigantic plant
on Nov. 1.
The more intelligent of big employers will fall in line,
the more greedy will fight the principle, for to them
labor is merely'a commodity, and their fellow-men no
more than the iron machines in the shops. The better
men will act voluntarily, and the men whose God is
greed, must be made to do by the strong arm of the law.
Given anything like a fair chance and the law will
justify itself—and promptly.
The Passing of Andy Stewart
Thousands of people in Atlanta had sorrowful hearts
when it was announced that Andy Stewart had passed
from the ranks of the living.
To all of us he was not Andrew P. Stewart, holding an
honorable and responsible position, but just Andy Ste
wart, with his cheerful and spontaneous smile, his read
iness to oblige, his big-hearted charity, his genuine love
for his fellow men.
We knew him as a capable official, but few of us
thought of him as an able business man. because that
side was not kept to the front as it usually is with good
business men.
For 30 years he served his people faithfullv and well.
Time and again other good men opposed him in the elec
tions. but without any apparent effort “Uncle Andy”
would beat them hands down.
In so far as one could judge he never bore malice and
was just as ready after election to do a kindly office for
one who had opposed him, as he was become election.
A big, genial, gentle, kindly soul his good deeds were
countless and the people apparently loved him even as
he loved them. ,. . .
To those of us who knew him it was always a pleasure
to meet him, even for a minute, because we knew that
back of the genial greeting was the big heart.
We shall miss him, and that mightily, because he be
longed to a class which is all too small in this troubled
would. May his rest be sweet!
Georgia Railway and Power Co.
and the Police
The Georgia Railway and Power Company controls
our street car service, our gas service, our electric light
service, and the sale of electric current for power. It
has everything that Atlanta can give, and pays very
moderately for what it has.
It has never been a liberal paymaster to its employees.
It has persistently boycotted union men, and refused to
permit its employees to organize or become members of
the union.
The natural result has followed, and the company is
at war with union labor.
At the very outset of the trouble the company demand
ed and got police protection. The demands of the Com
pany have necessitated a large amount of extra service
by the police. Does it not seem fair that the Company,
which by its refusal to make fair and just concession
could have obviated the trouble, should pay for the extra
service which the police are compelled to give to protect
the Company’s property? Let our readers think over
this a little, and they will probably come to our conclu
sion that even though the company may be ever so arbi
trary or tyrannical with its own men, it has no right to
demand the backing up of the city to the extent of over
working the police without extra pay merely that the
Company shall have its way, which in this case, is not
the right way.
The Atlanta National Bank
■in* purcnase oi me American National Bank and the
practical consolidation of its staff with the staff of the
Atlanta National Bank gives Atlanta the strongest bgnk
m the southeast.
For ol years the Atlanta National has been a tower of
financial strength in this community. Its management
has always adhered to safe banking principles and its
patrons have always been well served. It is now old
enough to have traditions and the traditions hinge
around the motto of “Safety First.” g
The American National also had a successful history,
so much so that its stockholders realized over $200 for
each 8100 share, in addition to which they have received
fair dividends every year.
J^ COmbinati .° n ^ wo banks gives them a list of
a^nn^r^w 1 ? the buildin £ of this city: Austell,
that ha Y e ™ ant much in Atlanta’s history.
pf? ns °ft y jjp L Peel - and Charles E. Currier
remain win? 1316 ’ ^ddox,. Rucker, Inman, Thornton
tE wkW tT' and certainIy ever .V one who knows
1 ^ J” man , y Peasant and restful years.
k p sant to see that some of the veterans are rep-