Farmers Not Backing the New Time in 1919 (Daylight Savings)

From the April 24, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1919, 100 Years Ago.

"It is very evident that the new time arrangement, whereby an hour of  daylight is saved each day by the clocks being moved ahead one hour, is not approved by farmers,  and many of them are working with the sun,  instead of with the clock.

"Milk trains in some vicinities are leaving at the same old time, that is with the sun,  although an hour later by the clock, the farmers claiming that work cannot be accomplished an hour earlier in the morning.. The rural fol have other complaints to offer,  too, on the new arrangement, and it is probable that the majority of them will work on the old time."

Where's My Milk?  --CootDay

The Rise of Daylight Saving Time-- Part 2: World War I, Bills and Vetoes

However, World War I changed all this.  The Germans were the first to adopt Daylight Saving Time (DST) on April 30, 1916, as a way to save on coal-powered lighting in factories.  The British politicians followed suit two days later and set their clocks forward.  Most other European countries did the same.

Time changed slower in the United States, which did not join the war until 1917.  Stockbrokers and manufacturers pushed for it,  but the railroads opposed it fearing a change like that would cause train crashes.  So were farmers, who worked by the sun anyway.

The stockbrokers won, the bill passed Congress and President Wilson signed it.  But, there was a problem as the date the time changed was on March 31, 1918, Easter Sunday.  But, the change went smoothly.

By the next year, the war was over and many wanted DST over as well.  Farmers were still against it and some two dozen bills were introduced in Congress to repeal it.  One passed both houses, but Wilson vetoed it.  A vote to overturn the veto failed.  Another bill passed but again Wilson vetoed it.  This time, though, opponents got the 2/3 vote necessary to overturn it.  DST was dead.

But cities like Pittsburgh and New York passed DST laws and it was brought back for a short time during WW II.  States had various DSTs, including Iowa which at one time had 23 different times depending on what town you were in.

In 1966, President Johnson made DST the law of the land.

I'm thinking DST Year Round would be the thing to do.  I hate changing all the clocks.

Technologically Challenged Me.  --Coot?

The Rise, Set and Rise of Daylight Saving Time-- Part 1: It Had to With a War

From the March 10, 2019, Chicago Tribune by Gillian Brockell of the Washington Post.

Hey, that was the day we went back on Daylight Saving Time (DST)!!

Nope, Benjamin Franklin did not invent it, suggesting that cities fire a cannon earlier to wake its citizens.

The idea of doing that DST thing came around the turn of last century from New Zealand and England.  New Zealander George Hudson wanted more time for his hobby, collecting bugs.  William Willett of England wanted more time for his passion called golf.

Neither man's desires came about.

Then came World War I, or as the English call it the First World War.  Of course, back then no one knew that there was going to be a second act so  it was mostly  just called the Great War.

--CooTime

Daylight Saving Goes National in 1967

From the November 22, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1967, 50 Years Ago.

"The nation takes a great leap backwards into standard time Sunday.  For the first time, the move will be all but universal as residents of 46 states turn their clocks back one hour."

Getting All Aboard.  --Cooter

Five Myths About Daylight Saving Time-- Part 2

3.  IT HELPS US CONSERVE ENERGY:  In 2005, Congress passed the Energy Policy Act which extended DST by a month to save four weeks of energy.  With a little more daylight available when pwople are awake, we can keep energy use down.

But the California Energy Commission had run studies that indicate energy saving at .18 percent at best.  Of course, this might lead to more air conditioning use.

4.  DST BENEFITS BUSINESSES:  Businesses lobbied for the 2005 act.  The Chamber of Commerce was definitely for it.  The grill and charcoal industries were behind it and say they gain $200 million in sales with the extra month.  The National Association of Convenience Stores probably lobbied most.  More time for kids to stock up and eat snacks and candy.  Even better around Halloween.

But, TV says its ratings suffer during DST.  hey, folks are outside.  The 8 o'clock hour (7 p.m. Central) is particularly hard hit.  Airlines are not happy either because of the cost of keeping domestic and international travel.  Amtrack is known to halt their trains for an hour in November so they don't show up early or leave before their 3 a.m. times.

5.  STANDARD TIME IS STANDARD:  We are actually on DST for eight months.  That kind of makes it THE STANDARD TIME, doesn't it.

Still getting used to the time change.

I Say Keep It Year Round.  --DaCoot

Five Myths About Daylight Savings Time-- Part 1

From the March 9, 2015, Chicago Tribune by Rachel Feltman.

Daylight Savings Time struck Sunday at 2 a.m. in every state but Hawaii and Arizona.  We've had it since World War I, but there are things about it that most people still don't know.

1.  DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME WAS MEANT TO HELP FARMERS:  The idea that more daylight means more time in the field is commonly held.  Actually, farmers were against it and that is a big reason that until 1966 we never had a peacetime daylight saving time.  Farmers had a powerful lobby.  The lost hour in the morning meant they had to rush to get their crops to the market.  And cows apparently adjust to the new time very poorly.

2.  THE EXTRA DAYLIGHT MAKES US HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER:  We get the additional vitamin D.  Fewer traffic fatalities, more recreation time and increased economic activity.  It help clear away the winter blues a little earlier.  "We all just feel sunnier."

However, experts have indicated spikes in workplace accidents, suicide, and headaches when the change occurs.

Well, I Like It.  --CooterSunShine

One Hour Back-- Part 2

"The nation rallied around President Woodrow Wilson's call to patriotism (during World War I), though, and daylight savings time was adopted nationwide in 1918." There were problems even from the beginning. The first year, the time change occurred on Easter Sunday and on this important mass of the year, the Archdiocese of Chicago decreed that Mass schedule would remain on standard time for that day.

After the war, foes of "Wilson time" took the issue to Congress. A return to "slow time" became law on a veto override.

Even so, cities across the country, including Chicago, adopted their own ordinances for daylight saving time. Bit, it was confusion. City trains operated on "summer time" while interstate trains were on standard time. Confusion reigned.

It got worse over the years as other cities and towns and states adopted saving time. Making it worse was the different start-stop times.

Finally, in 1967, daylight saving time became mandatory under federal law.

Of course, there is still the problem of driving across Indiana where I tend to ignore time as much as possible. It seems even they don't know what time it is.

Love That Daylight. --DaCoot

One Hour Back-- Part 1

This past November 6th, it was the old Fall Back thing where we moved the clock times back an hour as we left daylight saving time. I hate when it gets dark at 4:30 pm, but at least we have light earlier in the day.

Usually, I remember to do this, but have missed stuff the next day on several occasions when I didn't.

This Daylight Saving Time has gone by many names in the past and there was quite a bit of opposition to it.

From the November 6th Chicago Tribune Chicago Flashback "2 steps forward, 1 hour back" by Stephan Benzkofer.

It has been called "fast time," "summer time," "Wilson Time," "Bolshevik Time,' "standard time," "slow time" and "God's Time."

The original arguments for it revolved around saving energy during wartime, but then became a pitched battle between urban and rural time. City folk liked the extra hour of sunlight after work, but farmers argued they couldn't switch work so easily.

Did You Remember to Switch? --Cooter