Chamber Chatter for March 5 - Debbe Ridley

Here we are again! Yea! Time to wake up at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 8 to change our clocks! As you probably know, the “changing-of-the-clocks” ritual seems to have become an annual topic of discussion in the Oklahoma legislature the past few years. Seems some of our elected officials believe DST “has outlived its usefulness” and they favor year-round clock consistency. Others have argued to hold the line, and to stay in step with the rest of the country.
So far, at least, nothing to lose -- or gain -- sleep over, though. The idea struck out again this session. Please forgive this personal opinion on the topic. Please, PLEASE don’t take our sunshine away! (Pretty please?)

What about the actual history of the practice? According to webexhibits.org/daylightsaving, while in practice in some countries as early as 1916, the plan was not formally adopted in the U.S. until 1918. After the “Great War” ended, it was unpopular because of the “very different schedules of people today,” and it was repealed in 1919 with a Congressional override of President Wilson’s veto.
During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt instituted year-round Daylight Saving Time, called "War Time," from February 9, 1942 to September 30, 1945.

What was the reaction in Marlow, Oklahoma? From the February 5, 1942 Marlow Review: “SAVING DAYLIGHT. On February 9 daylight saving time becomes a national institution. When first tried several years ago, there seemed to be something almost sacrilegious about tampering with time. But the people in daylight saving time areas quickly became used to the idea and were soon troubled only by the problems of figuring whether the clock should be set backward or forward and how to read railroad timetables. With national daylight saving, most of the complications will be eliminated. We will all get the habit of getting up one hour earlier and going to bed an hour earlier. After a few months, we hope, even the cows and chickens may get the idea.”

“But the purpose of national daylight saving is not to cater to the whims of any group of people but to aid our war problems. Many of us think of electricity as something which is limitless in supply — like air or water — but actually the country faces a power shortage and unless major steps are taken to reduce use of power to non-essential purposes, we may soon be forced to have power rationing.”

“The demands for power, because of our nation’s unprecedented production program, is much greater than it has ever been before. Although new power plants are rapidly being developed, they will be unable to supply all industrial needs as well as consumer needs. Daylight saving time is probably the most painless way to everyone concerned for cutting down on general use of power. It means an extra hour in the evening when none of us need to use lights and that releases enough power to industry to produce many tanks and planes. “

“Later we may have to do more cutting down on the use of electricity. In some areas clocks may be advanced still further. It may be that signs, store-windows and some of our home lights may be ordered blacked-out. Meanwhile, let’s do all we can voluntarily to cut down on the use of power – and don’t forget to set your clocks forward, not backward, on February 9.”

According to the current Uniform Time Act a state may exempt itself from DST. Oklahoma is our state. As for me and mine -- we can’t wait for March 8!
What say you?