New-York daily tribune., 1844-02-16
Factories and Labor


ed with other Labor-a controversy Which
assumed very wrongly somewhat the aspect OF
a party one Those friendly to the Manutacto-
ries insisted that the Workers Of 1'y:!t are
healthful than they were before they came there
more healthful than the corresponding classes in
the adjacent Agricultural districts. The other
side represented Factory life as extremely preju
dicial TO health, to strength, and to the maturing
of the human Especially Female constitution
Looking closely and calmly at the statements and
counterstatements, it was not difficult to per-
ceive that each side was partly right and partly
wrong; that, while it is obvious that no monoto-
nous, indoor labor can be quite SO healthful as
more active varied, out door employments, there
is much in the regularity, seasonable hours, ab-
sence of exposure, &c. of the Factory which is
favorable to health. and that no constitution (save
a very peculiar one) need suffer from working
reasonable hours in a properly constructed and
ventilated factory.
But, on the other hand, it is obvious without
argument that labor in over crowded, unventilat-
ed, damp or overheated factories may be prejudi-
cial 10 health. Working excessive or unseasona-
BILE hours cannot fail to be injurious. And dagan'
crowding the Factory Workers comPactly INTO
boarding houses ten or dozen to room, must
have most pernicious effect. We DO not know
that the employed arc ever required to board in
the boarding house or houses often attached to
Factory-we believe they are not, and we know
that entire liberty is allowed in those instances
with which we are acquanted-but still, as the
tendency is to cheap boarding, and at the most
convenient place, we may fairly consider this ten
dency to crowding as one Of those to be regarded
and resisted.
Excessive hours is prevalent, We believe the
most glaring, evil in our Manufactures. Every
human being should have some time in each day
for exercise, relaxation and intellectual improve
ment. The fact that many viii only pervert this
leisure to their own injury is reason why 9TH
ers should be deprived of 1t. Ten hours at rugged
and exhausting, twelve at light and unfatiguing
labor, are enough in any occupation where employ
ment is constant. The t-door worker, who is
liable to frequent interruption from storm or frost,
must of course improve to the utmost the fayora-
bic season. But In no factory should the hours
of labor exceed twelve per day, and if children
employed they should be restricted to eight or
ten. The violation of this rule is injurious to the
workers, and ultimately to the employers, from
the prejudice and hostility it excites. We do
hope to see this year general convention of
those interested in Factory Labor to fix and de-
clare the proper hours of labor which all shall re-
spect and abide by. One employer says, l can
not diminish the hours of work in nv factory
unless others do likewise; the difference would
enable them to underscll and bankrupt me- So
the matter goes unregulated and often wrong. 1t
must be amended
But we were intending to speak Of Labor gene
rally. The last Edinburgh Repie,o will surprise
many of its readers by its article on this subject,
in which it deliberately asserts and establishes
that the Laborers in the Cotton and Woolen
Factories of Great Britain, spite of all the cla-
NOR on the subject, arc Tess oppressed, overworked
and abused than almost if not quite any other
Hired Laborers in the United Kingdoms This
Is contrary to an almost universal impression, yet
we presume it is true and true not alone of Great
Britain. The hours, of Juvenile Labor especial
ly. IN such Factories are there regulated by law,
and great many enactments exist against the
abuse of power by employers and overseers; and,
imperfect and ill-adapted as any Legislation on
such subjects will naturally he, it cannot be
wholly ineffective.
But, while SO much sensibility is evnced in all
quarters with regard TO the condition and treat.
ment OF Factory operatives, what means are taken
TO mellorate the condition of Labor in general
Alas. what The Review states that the yerv
high born LADIES whose sympathies are wounded
by the tyranny exercised in the Factories, them.
selves make no Scruple to require the labor of
miliiners through whole days and nights, from
morning to dreary daylight again, when they
fancy that they must have new dresses to appear
IN at some ball or party-to say nothing OF the
never-ending drudgery of domestic servitude. So
IN other departments of human effort. The
would pfi!anthroplst deplores the wrong of the
black slave, and IS indignant at the exactons of
his master, but overlooks the virtual slavery of
the white thousands around him, through the dc
gradation, nadequacy and meagre reward of
Labor. 1t is cheap philanthropy to be Jealous
for the emancipation and elevation of the distant
whether zVaSsals or III pau, uHtauSht' nomlnaily
free laborers; but ask the sympathlser 10 do some
thing TO meliorate the condition of the oppressed
millions all around him-,o devise or urge for
ward measures for their general and permanent
elevation to independence, intelligence and COIN
fo.t-snd if it require any sacrifice or peril of
popularity or pecun!ary means, you will find
your philanthropisl clawing off most zealously.-
lie is afraid it is infdel, agrarian, Or some way
Objectionable. 1t is a great deal easier to de-
nounce abuses which every body around him
sees and admits and n which his neinhhors are