The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-26
HOURS OF LABOR REQUIRED IN THE FACTORIES OF
MANcHEsTER. NJ n.

The writer of this, who has resided many years
in manufacturing neighborhood, kno,cs that the
''operatives' required to labor each day as many
hours at least as above stated in other manufactu
ring districts Of New England. He has, times with
out number, heard the "sIars" bell ring--for so the
factory bell is termed by many yet free among the
spindles--n the long days OF summer at sunrise,
and in the winter long before the break of day in
the east, to wake the drowsy Operatives" from
their slurnbers to the renewal of their daily tolls
They are allowed a few moments to dress, when
the bell again summons them to the commencement
Of their Iabors, which never cease until about B
o'clock in the evening, except intermlsslons for
meals, Of only from 20 TO 80 minutes duration.
Even these periods dedicated to the most imperous
wants Of nature, are measured out by the "save"
bell which rings The 'operatives TO their food, and
then rings them back again to their tasks. The
writer of this koos these things to be facts; for he
has lived long in the neighborhood Of the manufac
turing establishments, and had his ears stunned late
and early by the jingng Of the factory siape bells
They can be proved by hundreds and thousands in
every manufacturing town in New England.
In giving the table have quoted above, the wri-
ter in the Lowell Advertiser remarks Sand this
constant servitude liz in vogue throughout New
England and yet, the organs of these slaveholding
corporations, and the members Of the corporations
themselves, can talk Of other peoples being ready
to ensavc Millions We talk Of the expressions Of
England; and yet, in England the operatives in fac
tories work but twelve hours on Ave days Of the
week, and but nine hours on Saturday. Here, they
are allowed but three holydays in the year, and in
England twice the number. Yet, in these corpora
ion slape-pens, ,cih drper in each pe-a skmas-
ter in each counting-room-females are required to
do an hour and halfs work each day more than
are the povertystricken, down-rodden, heartbroken
operatives of England, the mother Of oppresson!"
The facts above stated are SO well known to every
New England man who knows anything about a
manufacturing village city, that contradiction Of
them only awakens in his mind surprise at the pre-
sumption which dictates il, or wonder at the igno-
rance which nnocenty leads its victim to the perpe-
tration Of such glaring misrepresentation.
While upon the subject Of factory expressions,
will make one remark in relation TO the prescription
for opinions sake prsctscd upon the Operatives" by
me owners Of the manufacturing corporations, and
their rerve horde Of overseers As general fact II
may be stated that no one is permanently employed
AZ the factories who will not either vote according to
the wishes OF the employer or at least be silent and
not vote at ALL Ii these requirements of the lordly
master are not regarded, the stubborn recusant
Operative" is soon greeted with discharge Soon
after the result of the late presidential election was
known, this spirit Of prescription WINS most dis
gracefully displayed by many OF the manufacturers
OF New England-being, as everybody knows.
nearly all wings The manner In which the
business Of prescription was carried on. was
this: After il was known that Mr.. Polk had
succeeded, the hue -and-cry Of s'ruin,r "ruin. ;,
ruin" was raised by these men, and their scrvic
tools connected with the press. Their factories
were partially stopped, and those in process Of cree