Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-09-05
TIE TEN HOUR system.
Meeting of Mechanics and LabOrers i
Oxford.


Meeting of Mechanics and LnbOrers in
oxford.
AT meeting held at North Oxford, on the 29th
of August, 1858, the following persons were c.lo-
sen officers Of the Oxford Ten Hour Association:
President-GARDNER WILSON,
Secretary-Joseph Dalton,
Treasurer-John Gore.
Financial CommiHee-David Stone, Chair
man, Luther Cemants, Lucian Parkes, Joseph
Dunbar, and Rubin Reuse
The following Preamble and Resolutions were
offered and adopted at a meeting held Sept g.:
Whereas, believing that the time which me-
chanics and operators are obliged to labor in the
different manufacturing establishments in the
State OF Massachusetts, TO be detrimental TO both
the health Of the mind and body, leaving notlme
which can be snatched from the hours of sleep,
for the purpose Of cnltyatng the germ of knowl .
edge implanted In the soul by our Maker; we do
by our Resolves pledge ourselves that we will use
all honorable means to induce the Legislature to
enact such laws as will give time to cultivate those
powers, without which, we are similar to the ma :
chimes with which our hands are employed.
RESOLVED, That we will put away all party
predictions, ard use the Sacred Ballot box and
vote for no man who will not pledge himself to
advocate that the time of the laborer shall not ex-
coed ten hours for days labor.
ReSolUed, That as Petitions have been sent to
the Legislature for the last 10 years, for an abro"
CATION Of time IN the hours of labor, tand un-
heard that we will use our united strength at the
polls without distinction Of party for law which
will give the laboriug millions time to think and
cultivate their minds
J,.oA hot nh, e. al.
friends of tue Ten Honr movement through the
State is imperiously demanded, that then views
may find expression at the ballot box in Novem-
Der next.
ResolUcd, That as all mankind are endowed
by their Creator with moral, intellectual, and
physical powers, the proper cultivation of which
Is. the only true source of individual happiness
and national prosperity, any system or policy
which cripples or retards their healthful growth
and development inficts upon society two fold
eyil-a private wrong, and public calamity.
Resol0ed, That under government like ours,
where all are called upon 10 exert IA controlling
inhueace in public affairs, where the moral and
intellectual as well as the political destines of The
state are Cor should be) IN the bands ofthe PEOPLE,
it becomes question of paramount importance
that no single member Of the Commonwealth is
deprived of time and opportunity for the faithful
Resolced, That the Oxford Ten Hour Associa-
ton do hereby, on this the twenty ninth day of
August, openly, firmly, and unalterably, and in
the presence of that all-wise Being, pldge our
selves at the forthcoming election, and all other
elections, not TO vote for any person who dare to
desecrate, rather than enlighten that noble thing
the mind, by encouraging the long hour system,
and by refusing his influence for the speedy
advancement Of the ten hour system of labor
Resolced, That the present long hour system
of labor is false in its theory, and suicidal in its
results-it deprives individuals of the means of
intellectual advancement leads to ignorance, vice
and crime, and, if continued, will inevitably des-
troy our Republican institutions, and place the
dcspot and the tyrant at the head of our national
affairs.
Resoleed, That as the long system deprives
man and woman employed in factories, of time to
do their duty to their families at home causes
them to do such work or the christian Sabbath
thus breaking the law of God and the State, it is
high time for every good citizen to come up to
the help of the Lord against the mighty, and
vote for no man who will not openly and avowed
ly declare himself in favor of the ten hour system.
ReSoired. That the thanks of this Association
be rendered to Geo. Hobard for his able, instruc-
tive, and eloquent address, delivered at the
Phoenix Mill, in Oxford, and repeated by request
at the South Church, on Oxford Plains, on the
LIST of September, to over three hundred persons.
ReSolced, That the foregoing preamble and res
olutions be forwarded to the Editors of the Wor-
cester Spy for publication, and request all papers
friendly to the cause to do the same
GARDNER WILSON, President.
J. DALTON, Secretary.
North Oxford, Sept. 2, 1858.