Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-10-01

On Thursday, 18th Sept, the Ten Hour Con-
vention assembled at Washington Hall, in Brom-
field street, Boston, for the purpose of organizing
the workingmen Of the State in order 10 secure
the enactment of law restricting the hours of
labor to ten per day.
The Convention was organized by the appoint
ment Of P W. Taft of Worcester as President.
For Vice Presidents iona. Mason of Ames
bury, J. E. Littlefieid of Woburn, J. S. Fletcher
of Lowell, A. d. Whiltemore of Worcester, C.
F. Cotton of Chicopee, Thos. Webb of Fall
River, ard H. p. Langley of Boston.
For Secretaries Chas. Z. Bowers of Concord
and John E. Putney Of Andover.
On motion Of MIR Trask of Cambridge, Com
mitteG of three on finance was appointed, con-
sisllng Of Messrs Trask of Cambridge, BenchIey
of Worcester, and Young Of Boston.
Messrs Young Of Boston, Robinson of Lowell;
Trast Of Cambridge, Buterworth Of Lawrence,
and Valentine of Worcester, were appointed
Commntee 10 draft resolutions for the Convention.
Several able and eloquent speeches were made
in favor of the ten hour system, and also in favor
Of tho workingmen Of Massachusetts combining
to secure law which would preclude corpora
lions from working both soul and spirit out Of
their factory laborers, and rendering life long
day of continual toll,
The following resolutions were read second
time and passed
RESOLVED, That this Convention. Representing
the friends Of the ten hours movement throughout
the State, reaflirm the doctrines set forth in the
addresses and resolutions Of 1851 and 1852 that
the legitimate business Of civil government is 10
develope the best possible physical and social
condition for the people--to protect them fiom
the exactons of centralized power, wheiher in
the form Of political and military usurpations, or
the aggrandzlng schemes Of combined and con-
centrated wealth-to restrain violence intemper-
ance and crime, by encouraging honest Industry
and guaranteeing It's just rewards, and 10 inciie
all classes 10 tiig h moral destiny, by securing
equal opportunities for culture and Improvement.
ResolUed, That the lruest and most substantial
wealth Of the State is the virtue aud intelligence
OF her people, the loss Of which can never be
repaired by improved stochs'' or extended com.
merce.
RESOLVED, That a reduction of the hours Of
labor in the naHdfactofies Of the State. has he
come moral aud physical necessity, founded on
The nature of man, and to longer delay its adop-
ton does violence 10 the dearest dictates Of hu.
manity and ibe soundest political economy
Resolved, That the ,enpediency or policy Of
the ten hour system Il mo longer predetermined,
its working, even ia our own State, where it has
been in operation TO limited extent, having
shown II to be a measure calculated to advance
the interest Of the employer as well as The en-
ployed.
RESOLVED, That the recent adoption Of the ii
hours system at Lowell, and other places, is a
full admission from our opponents, Of the justice
and necessity Of our claims, and should stimulate
the friends Of the ten hours system, throughout
the State, TO renewed efforts. in behalf Of its
speedy consummation'
Resoiped, That the passage of thorough,
practical, and effective ten hours bill, by the
House Of Representatives, at their las, session, by
decisive majority, il conclusive teyidence that
our cause, though defeated by a conservative
Senate, Is sanctioned by the people of Massachu-
sclis.
RESOLVED, That the establishment BY the State
Of free evening schools IN the several manuGc,
turing towns OF the Commonwealth, ia measure
calculated to elevate our operative population.
and promote the general welfare, and should i'm.
mediaiely follow the passage Of the ten hours bill
Resoieed, That We call upon the friends Of the
ten hour system throughout the State, Of all po-