New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-11-26
THE TIMES AND THEIR NEEDS.

To hs Editor Of The ~ Y Tribune.
Sir: I.aw lately Call for q National Convention
Of Miners and Manufacturers, to meet at E.stos,
whose object wss to deliberate upon the rsducto
"of wages to m eet the times
think there has never been time when National
Convention of mar uacturers necessary than
at present, though hardly think the only, OF proper
object of cor alteration of such Convention should be
1.-THE reduction of the price of labor to meet the times
But National Convention would seem to me to be
peceMy to reform the long credits required Of our
manufacturers for their goods. This reformation is
founded in the necessity the manufacturer is under Of
psyipg cash for bis raw material of cotton, wool or
silk and cash for bis labor and at the same time he 10
r. auired by the commission TO sell his goods on
credit of eig ht month";. This only be efficiently
brought about by Q concert Of manufacturers, who
should meet for that purpose either In Newfo or
Philadelphia, and not at EastOn.
Such q convention might well consider the tendency
which exists at this time 10 labor saving machinery to
Ovrproduction and suggesting some remedy therefor
soy limitation Of the hours OF labor required OF
women ard children more particularly in our WOODEN
elk ard cotton manufactures. The hours OF labor
bave been fixed by public opinion for mechanical labor
at ten hours. Ten hours has been fixed fac. for
years for q, in all machine shops, locomotive
etablf bme MIS- and in the Government works. and yes
portion Of the community having no power in the
controlling Of public opinion, the women and children
in all Of our anuiaciuripg works have been aloS
II not forced to work. Summer and Winter, year after
year. from twelve t, fifteen hours per day. TO the de-
shuction of health and lfe-an outrage on humanity
little thort Of Louisiana Iegro plantation life. This
speaks in condemnation Ct the men Of the North Who
by the power they possess in controlling public
opinion for themselves, have established ten hours
as q dsy's labor for themselves, leaving out OF
consider alton, women and children; the wives and
daughters Of these men who seem TO have forgotten
THAI they lees able to perform thirteen hours a.
days labor than they who have ignobly forgotten
them.
PepIsylvans and New-Jesey have on their statute
books srir ut laws which, if enforced, would pro-
hibt the working Of mirrors moro than ten hours.
There awe remain dead letter, because the mafo-
fsc'urer de csres that unless he be allowed to work
twelve hours be caLpot compete with the New
EpglsId maj ufactuIer, who works twelve hours.
have L doubt that the conclusion anived at by
ccnveI tcn of mar ufacturers representing the whole
county would be that ter hours would be far better
than Twelve. This reformation cannot be Brought
about by isolated State legslaODi neither can uni
form laws regulating this matter be hoped Tor or e1'
peced In all Of the States, hence the necessity OF
patiousl convection Of manufacturers to deliberate
upon this and kindred measures touching the welfare
OF the whole Manufacturing interests OF the country
Csrnot The TRIBUNE do something 10 this Dsnan
The Lessons Of the times must be learned ssd toey
but te ath this REFORM then may We say
Sweet are the Of sdyeIsty.
Which ike the tosd, ugly and venonsos,
wesseth yet jewel In iss head"
Pate,,sn Nov g. Itsf. II.