The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-05-12

the amount OF daily pay. The strike, there
fore, IL test upon the eight hour question,
and other trade organizations will be able
to judge, by the resalt Of this movement,
something Of the general prospects of the
of the eight hour system.-N. Y Sun.
Important Accessions.
The following testimonies in favor of the
movement to reduce the hours OF labor,
are in reply to the recent appeal Of the
Grand Eight Hour League Of Massachusetts,
Trey speak for themselves:
BpsToN, March 20, 1866.
DEAR SrR-I hnSs read with interest the
printed appeal ~te~the Workingmen and
Women Of Aassaehasr It's and their Friends" :"
signed BY yourself and Messrs. John Nc
Combe and James w. Simpson as a Com
mittee appointed at the State Convention Of
the Eight Hour League Of Massachusetts, to
procure contributions in aid OF the move
ment having for its object a reduction Of the
hours Of labor for the overworked Of this
country" The same principle which has
led me to abhor and oppose the unequa.led
oppression of the black laborers of the
South, lnstmctively leads me to feel an in
terest In whatever is proposed to be done to
improve the condition and abridge the t6il of
the white laborers Of the North, or, rather,
Of all oyertasked working classes, without
regard TO complexion or race--and more
equltabiy to adjust the relations between
capital and labor.
VI course, the change you are seeking to
effect, IN regard to the number of hours to
be exacted as constituting a days labor, will
meet with more or less opposition as injuri-
Gus and unattainable. For there never has
been a reformatory measure proposed, on an
extended scale, that has not subjected its ad
vocates to the charge OF mawkish phian-
throPy, visionary scheming, SOCIAL disorgan
izatlon, or raving fanaticiem. II has always
been denounced as uncalled- for, inexpedient,
destructive; and everything evil has been
preolcted OF II In case it should be carried
ms is not in every instance owing to a sell
ilsh or hardened nature, but often arises from
lack of reflection or Investigations dis
position to be contented with things as they
are-a morbid dstaste for what is approbri-
ously called agitation, an unfeigned ap-
prehension Of terrible consequences (which
are solely in the i'm. .ination), vhile th,r i
what is so tenc"iousiy adhered to. There ie
such thing a. b-Ing penny wise and
pound foolish !" all this is seen wherever
capital is arrayed against labor, or where
employers are intent only upon their own
gains, and care little or nothing for the con-
dition of the employed.
Between capital and labor there il nc
necessary antagonism. Where they are the
most closely allied in common effort or q
common interest, there will invariably BE-
found the best pecuniary results. Aside from
the drones in society, we are all employers
and employed. e., while we work for 9th
ers, we expect others to work for US. When
ever the laborer purchases hat OF coat, or a
pair of boots, or a loaf of bread, he is to
that extent capitalist, employing another
to furnish specific article for him. This
dependence is mutual and universal; hence,
the more It is recognized and regarded, the
more intelligent, happy, virtuous, and pros
porous Will be community.
Wealth accumulated at the expense Of the
moral and intellectual Development Of the
working classes, is built upon q sandy
foundation, and in due time ends disaS-
trously.
In order that this development may be Sc
cured, they should have whatever leisure
from toll is necessary to effect it, aside from
obstacles which, for the time being, may be
insurmountable. The general welfare is
bound up in it.
Though the law Of supply and demand is
inexorable, yet it is neither rigorous nor IN.
just IN its natural operation. It relates tc
the good OF all, and that is the largest pros
Derity and the soundest political economy.
ii the hands are to be employed, the head
is to be enlightened and the heart improved
For this there must be allowed a reasonable
amount Of time. How many hours Of phys
Ical toll day, as a general rule, NAV be
most proftably occupied with this end in
view remains to be tested, and perhaps in
the present state Of things cannot be alb
stractedly determined; but am firm in the
convection that eight hours day will better
promote bodily health, inspire industry, de-
veiop genius, stimulate enterprise, augment
pecuniary gam, and subserve the cause Of
morality, than any extension Of time be.
yond that limit. Ny reasons for this con-
vlction do not propose to state in this let
ter; The only object Of which is to indicate
that your movement has my warm approval,
and to express the hope that the very mod
crate sum your League is endeavoring to
obtain to carry II on will be readily contri-
buted by those who are animated by hu-
man and philanthropic spirit, or who intel
ligently understand the laws of political
economy. To this end enclose my mite
and wish could make it many times larger
This could not consistently do if | did moi
believe that, in the prosecution Of its noble
enterprise, the League will give no counte
nance to the spirit Of complexional caste in
regard to any Of the working classes
Yours for that Justice which ensure.
prosperity, VIZ. LLOYD GARRISON.
To Ira Steward
| prTrppopo, NJ W A.r;i II 1894