New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-28
VIEWS OF THE nICmT.nOUB MEN.


with certain degree of sympathy what is known as
the Eight Hour Movement. And, though its advo-
Gates seem determined to disagree with us, we shall
not follow their example. We do not indeed believe
that any act Of Congress, or Of Legislature, can re-
duce the hours of hired labor to eight We do not
believe the change they contemplate can be effected
in day nor in a year. But we do believe that
division of our time into three equal parts--one
for work, one for sleep, and a third for
refreshment and recreation is a natural, benehcent
economy, which may at 10 distant day be realized,
through inquiry, discussion frugality, the reform
of vicious tastes and habits and reasonable degree
of selfdenia if not selfsacrce on the part of those
interested. Whether the present redemption of one
day in seven from ordinary labor ought not to be
taken into account in fixing the term Of a days
work we have not fully considered; but we believe
the day need not be distant when the earnings OF
eight hours faithful labor through six days of each
week may satisfy all our real wants, and afford some
surplus for old age or infrmity.
Has any doubter ever considered how large share
of the earnings even of the,penness daylaborer are
devoted to pernicous indugences-to the satisfaction
of vicious appetite Just think of the millions on
millions spent by the poor of this City for intoxicating
drinks for tobacco. in gambling, and in the nameesS
haunts of abomnation before you decide that Eight
Hours faithful labor might not give us all bet
ter living than we get. See how enormous is the
waste of human capacity in every direction before
you decide this question the hopeless way.
Mr.. Ira Steward-whose letter we printed on satur-
day-thinks we unfairly assume that wages must
be reduced if the hours of labor are reduced" He is
rrpfair nor
fairly. We cannot decide how far the productive
efficiency of an average days work will be diminished
BIZ reducing the hours Of labor from ten to eight
Practical experience must determine. Our impress
sion is that production would be lessened, but not to
the extent Of one-ffth 1t would probably range be-
tween onc-sixth and one-eghth being less in some
callings and more in others.
Nor do we hold that nominal wages would neces-
sarily be essened because production was diminished
They might even be increased. The scarcity OF any
article-he difficulty of replacing or duplicating it
is one clement OF its price.
But we do hold-and here come in conflict with
the habitual assumptions Of Eight-Hour champions
that ia ourneyman mechanic or laborer received
more pay for less work than hitherto, he must pay
more for ,chaterer he Juys-so that practical reduc-
/ lNL OF NdHtN Nuuiu NC lhNNlNhs i'A ''i'N'-''~N' "
corlwaner who received 81 for making pair of boots
that now gives him -, would have to pay more for
his hat his coat his dinner, his lodgng-so that Ma
lures law Of 50 much for much would not be
eyaded
Mr. Steward evidently thinks differently. He holds
that the laborer is paid but part Of bis earnings
often small part-and that, by reducing the hours
of labor. be will secure larger proportion, and ult-
mately the whole, of what Justly belongs to him. He
says:
The first result then look for reduction Of hours s
an increase wages and the time cheapeug OF
out until at last every man Wl receive al ne earns ago no
We shall grOW--not luup-ino cooperative huus-
Try. and capitalist and laborer will be one
Here is no blunt assertion, in so many words,
that he who plants tlls and gathers field OF corn Is
entitled TO every and every stalk Of that he is
dcauded to the extent that he short Of this
but that is the underlying assumption. And it is this
doctrine that raises a barrier between Us and many
champions of the Eight-Hour Reform.
Why does an intelligent, capable abe-bodied man in
this country ever work for another In other words,
why does he accept certain equivalent termed wages
for the product of hi, labor Clearly he need not do
this-he might work for himself if he would-that is,
half those who now work for wages might soon
have farms or shops of their own, if they would
earnestly try The field is as open to them as
to us who once worked for wages and now work for
Fourseyes-some of US employing Others. Is It not
incontestibe that A. b. works for c. d. precisely and
only because he cdn thus obtain more sdJac-
tori return than he could By Torking for hmseti
In other words, he saws to himself, BY linking
my hands to c. p.'s brain, his capital, | cannot
only produce more. but secure larger recompense
for my labor, than could by working for myself
We think this calculation often short sighed-that
many persist in working for wages who ought long
since to have employed themselves. We are always
irving to induce our young men TO put out from the
cities the thicky peopled districts to localities where
land Is cheap, and a mechanic with chest OF tools
can easily set up for himself We wish many more
would do 80. both for their own sahes and for the
the sake of those who would remain. Bat
the man who works for another does SO not
for that Others sake but his own--does SO be-
cause he thinks his labor, confined with
anothers skill capital &C., will yield to him,
at the rate of wages agreed on than he could other
wise procure And we hold that, of the crops grown
this year. those who furnish the arabic land the teams,
the tools the seed &c, will be Just as fairly and fully
entitled to their share per agreement o! the products
-as with those who do the immediate blowing, hoeng
and harvesting. And we deny that capitalist and
aborer will be one until laborers at least part
of what they now spend unwisely and so become
capitalists as Others have already done.
You see. Mr. Steward that our difference is not
exactly what you have supposed it, and that the re-
form You advocate and we hope to see effected will
not work exactly as you presume. You can't devise
a system under which those who save moth ii to-
davis earnings will not be obliged to pay icthing
u. Il t.-n rrn