The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-04-28
Debate ON abe Eisht Henr Law.

The wish ithaca shall be answered In Heaven.
Debate an the Eight AAonr Law.
In the HogsE, yesterday afternoon, after
recess, Mr.. Ham Of Boston made lengthy
speech in advocacy Of the bill, enunciating
his we'll known views.
MIR. Lincoln of Warwick spoke of the inn
pcrtanca OF making the labor of man
agreeable TO him. He thought that the diff
ference between freedom and slavery was,
that in the former the han enjoys the results
Of his labor. Men should learn to enjoy
what is in the possession Of others, and
learn to enter into sympathy with what is to
be the result of their lab0r-to find salts
faction to the happiness which others will
derive from 1t. Every man is under obliga-
tons to labor, and iaboring men should seek
the esteem OF their fellow men. His re-
marks were very indistinetly heard by the
reporter. .ss
Mr.. Merrick Of Walpole did not beli,v in
forcing this reform upon reluctant public
by Legislation. lie thought that the labor
ing men would find work in the Southern
States, and that they would be able to get
ample compensation. He thought they
would show the world that they are able TO
take care Of themselves. lie did not believe
that iaboring men would improve their time
IN study, nor that leisure for study would
produce desire for study. He was ready to
legislate for eli ildren because they could not
take care of themselves.
Mr.. Ham of E0st0n comhatted the idea
there were not two classes in society-that
all were laboring men. lie was sorry to see
ministers Of the gospel Of good will 10 men,
opposing the ill. He did not mean to
speak disrespectfully, but he remembered
thst every great reform had been worked
put without the help Of the ministers and in
spite ~ them. He thought tia stain on the
name OF Massachusetts,, that the labOring
men were 50 kept down and prevented from
attaining TO the full and natural develop
ment Of their minds.
MIR. Jones Of Pelham said, that for the
past seven years he had been laborer in
the field on six DAYS week, and preacher
of the gospel On the Sabbath. He argued
that the laboring men ought to know when
70 stop working, without being instructed BY
a statute, or, if not, he thought they needed
also to be instructed by statute TO devote
two hours day to study. Ii is said that
men were compelled to work longer than
their natural strength would permit; he de-
MED it.
Mr.. Van Nostrand Of Boston, favored the
prentices, even If there were no other rea-
son. When he was an apprentice he had
to work twelve, and sometimes sixteen hours
per day, and he did not believe that en-
ployers were greatly different now.
Mr.. Briggs of Amesbury opposed the bill
As a radical and extreme measure. The
manufactures Of Massachusetts, would have
to be closed If this law was enforced, and
laborers would be compelled to seek employ
meut in other States. Our manufacturers
would not be able TO compete with those OF
the neighboring State of Rhode Island and
that State would be built up at our expense
He said that the great mass Of voters did
not ask the bill, and if il was submitted to
the people Of Massachusetts it would be
voted down twenty to enc.
Mr.. Remick Of Charleston thought that
the amendment of the gentleman from Pei
ham was an insult 90 the workingmen of the
State. He believed that they did employ
their time wen when thew had leisure. With
very few exceptions, more leisure work
ingmen bad the better obey are informed.
Gentlemen say there is no law compelling
men to work. lie had found one law, at
any rate, and that was the law of necessity
and there was certainly one written statute.
namely, the law against vagrancy. We
don't propose to lecislate against the bust
ness interests of the Commonwealth; but
tie more intelligent men were, the more
probably they worked, and the more boun-
teOus the result.
Mr.. Ham was the next speaker, and said,
we should not rest satisfied with present
achievements, hut avail ourselves of these as
tie foundation Of better and greater. The
merchant and the banker, and others, fixed
THEN own hours ard devoted their leisure to
the culture and development Of the brain.
The loafers, the drunkards, and the inmates
Of the State Prison, are in very great de-
gree the results of our systems Of overwork.
lie thought hard woYkingmen were generally
short lived. We are endeayoring to sup
press the grog-shOps in order to save men
and tie results Of mems labor to the CON-
Inunity. There is more of the product OF
labor lost from over-worked and n-Oui
men than from drunken men.
Mr.. Sherman of Lawrence moved nn
amendment to strike out all after the enactine
CLAUSE, and substitute bill providing that
no person shall be employed more than
eight hours day in any manufacturing
corporation organized in this State under
general laws or created by special charters
No person under nine years shall be en-
ployed in such corporations; and the owner,
agent, sub agent, or superintendent, who
knowingly violates the provisions Of this act
shall forfeit the sum Of fifty dollars for each
offence, to the use of the person prosecuting
thereof.
Mr.. Chaplin of Springfield spOxe generally
ia advocacy of the elevation of laboring
men, and thought that great advantages and
important results of labor had by excessive
toll been lost to the community. The re-
porter was unable to hear much that be
said
Mr.. Smith of Melrose favored the bill for
two reasons first, because-th those ask for il
who are most interested in the effect Of il ;
and secondly, he was, he believed, the only
man in the State who had employed mt a for
many years on the eight hour system, and
he found it work ID well.
Mr.. Dean of Raymond moved the previous
question, which was negatiyed.
Mr.. Thomas of Roxbury protested against
the disposition manifested not to consider
the subject. He thought the workingmen Of
Massachusetts were interested in its leglsla-
ton, and had right to be patiently heard.
1t Ia said the law Of supply and demand will
Regulate the question, he thought il was
eapital and demsnd. lie denied that the
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