Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-29

We have heretofore expressed our par
TALLY Tor the eight hour system of labor,
and 50 have q large number of Journals in
the State, without regard to party. 1t has
han advocated by Republican papers, and
opposed by Democratic papers; and
zss vsrsa. Under existing circumstances
16oOne but a demagogue would seek to use
It as q means for the creation of political
capital; but there is a certain class Of selfish,
interruptions and neutrality-suspicious.
1seehes upon the body polite who seek to
mount every reform asaa hobby upon
which to ride into office or advance the
interests Of the party upon whose success
their prosperity depends Men OF this
class, belonging 10 the democratic >
party, now on the verge Of political bank
xuptcy, have sought to Seise upon the labor
reform movement and carve out Of it a
plank for a future Democratic plat
form. There is need Of such strategy.
They have been beaten at the polls upon
every Issue they have hitherto raised.
They denounced abolitionism and opposed
emancipation, but slavery is a thing ofthe
past they took sides against the country
and gave their sympathy and influence to
the rebellion, but the "Confederacyp was
"subjugated u they denied TO Negroes
rights in the courts, but Southern Legis-
lstures have been reluctantly constrained
to grant equality before the law; they are
the bitter, unrelenting and uncompromis-
ing enemies Of equal suffrage, yet it is be-
NJ conferred in the District of Columbia.
Thus will It be seen the g Democracy " are
sorsly in need of a new issue. Mr.. Criteh-
.fsld, Of the Ohio Senate, realizing this
snesd, has laid violent hands upon the eight
hour labor system, determined to trans
plant it from its present healthy soil into
the "a Democratic herbarium. In exc
eution Of this design he has introduced
into the Senate a bill providing that eight
hours shall constitute a days labor, GnIess
specified to the contrary. The unterrifed
press throughout the State have caught the
echo, and a stranger would suppose, judg-
ing frsm their zeal IN this regard, that
labor reform had evsr constituted a prom
sinent article in the democratic" creed.
In the name ofthe laboring men interested
in this matter, weprotest against this Con
termination ofsn honest and eommendable
movement. The subject is not yet fully
understood blythe public. What has been
said has rather been suggestive than ar
gumentative. Public opinion upon it has
not vet erystalized. Nothing could prove
so disastrous to the measure at the present
time as dragging it into the political arena;
especially under the protectorzte Of a
party which has become s stencil in the
nOstrils of sll honest progressive and pa
triotio- men. The bill ofMr. Critehfeld, if
sdopted, would confer no advantages upon
-laboring men. 1t leaves the question open
for the stipulation Of the parties. That is
precisely where it rests nov. 1t is Just
as easy for a laboring man to stipulate
nv, with his employer, that eight hours
shall constitute a days labor, as it would
be after the passage Of this bill. he can
do It now with the consentof his employer;
he could not do it without thst consent
eveu under the bill proposed.
Let the eight hour labor system prove
itself desirable and just, and it will be
adopted. Let its opponents prove the con-
trary, and il must fail. In this regard it
is now being weighed by public opinion.
A proper conclusion will be reached in
due time, provided all ~extraneous inAu-
sncss, such IS attempts at partizan legis-
lation, shall be held aloof.