The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-05-08
The Eight Hour Law, and the Chica-

hours, Where there is no special con-
tract or agreement to the contrary.
It was passed by Republican legis-
lature, at the urgent request Of large
numbers of labor ASSOCIATIONS or
unions of the various trades. especial
ly in the cities-or large towns where
mechanical labor is most central
ized It was deemed a great triumph
of the true interests of working-men,
and as such, the LIST of May, the time
when the law went into operation.
was celebrated in many places in Illi-
nois by large and imposing celebra-
tons and public addresses. To
this movement, prominent public
men, irrespective of party, lent their
presence and assistance, and in so far
as it commemorated the release of Ia
Dor from the bondage of exacting
capital, it was an event worthy to be
observed. In Chicago, between ten
and twenty. thousand working-men
are estimated to have taken part in
the professions and meetings s
For the permanent. success and
good name of the principles whose
triumph was being so grandly recog-
snized, it is much to be regretted that
the subsequent scenes of lawlessness
and riot Occurred in that city, of
(which we have had accounts in the
All the prominent and
respectable papers agree that7it was
the work of a few feartless idema-
gognes and unprincipled vagabonds,
which eliminated in a series of riots,
in which a number of men and boys, /.
variously estimated at from five hum
'dred to two thousand, virtually took
possession Of the machine shops,
planning mills, lumber yards, car
shops, railroad ldepots and other
places oflabor, driving out theme
employed in them; in some instances
using violence, and in. others only
it. The rioters claimed 4
to be enforcing the Eight Hour
Law. The majority of the partici-
parts seemed to be under. eighteen
years of age. The movement was so
thatithe police force was over
powered. and for awhile the rioters
had it all their own way Bat the |
officers of the law were largely in
creased, the military ordered out, the
artillery in readiness for work, and in |
a little while order was restored.
It is matter of sincere regret to
all real friends that the riots should |
have followed the inauguration of /
the Eight Hour Law. IT is very plain
ly to be seen that the cause, if. it pos
sess merit and is demanded by the
true interests of the working classes,
viii receive much injury by these
lawless acts and the honest and law
abiding working men will be re-
with the conduct of the few
men and boys, led by dem
agogues and charlatans. We have
not seen single newspaper of any
in the country, irrespect-
Ive|of party, which has not denounced
she riotous proceeding, and the men
who created it, The Cairo Democrat,
n scathing article on the Chicago
,iots, says:
There are, in every mechanical
branch of industry, men who possess
! certain amount of talent of the low
kind, who are always seeking
% be the leaders among their fellows.
To secure this end, they resort to all
kinds of mean practices. They are
aspirants for Office, and
llways lazy and worthless workmen.1
Most frequently they drink like fish,
md are never satisfied unless they are
lbusing a capitalist. When strikes
,ccur, they infuriate their fellows,
md lead them into acts of violence
hat weaken the cause of labor and !
ring reproach upon its advocates.
The Workingmen of other cities
hould proftsby the disgraceful scenes
which have taken place at Chicago,
nd give no countenance to these
trife makers who are to be found in /
very community Evansville is not
rec from them, and they are ever
eady to take advantage of any politi-
al or civil commotione to, advance
heir own interests. .e..rs
AS to the effect of the Eight Hour
law, the Chicago Times, the leading
Democratic paper Of the Northwest, 5
few days the subsequent