Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-05-08
TIE EIGHT-HOUR DISTURBANCE.

termination on the part Of the rioters, or
a conviction that the cour,e hey have
adopted will prove unavailing, or by rea-
son of the heavy rain that fell in the af-
ternooa, there was no general renewal on
Saturday Of the scenes Of the two proceed
ing days. The burning Of Armous &
Doles Grain Elevator is attributed, by
those best Informed. to some cowardly
participation in the late riots, and the
Mayor felt called upon to issue a second
proclamation, couched IN more pointed
language than the first. Sandry threat
ening notices were sent to railroad officers
and proprietors of planning mills and lum-
Der yards, warning them not to work more
than eight hours, under various pains
and penalties. Yet on the surface the
city wore a more quiet aspect than on
Thursday Or Friday. Most of the work,
shops, however, were closed, and 7ery lit
tie business was done, either on the eight
hour plan or any other.
The central committee" of the work
ingmen have issued an appeal to the
eight hour rioters to desist from their un-
lawful proceedings. They declare that
the demonstrations of Thursday and Fri,
day have done great harm to the eight
hour movement, and have perhaps render
ed nugatory the efforts heretofore made
to establish that system. They express,
however, a determination to persist in
their efforts through peaceful means
They lay considerable stress upon the
eieht-hour law. as though it had altered
in some respect, the previous condition Of
| things In point of fact the law alters
nothing. It was passed with the full I'M
Outstanding Il at it did not seek to abridge,
by hairs breadth, the working time of
any adult citizen. A bill fixing eight
hours, or any other standard Of time, as
the limit Of labor to any man outside Of
the Penitentiary, could not have obtained
a solitary vote in the Legislature,
To WoRKINGMEN.-Al large number
of the mechanics and workingmen Of
this city are now engaged in hat may be
called "a STRIKE" tor the enforcement OF
the Eight-Hour law; but in many cases
1t has re ulted in strike for higher
| wages. This, however, has nothing to do
with the elght-aOur movement; and those
who have struck to obtain ten hours pay
for eight hours work, cannot be said to
| be engaged in the same cause with those
who simply ask from their employers a
| recognition Of the law in the number Of
hours daily labor. The question of wages
is matter Of supply and demand, aud
will be regulated accordingly. If there
is surplus of labor, wages will be low ;
and if there is a scarcity of labor. wages
will rule high. This is a law Of nature,
and it is immutabe. Mechanics and
workingmen, therefore. must not confound
the question Of hours Of labor and that of
wages fer they have no connection
whatever, If a mechanic is not satisfied
with the pay he receives for eight hours
labor, there is no law against working ten
hours, and if his employer consents, no
I person or combination have any right to
interfere This is the true doctrine. and
if TIE workingmen sincerely desire to
promote their own cause they will adhere
to it.
The differences between the employers
and the workingmen Of this city have not
been adjusted. Both sides express a de-
term nation to hold out, but there is an
evident disposition to compromise by a
recognition of eight hours as days work
and extra payment for those who work
ten hours. The same lawless men who
created the disturbances on the previous
day repeated their offense yesterday, and
many Of them Were arrested. The Mayor
has issued proclamation, warning all to
obey the laws and presere TIC peace A
large police force is held in readiness for
any emergency. At number OF meet
ings held yesterday, it was resolved to n
sist upon the Eisht-Hour law. Resolu-
tions condemning the unlawful action of
irresponsible me- were adopted at all the
meetings. Chicago Republican, Muy 4th.