The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-05-04

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SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 4.
THE EIGHT HOUR DEnoHsTRA1HoH.
The working men celebrated the FIRST day |
of May, in Chicago and St. Louis, by grand
demonstrations, in long marches, and with
banners, music and speeches. Statutes
were enacted IN both those States, st the late
session Of their Legislatures, constituting
eight hours . legal days work, and arrange
ments we're made TO concentrate as. many
mechanics and laboring men in those two
cities rs practicable, on the FIRST Of May, to
give tone and direction to public sentiment,
and TO secure the success Of the new system,
By their combined influence, brought to bear
on the chief cisies of those respective States.
The demonstrations, under such circum-
stances, were thorough and systematic, as
matter Of course, and were made to tell for
all they were worth. In Chicago, especially,
il constitutes the great feature of the season,
and the chief question now affecting the pub
iic interest and absorbing public attention.
Mayor Rice was chosen President
of the meeting, and made an address,
from the report of which we clip
several extracts for the information
of our readers upon question of growing
interest, and one whose influence must be
eventually felt in all portions of the country,
to greater or less extent 1t is one too
which must, in the nature of things, tend for
time to unsettle the ordinary course of af-
fairs. and TO affect business and prices, till it
is finally settled one way or other:
Fellow Citizens Of the City Of Chicago, of the
State Of Illinois, Of the United States Of
America:
This day has been set apart by vast num-
Der Of earnest men, as q day of rejoicing; q
day of rejoicing that the legislature of the
State Of Illinois, at its recent session, enacted
law which declares that one-third of day,
or eight hours out Of the twenty -four, shall
be the legal time for laboring man TO work
ICheers.l They rejoice for the reason that
they believe tits one step in advance. 1t has
elevated large class of workingmen in the
United States Of America 1t is one step in
advance, and lifts them to place where they
rightfully belong, and where comfort and
contentment, the happiness of their families,
and their rights as men shall be so much bet,
ter maintained. [Cheers.
1t would not be profitable to you, nor be-
coming IN me. to attempt any argument which
has engaged the best minds Of all civilized
people for generations past, without regard
to the relations between capital and labor.
That is the great question that is agitated in
our State to-day. 1t is the question that has
been agtated since l can remember IL
seems to stand better chance Of recognition
to-day than ever before. Cheers.1
propose to tell the two sides of the story
ss understand it. 1t is urged on one side
that 10 the great change of the rules of econ>
omy, by the invention Of the steam engine,
by the thousand different kinds of labor saw
ing machines that have been invented and put
IN use, that all or nearly all do more work
than before; that every mans mind and body
is employed necessarily in greater and more
rapid action, because of these surroundings,
and that eight hours labor with these sur
roundings is more exhaustiBg than ten or
twelve were in earlier times. That is my un-
derstanding of this matter. [Cries of "Right.
right Now, if this be true, and / do be-
lieve ii, then it is right that man should in.
sist that eight hours should be the length of Q
days work. lCheers, and cries of 1T shall
be-
But, gentlemen, remember this: that great
changes In the body polite and economic
cannot be brought about suddenly without
great trouble, and without serious loss.
want to speak to you every one this day as
sincerely feel. And as have come here to
let you know that | know there are two sides
to this question, you must, as men, hear them
both. Cries Of "Bully'' and eight hours "
Nov, gentlemen, the workingmen say thai
eight hours is a sufficient length Of time fol
them to labor. Concede it. They say the
Legislature of the State has enacted Law
making it q legal days work. Three cheers
were given for the Legislature. What they
ask and demand to>day is, that the State Of
Illinois shall recognize eighthours as the time
for days labor. Now, suppose all that is
done, the other side can come in and
say this: "If you will work bat eighl
hours in the State Of Illinois, and the me.
chanics IN the adjoining States will work ter
hours, we cannot compete with them, and
Of Let them close, then.rl Very well
this is what they tell me, and am bound t.
tell you. The railroad managers say thai
they have not got accommodation in Their
shops for the men to do the work required
for them TO do if the men work but eigh
hours. What they ask is that their MACHINERY
shall go on, and that ten hours labor shall
be performed at price to be arranged be.
tween them and the employees. [Cries o
"No, no. Now, they further say, that i
their shops accommodate 100 TO 200 men, a,
il may be, or lis men elect to work but eigh
hours, and rs desire to work ten hours, tha
the machinery cannot be run for % men
lCries of Let them stop."l
W hat want to impress upon your minds
gentlemen, this day, is that we are all inter,
cd IN i Co11 ell l. l.
interested as any man can. / believe tha
this is q great change, and what | beg o
you--and God knows it is truly the reason
am here this days to urge you to approach
this matter with reason and calmness, and b,
willing TO give and take, as all men ought to
Now this is what want you to do. fCrie
of Eight hours work, and eight hours
pay.rl believe every man in this worlC
works in the hope that the day shall com,
when he will have to work no more. | be
heve this is rule. know that but few eve
reach that coveted end; but it is, neverthe
less, that hope that buoys up all men t,
toll. 1t has been said and printed in book
since l can remember that the interest
Of capital and labor are mutual. | d,
not understand it SO. l believe they ar
antagonistic. Laboring men--and when
say laboring men | mean mechanics
tcheers]; our whole country 10 made up o
workingmen,-the laboring man desires u
get the highest price for his labor-none to,
high at that. The capitalist desires to hav
that labor performed for the least possible
sum. Now, there is the antagonism Tn
strength of the laboring man is in the multi
tude OF his co-workers; the strength of tn
capitalist is in his capital. Now, if they can
not come to some agreement, there 10 war
Now, We all know tina. a war is q damage an
destruction to both parties. Voices, sswefl
Eight, we'll fight. Not a fighting wal
Laughter. Now, gentlemen, do not pro
pose to make speech to you there is moth
ing can say to you, but feel bound 70 sa
what have heard. There is one thing as
that A.. x.An Ihaf annrnach this nna..;.s.. -