Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-06-06
ri LAM HERALD.
MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1867,
The Eight Hour Movement.

an eight hour system, or in other words
10 make eight hours the established
working day for mechanics and laborers,
is meeting with but little favor and in
cases where strikes have followed such
efforts, much suffering and privation
have been the natural consequences, and
in Chicago ami 81. Louis, the cities
where the greatest efforts have been
made in favor of the new system most
of the strikers, unable, on account OF
empty larders, to hold out longer, have
voluntarily returned to work.
And so it must be in most cases where
labor undertakes to compete with capt.
tai and the sooner our working men
learn this fact, the better it will be for
themselves. No business can afford to
nav az much for eight hours labor as it
can for ten to the same workman and
sell its products at the same figures and
should the demands Of the friends
Of the eight hour system be COM
piled with aud the necessaries
OF life advanced in price say twenty
per cent. we cannot see, although
the mechanic and laborer would save
twelve hours upon working week, how
they would be bettered by the change.
On the contrary, we think they would
find before many weeks trial, that the
new system was very detrimental TO
their welfare, and would ask to be re-
stored to old prices, agreeing to work
their ten hours per day.
Combinations always detrimental, can
injure none more than the working men,
II combined efforts are to be persisted in
by that class, what is to hinder capital
lists from forming similar combinations
and saying they will not employ work
men unless they will work for just such
compensation as they, backed by their
millions, choose to say shall be paid 3?
And in such an event, can it not be dis
cerned without the aid OF prophetic
eye, that poverty or dependence must
succumb to wealth. A man having but
few dollars, or perhaps nothing at all,
cannot long hold out against one with
thousands, and when he does yield he
cannot expect that capital will receive
him with the same considerations as be-
fore the strike.
We're our employers to say to the en-
plOyed that they should labor twelve
and one-half hours per day instead of
ten, and receive no additional compensa-
ton therefor, we can easily see tie spirit
in which it would be received by the
latter. They would not consent to such
a change. And why then, do they de-
mand the former to lessen their working
day in the same ratio? 1t is equally
unjust in the one instance as the other,
and we confess ourselves surprised that
a class of men so intellectual as the me-
chancs Of the United States should not
see the folly OF and abandon their I'M
dertaking.
The Albany Evening Journal in dis,
cussing the feasibility OF an effort about
to be made to establish this system in
New York, truthfully says
" The great danger OF organizations
in the interest Of labor is that they may
become arrogant and unreasonable.
Tn ey establish certain fixed and arbi-
trsry rules, demanding compliance with
these on the part of both employer and
employed; when such compliance is
often grossly injurious. In every trade
thera are men who can do more work
and better work in eight hours than 9TH
ers will accomplish in ten. But the
practical operation OF the trades system
is to put the skillful mechanic and the
poor stick upon precisely equal terms,
both as to the time Of occupation and
the amount of compensation. The en-
ployer is deprived Of control over his
own business, and the operative often
has to sacrifice a part of his talents and
skill to the average dulness or inCapac-
ity Of his fellows.
Whatever shall really promote the
welfare Of the working classes, deserves
to be appreciated by every right think
ing man. But this result cannot be
reached by gripping employers. The
relations of labor and capital should be
reciprocal and not antagonistic, for their
interests are mutual. Unless an enter
prise returns fair profit upon the invest
ments made in it, failure is a logical ne
cessity. And such profits become I'M
possible when the price Of work is put
above its true normal value.
There are indications ia every direc-
ton that we are entering upon period
which will severely test the financial re-
sources OF the country. Business at the
great centers is dull. Prices are tending
downward, with acCelerating rapidity.
Everybody who can do so, is avoiding
investment, waiting to see how the
changes which are now in progress will
result, and what they will bring forth.
In New York, we hear of some houses,
enjoying a national reputation, that are
seriously embarrassed, and can hardly
negotiate their paper. At such a time
as this, when it becomes questionable
whether labor may not soon be drug
in the market, the unwisdom Of making