The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-11-07
Appeal to Mechanics, Ar
tiZanS and Laborers.
The Democratic Record
on the Eight Hour
Law!
It Is Endorsed BY Democratic
National, State, District and
County Conventions.
GOV, SEYMOUR WRITES A LETTER
In ITS FAVOR.
Gen. Singleton Speaks and Writes
for it.
Gen. Singleton Speaks and Writes
for it.
P.L. CABLE IN FAVOR OF It.
Hawley did nothing to help Labor
when his help was wanted.
Which will you Support !

An effort seems to be making among the
yer jealous and INSCRIPTIONS friends Of
DR.. Hawley to represent him and bis party
g the special friend of Labor and the Eight
Hour Law. We are willing that Mr.. Haw.
ey and his party should have all the credit
ne them in this respect; but that he or
hey are entitled to any more favorable re-
yard from mechanics, a~rtizsns and laborers
han Mr.. Cable, or the Democratic party, We
ieny. In a short article, like this, We can
not republish lengthy documents to prove
his fact, but Q brief reference to we'll under
,tood facts will refresh the minds of all who
IRE familiar with this subject.
LIST. The Eigh, Hour Law was introduced
n Congress by Hon. Samuel Carey, Demo-
Congressman from Cincinnati, and
his efforts it became a law.
I'd. 1t was approved and signed by Andrew
Johnson, who, though elected by republi-
cans, was, and is to day, a Democrat. He
the author of the Homestead Law, and
always the true friend of Labor.
Sd. The law was practically annulled by
Gen. Schoield, the republican Secretary Of
War.
In July, 1868, Gen. Rodmsn, Command
ant at Rock Island Arsenal, received a dis
patch from Gen. Schoield, then Secretary
of War, (who was then and is nov q proni.
nent and leading republican, ordering him
when the Eight Hour Law went into force,
to reduce the wages in the same proportion
the time was reduced-in other words, te
render the law of no practical benef. to
it was intended to relieve. This or
Ter produced universal dissatisfaction, and
in strikes, all over the country,
Brief extracts from our files will explain
from tho Argus, August Sd, 1851
THE EIGHT Hour LAw-Ths laborers
cutters, and different srtizans employ
ed at Rock Island are expressing their dis
in no measured terms at the
in Interpretation which Gen. Schofield has pu'
the Eight Hour Labor Actof congress
Gen. Rodman ha, received a dispatch from
Gen. Schofeld in which he says it was no
the intention of the act to give ten hours
pay for eight hours work, that eigh
hours had been made a legal days work b,
act OF congress, and for it they should re
ceive eight hours pay.
From the Argus of Aug. 4th. 1861
STRIKE on THE IsLAND.-The dissstisfae
ton which has been exhibited among gov
eminent employees at Rock Islam
Arsenal eliminated in a pretty gen
eral strike yesterday afternoon. Afte
roll call, yesterday morning, the il
depreciation of the act, by Gen. Schofelc
was communicated to the hands. viz Tina
they were at liberty to work ten hours at tn
old pay, or eight hours and be ''docked
two. The whole of the employees, amount
ing to some 500, walked away from thei
work among the trees on the Island, an
held consultations. Word was at lenet
sent to them that at one o'clock, if any sig
ni6ed their unwillingness to go to work
they might consider themselves discharged
About one hundred resumed work-the bs
ance looked on, not being able to perceiv
the advantages of the Eight Hour Law,
its practical effec, is to give them less pa
for a legal days work,
From the Argus Of August 5, 1868.
When Congress passed an act maxim
eight hours a legal days work on govern
ment Jobs, did it mean to reduce the amour
of pay q man should receive? If not, the
the Davenport Gazette and the Rock Islam
Union, which papers are urging laborers t
accept a reduction of pay for q legal day
work, and attempting to deprive labor of i,
Just reward. Either Congress did not in
tend that the Eight Hour Law should be {
any benefit to Aboring men, or else the Sc,
Rotary of War, by his order, is thwarting tn
will of Congress.
In the meantime, it is folly to see, tina
Gen. Rodman can find plenty of laborer
for $l.44 q day, or carpenters and maohin
lists for 81 60, or stone.cutters for $3.50.
cannot be done. Gen. Rodman will have t
offer such prices as will bring all the he'll
he wants, or not get it. He must pay sucl
prices a. will bring the artisans or the worl
will cease. 1t is folly to say that other mel
will ELL their places. They will not. The,
cannot afford to work for the rates offered
The expense of living, and the enormouI
taxes imposed upon the poorer classes o
people, by q radical Congress, renders i
next to impossible for q laboring man Il
support himself and family decently at tn
prices offered.
From the Argus of August 9Th, 1868.
STONE CUTTERS MEEr1SG.-Yesterday
"Wednesday General Rodms informed tn,
stone cutters, through Richard Lloyd, MAJ
tor mason, that if they would resume worl
they should receive the same wages as ar.
being paid in Chicago and St. Louis, ant
they met in Norris Hall to consider the pro
position. They adopted the following reso
ResolDed, That We work eight hours 9
day, according to law, and NO more, and te
be paid at the rate Of wages paid in Chicago
and st. Louis and to give Gen. Rodmsn
three days to ascertain the wages paid in
the said cities, and At the expiration of tba,
time to give us . decided answer whs,
wages be il going to psy-otherwise thai
quit work and demand our money.