Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-07-04
Eight Hours q Day.

Inc Labor Convention which late.
y met at Columbus, Ohio, passed
among other resolutions, one tavorinc
making eight hours a legal day
work. In doing so they simply re-
enacted what has been repeatedly
and strenuously advocated by meet.
ings of Trades Unions and other or
carnations Of laborers, both in this
country and IN Europe. Even before
these organizations had an existence,
the advocates OF shortening legal
days work to eight hours had been
numerous. The arguments in favor
OF restricting the hours of labor tor
certain classes are substantially
these: AS much work, or nearly as
much, would be done in eight hours
as is now done in ten, or even larg.
CT number Of hours. Ample time
would be offered for rest, recreation
and mental culture.
1t must be borne in mind that
those who favor the limiting of the
hours Of labor, do SO with the under
standing that the wages for a days
work are TO be the same az now, Us
Stunning that persons will work with
rroportionate greater energy and Ill
iisence during the shorter periods.
Let us examine the matter q little
and see whether it is practical to
make this change, SO that it will be
available for any great number OF
those who are classed among labor
ers. In the first place, it seems plain
that we must exempt from the bless
ings OF the eight hour rule, that very
numerous class of patient laborers,
who toll at that most unappreciatcd
employment OF house keeping. The
most strenuous advocate Tor eight
hours day would not consent to have
the operation OF washing the supper
dishes, completed i'll eight hours af-
ter the breakfast had commenced
To enable the mechanic, who works
eight hours day, to get to his shop
IN season to commence work at eight
in the morning, his vile must COM
mence at six IN the morning to pre-
pare his breakfast. She must also
work at least an hour or two after
his return. Simply preparing his
food, washing the dishes and keeping
the house IN order, will require this,
leaving entirely out OF the question
the making, washing, ironing and
mendlng OF clothes, as we'll as the
care of children.
Probably cight-tenths Of the male
laborcrs in this country, are farmers
How many Of them believe that i,
would be practicable to carry or
their farms If they restricted the
hours of labor to eight ? Experience
shows that ten hours, and ever
twelve hours work, Is necessary dur
ing a considerable portion Of tn,
year. Were the men who hire on
to work on farms to meet in convcn
ton, and to resolve to work FOL
their employers but eight hours i,
the twenty-tour, most OF their en-
ployers would resolve to give VI
farming. The eight hour rule woal'
starve cattle, dry up all milch cows
and ruin the business OF lairying.-
An operation like ha,lng, dcpcndin.
as it does, on the heat OF the sun t
dry the grass, could not be success
fully done if labor commenced at
i'll the morning and closed at five i
the afternoon.
AS with the housewife and farmer
SO with the railway operative, tn
drivers Of stages and horse car horses
| The public convenience demand
that their labor commence early, an,
that it continue late. The grocer
shop must be open before the me
chanlc has his breakfast, and must 10
close till long atter he has had Iii
supper. The same thing is true G
"thc butcher" 'the baker" il not til
"candlcstick maker One class Z
customers seek them early in Ia
morning. another at midday, and
third quite late in the evening. Boa,
men and sailors, whether employe
orboard the small craft that IS draw
III canal or the largest ship tia
navlgatcs the great ocean, can nc
lay aside their labors at five in I'll
afternoon not 10 resume them agai
TIL eight the next morning. Thi
narrows down the class of laborer.
who by any possibility could be Der
Gifted 10y This arrangement, to til
members Of q few trades.
i i possible for these favored fc,
e do n eight hours ,li,ne what the,
a2W employ ten lloNls II doingy ]