, 1879-08-01


sons claimed that tho United Statcs could rcGu-
late the hours OF labor IN all Institutions and In
all Industries over which It has any control, OF
any votso In tho management Of, either directly
or Indirectly.
'tDo you mean to say" asked Mr.. Cowgirl,
"tllst The Btatc can control private contracts be-
tween indlvtduatslr
"Not Under The Constitution al II exists. But
put up monarchy, II II like, As soon q Il
Air. Cowgirl tllought tho witness lad be.tcr
enni'ne hl!nsclf TO tho subject In hand. The
,nns ~,.tea" al s AZ nenl on 70 say That they H.
i they couldn't get 1t through this Congress-,
they proposed to send tnen there who would
givc Il to them. When once made a law by
Gonurcss, to apply TO all institutions under
tom Ut soc!cty, and eight hours would const'-
tutc days work a'ld bocono Tic common
law Of the State. 1t was morally, physically.
intellectually, md pecunatt!y injurious to work
The eight.ho,lr men diun't propose to precIpi.
aato revolution Or anvthlng Of that sort, for
ticT Wero peaccabfc, laW.abidtng cttxcns, and
heads nf families, md tho charge ulat they Hcro
leentiaries, consptrators, iacltcrs to rebellion,
clc.t etc., cano from thosa who were opposed
70 tile Worktsg-casscs improving their eo,tdt-
ton. IN order to improve their condition they
LEss WORK AND MORE FAT,
knowing TINT II was only through short hours
nlMl high ,saEcs that t,elr condition could pos
sibly bo improved. To reduce tic hours OF
labor meant 10 distribute the work there was to
Dc do more equally among the ,norktng-classes.
This would reduce competition, and, by
ILL., believed this would bc brought about
~ Congress- f1r1t md tic States next, but not
until t!H working people should meet In Ma
tional Labor ConErcss, and there decide thnt
The hours Of labor tnust 10 regulated. Not I'LL
fbnn trnu1n HfNktt hflIlfa I'm nnI o1,,t
custom of society.
After submitting to tho Committee sono
eiel,t-hour resolutions adopted by the Boston
Etght.ltour League. al,l report OF the Mich!-
went to show that aversion to work did not
Characterize tramps,-at least in Michigan
Parsons called attention to the statements Of L.
]. Gagc and Charles Randolph, to the effect
day. Parsons said l,o doubtci tllat whon no
Heard IT, nrl % he took The palms 10 make some
Inquiries about what tho men were getting.
The ilrat gang Of men he found wns
liendcd by Foreman William AE,crn who told
him tilat the men got lust 81 lay, nnd thcy
got II In scrip at tiln>.
nplc wllenl"
'.Novar," said ono Of the professional ar,ta.
"Aud these men," continue Parsons, rendlng
from paper bearing Ahren'a name, '.who sav
we nrc getting LEO day arc tho yerv men who
buy tint ses!o Of US q. 95 cents, while the city
owes US for two months waecs"
The crowd Crowcd over this little episode,
md enjoyed IL hugely.
MIR. shcrwin was not satisfied with tho way
THE EianT-nouR BUSINESS
had been dropped
"supposc," asked he, " that a decrease OF
the llo9ra Of labor raiaes prices. Trn the rising
modities. Then what what would be the gaiu1n
"Thc Ealn would bo this," replied Parsons,
hcsitattng. "Yon see you Qssurnu good 1cni
IN your question tllat 1ony. The hcneflt would
sessed universally Ut two hours more t,inc liz
would be two hours nearer hss freedom, uu.!
thoac two hours would e,1ablc him to make con-
traets-to have sonlp golco III the regulation of
bor freedom Of contract Is utterly dcstroyed.r
~ don't know that / understand ,ytut you
mean by freedom Of contract,n said Alr. shcr-
vi u read definition Of IL lp law book once
myself," replied Parsons, "bnt know pretty
we'll what It means from sad exuerfence.
Laughter from the ng1tators.] Freedom Of
contract Is whcro the parties stand upon all
equality With regard to tho power to contract.
Either Is FREQ to accept, or reject au otfcr.''
"Thnt Is, by increasing! the demand for labor
md having less hours man would bc on bet
tFaet1m H. x,a,,,,,on =, H.. ,,o,,.. :,
give employment to moro men, md reducing
competition Would onahls worhnen to make
better terms with thsir EMPLOYERS"
"ln TING. would there not be n necessity for
another rsductionl" asked Mr. shcrwlu, with
good deal Of Bhtcwdneas.
."Thts cight.lour question Is only begIn-
ming" replied Parsons. with great franknoas.
"Tlle reul question is The regulation OF tDv
hours Of labor SO that nil will ba employed.
TlIep meu will stand upon an cxact equality
with regard to the power Of accepting Or reject.
Ing u Contract. believe that II tllc cight.liour
system wls adopted to-day wo would be work.
tng nn1cra six-hour system in i've ycars.n (scn-
sation.1
= Wien wontd tho decrease stopl" asked Mr,
ShcrWln In some aIarm.
When tho ingenuity OF man Is no longer
able to supply his wants BY machinery
hts Inventive powcrs arc 10 longer aDlo to In
vent machinery by which the motive powrr Of
steam and electricity could ba applied aud sup
jly the wants Of man. When tic tituo comes
the reduction Of the linnss ol lnbor will atop,
taay add. however, that bc,:eyo four hours;
labor d day Ia necessary .u ligc,''
- ''1upposc," naked bfr. SAcrwln, rs q clincl,er,
81 that tile supply OF labor was such TINT men
couldn't work cyen four hourA q tayl''
:. "I!,en tilcy'd so to EYmuasium:" replied
ss u.s.. ap .tsy there four hours
" Just wanted to know wl!crc ths thing
would end," explained Mr.. SLcFwiu, tit
would ultimate III the Communc, wouldn't mn
aNo, sir. II would ultimate In corporation,
MIN A4A+ H4HlN Io (@'u NsIAEAl$ 1QEiCAI result,
But thu working classcs have got 10 be muro
elevated than they are to-day To be- fitted for
thut state"
"WclI," observed tho matter.of-fact Mr..
Cowgirl. "tllat Will como after tho uliilcuiuln,n
[LaugiItcr.1
"Certalnly, sir" rotortcd Parsons, "it will
10 the nlllleniun Of labor.n
u We bare reached it In Congress- thcn., re-
marked tic Chairman, whercat there was IN.
other laugh. and still anolller when ouu OF lie
crowd suggested that congressman didn't even
work all Of four hours day st that.
Parsons went on to say that ho believed tho
passage Of Wright's Supplemental Homestead
bill would ba Of great benent 10 tho wurktlIg
classcs, aud tntmatcd t.4t 1t would 10 q gluri.
Gus day when paterunl Goyerntucut Cuyo this
people monoy,-loancd II to them.
"'lhen The llcavy taxpayer ought to hayo tho
larger loan.' ycnlurcd MI. Sherwtn, "ioasu,1lcll
Us llo contributes tho most Ia the shape Ui
tuxrs.n
mo. sft," rctortcl Parsons; ~ DENY that.
The poor rcople ol this country pay tl!o taxet,
while lhe wealthy simply coIlcrt tlicnl,
Illis ratscd another hugh from tic aeitstors.
We might aa well stup right hcrc,n said tic
Chairman. smiling himself. "Wo can't stop
In better pluec.H
And, anlust more laughter, tho COMMITTEES
barted around for anotl!er Witness,