The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-08-01
CLEVELAND AND LABOR.
i workingmen should oppose
Cleveland and His Party.

cleveland Rnd HiS Party
10 ne Edltor Of The Ecening Critic
just previous to Governor Cloveland's noml.
nation at Chicago the Central Labor Union Of
New York adopted resolution protesting
against his selection TO head tho Presidential
ticket. In that resolution they said;
~ his refusal to sign tho bill limiting
the car drivers and conductors hours OF labor
10 twelve hours per day, thereby sacrificing
ne m ana "a Grot b@ % inc
This was but one of the many hostile acts OF
the Governor which tho workingmen alleged
Let us calmly consider this ono veto, the
grounds upon which It was based and their
morit.
In tho Washington CrdItsman for July 20,
1884, good and reliable labor paper, there Is
communication from Brooklyn IN. "
correspondent, In which special plea is en-
tered In behalf OF Governor Cleveland for this
act. He quotes In defense the following Ian
guage used by the Governor In his veto:
UT does not prohibit the making OF a con-
tract for any number OF hours work, Mtnk,
and II 1t does, It is an interference with the
employees as well as employers rights. II tho
car drivers and conductors work fewer hours
they must receive less pay, and this bill does
not prevent that. / cannot think that this bill
Is In the Interest OF tho workingman."
The correspondent lays sole stress upon the
longer hours destroyed the ofrect OF the bill.
But II Will be seen, in the language OF the Gov
ernor, that while he merely MinkS this to have
son, prefacing 1t with "and II It does" This
ehows that this objection was but q minor one
In his opinion. The sole ground was "inter.
ference" with the respective rights OF em-
ployers and employed, and fear that short
Every Intelligent man who has studied the
short time movement abroad-where IL began
long before II did in the United States-kuows
that this objection is based on the shallowest
conception OF economic facts. When tho quos-
tion OF short time was considered In the Par
lament OF Great Britain, during the great re-
form session Of 1882, John Bright used the
same argument. Arguments used before Gro
yer Cleveland was born are not necessarily or.
roneous, but this ono John Bright long since
retracted. But few years passed before he
publicly stated that ho had been convinced by
tlpTitnce that whatever tended to enhance
the social condition OF workmen Increased their
worth. No one thing cultlvates more than
rest. Under tho nine.hour system In England
and tho oight'hour system In Australia, me.
chanics, through rest, have sensibly improved
their social condition.
All political economists admit that the
standard OF wages does not depend upon the
number OF hours employed at labor. III 1t did
car drivers and conductors would receive q far
higher remuneration than they do. A days
wages depend upon the standard OF comtortto
which those employed are accustomed. Mod
ern economical writer's, 1 think, without ex.
ception, admit that whatever tends to raise
|. the standard OF comfort tends to increase tho
necessary wants OF a laborer. We need not 60
abroad for demonstration OF this. Hours of
labor in our country were once from thirteen
to fifteen. Now they are generally ten. Does
| the mechanic receive loss real wages than
when he worked eleven or twelve hours?
| Every man OF sufflcient age knows better.
Under wise system OF legislation, where
| manufacturers are encouraged the workshop
| and farm brought Into closer relations and
| FREQ education supplied, the American me.
| chanic has steadily risen In social position as
/ he has had increased rest. IL Is the long hours
| or unintermtted toll which leaves man bru :
| tallzed. Leisure gives him opportunity and
| this is the spring OF ambition. Can O man
working sixteen or seventeen hours a day have
| any opportunity to decorate his cottage with
/ climbing plants, to beautify his garden walk
| or his household walls with pictures. Want OF
| opportunity brings want of desire. Drunken.
| ness and crime too often follow.
The economies OF the Republican platform,
| with Its strong labor planks, 10 In marked
i contrast with Governor Cleveland's veto. The
| nrst 10 abreast with the leading writer's OF the
l age. The second falls back on the exploded
| arguments in vogue before he was born. The
| one is marked by statesmanship, the other by
| Its absence. The one is In the line of pro
i gress; the other Ia retrogressive. Tho ono
| breathes the spirit OF the North, where FREQ
labor has dominated: the other savors OF tho
| South, where slave labor has left Its deadly
| Impress on the economics OF tho party Grover
| Cleveland 30 ntly represents. GURTH.
| -------- -
| A. Lake, 1137 U street, says three bottles OF
| Browns Iron Bittcrs cured him OF severe
/ case of dyapppaia.