St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-19

cult matter to determine. But TO make the
point clear, let us suppose that there is one
man in every five in the various avocations
idle and then consider the matter from that
standpoint. We see in moment that the
reduction of the hours of toll 10
eight would mean the employment
of every idle man or woman in the country,
and their employment would mean Stimu-
lation to industrial enterprise. Then what
Is the further result? \ rise in wages must
be made, not only from asking, but as q
matter of necessity. And this is not the
only benefit that would be derived from the
adoption of this step. 1t would
mean prosperity to the business
man and q greater demand for
the products of labor, for this means
greater consumption, and greater cOnsump-
ton means the
STIMULATION OF TRADE.
In short, the result of all this would be
the creation of a market more active by
one-fifth in every conceivable respect, not
only theoretically but practically. And the
sooner wOrkingmen realize these things the
better of they will be, in fact, not only
the wOrkingman, but the business man also.
In the foregoing proposition / have
given but the nucleus of this most inl-
| portant of all questions now before the
/ American people. There will be more
said about it than there has hitherto been,
and men can look for some telling effects
/ from il, for popular thing is almost always
a successful thing, and it is needless to pro-
| nOunce the eight-hour movement popular
one, for such it is and will continue to be.
As proof of the truth of the arguments
set forth we would refer the reader
/ TO the history of a movement of like
Nalo
/ Scotland. The carpenters of that city hav-
| ing organized themselves into a union after
a time attempted to reduce the hours of
| toll and maintain the same scale of wages.
The question developed into strike, which
resulted in a failure after six weeks
struggle, the point being raised by the
bosses that it was not right for
men to ask ten hours pay for
less number of hours work.
After some months had elapsed, and the
union recovered its old strength, the move
ment was again brought to the surface on
the principle of less hours work for pro-
| portiOnate pay. The cOntrac tors were duly
notified of the intention. Theyvery readily
acceded 10 the requests of the mechanics,
not considering the movement as an I'M
reasonable one, and the result was that
the shorter hours were adopted
/
ing point of success for the mechanics
was that in less than six weeks
after the movement took effect the men
were receiving n shilling more per day than
when they organized the movement. There
was not one idle man in the
trade to be found in the whole city,
and they were obliged to import men to
supply men in the trade. This is the
reasonable effect of a move that looks fair
on the face of it, and in this case is indeed
fair, for there can be
| NO INJUSTICE
in the idea of the same pay for the same
amount of work. Then if the wOrkingmen
would profit by experience, let them pattern
after the mechanics of Edenburg. The
experience of the mechanics OF New
York city is sad one i'll comparison to this,
and fully demonstrates the falIacy in the
idea that men should seek any other course
than the one recommended. The New
Workers struggled long and hard to gain a
victory in part, upon which they at later
time improved. But the Scotchmen scored
a signal victory from the outset, not only in
the matter of shorter hours but more wages.
If we are wise we will not remove the ''old
landmarkS.p CAIUS CAssIUS.