The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-26
THE EIGHT HOUR MOVEMENT.

The movement in favor of making eight
hours a days work for workingmen is un-
doubtedly gaining volume, and it is quite
probable that the object in view will be ac-
complished. There is the possibility that its
advocates expect too much of it, for as is only
too often the case in the discussion Of ques
tons affecting the interests of the masses,
public speakers and writers hesitate to declare
the whole truth lest their popularity be
endangered This is not manly and is not
fair, yet it is an offense Of which probably
nine men in ten in public life are consciously
or unconsciously guilty. The result is that
such questions are viewed from one side only,
and erroneous conclusions are reached. The
question of reducing the hours of labor by 20
per cent. is Of too grave nature to be unfairly
or inadequately treated. The workingman
should impartially inform himself as to all
it's bearing, so that results, when reached,
may not be a disappointment and so
that desired results may be attained most
easily and surely. The tendency Of cham
pions Of the laboring classes and their friends
and well-wishers in general, is to expect too
much from projected reforms and to ignore
facts that must be associated with them. The
eighthour movement is good one, and wise
ly conducted ought to and will succeed. But
it will not usher in the millennium. It is
pleasing to imagine that it will lessen dissipa-
ton, do away with poverty, crime and wretch
edness and make jails and penitenkiaries
needless 1t is fattering to say that the occu
patton of the policeman will be gone, and
that courts Of justice will have little to do
with criminal cases, if this reform be adopted,
but the man who reasons knows that this will
not be so. The criminal classes do not come
from honest laborers, out of employment
from no fault of their own, and it is unjust
to say so. Some men are vicious by
nature, and no matter how agreeable
and how easy may be their lives, they
the prison ranks are recruited Lessening the
hours of labor would probably lessen the de-
sire for strong drink as stimulant, since the
need of it would be less; but it would not do
away with drunkenness and crime altogether.
1t is unfair, also, to ignore the rights Of
others in this question. The man who de-
mands to do 20 per cent. less labor, cannot
with reason expect the same compensation
that he receives now. The business of manu-
age of machinery. The unwritten laws of
trade, which cannot be suddenly and arbitrar-
lily altered have a tendency to bring profits
and prices down to the lowest possible notch
through competition. If any kind of bust
ness pays an unusual profit, more are at
tracted to engage in it, and the inevitable
competition brings the margin of profit down,
and often temporarily below the com
mon level. The rule is that no
business can long enjoy exorbitant
profit, unless it be monopoly, and the eight
hour question reaches further than mo-
nopoly's bounds. 1t may be popular to shut
ones eyes to the fact that employers will
hardly be able to at once advance wages by
20 per cent. The laws of trade, that is, the
possibilities of trade, may not justify it. The
law of the land certainly cannot compel an
advance. Intelligent workingmen understand
this, but there is tendency to keep it in the
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preached in manner certain to bring disap-
pointment to some. In all issues involving
such vast interests it is the part Of wisdom to
consider them in ali their bearings, and with
direct reference to such correlative questions
as may be involved, and must at the same
time be satisfied. There is reason to expect
much good from the adoption of the eight
hour plan, and it is withinethe line of proba-
bilties that it will realize all that is expected
of it. But like all reforms, it will have to be
approached by degrees; the concessions
of employers must be met with like
concessions on the part of the employed
Neither side can nor should be expected to do
it all. With days work fixed at eight hours,
it undoubtedly will require more men to do
the amount of work now performed. The
employment of more men, even at the same
aggregate amount Of wages paid would have
the effect of relieving much distress among
the people now out of work, and consequent
improvement of business would follow. In
turn, it is quite probable that the amount of
wages paid for ten hours could be paid for
eight and when that is reached the object of
the present movement will have been realized
1t is an unanswerable argument that inven-
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