Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13
The Eight Hour Movement.

The Eight Hour Movement.
The Pennsylvania Farmer, published at
Meadville, has the following to say of the
new labor troubles that are at present
agitating the whole country:
There is much agitation throughout the
cities of this country upon the question
of eight instead of ten hours constituting
a days labor. In some places the system
is about to be adopted. The important
question to be considered is whether that
is the proper thing to do or not. Is it the
best thing for the laboring class? Viewed
on general principles we don't believe it
| is. No man can do as much work in eight
hours as he can in ten hours, and no en-
plOyer can afford to pay as much for eight
as for ten hours labor. The tendency
during the past few years on the part of
employers generally to reduce wages,
upon the plea that their business does
not pay, is proof that if they get less Ia
Dor they must pay less money. In some
cases the claims of the employer may be,
| and doubtless are, groundless, and made
for the purpose of personal enrichment at
the expense of labor, but such cases are
largely in the minority. A large majority
of employers of labor have been paying
every cent they could afford, and many
have paid more than the profits of their
business would Justify, till failure has
| overtaken them. These are unquestion-
| able facts.
In majority of cases, the workman
who performs less labor must expect to
get Less pay, and the percentage of labor
ers III this country who can afford to do
that is not large. A large majority of
the men who live by labor in this coun-
try are not millionaires. If they are, or
anywhere near it, their plea of capital
expressing labor is without foundation.
The facts are that a very large majority
of the men of this country who live by
selling their labor can barely live and
support their families on the pay they
receive for ten hours labor a day, and
| they can't afford to reduce their earnings.
| The plea that shorter hours or labor
will give more opportunity for recrea-
ton and refinement isn't applicable to~sa
very large proportion of laborers. To
such as will use the additional spare
hours that way, it will be a blessing, but
to the larger proportion who leisure
! hours are now spent in loafing around
places of questionable reputation, and
spending the money earned during the
day is beer guzzling, the additional hours
of liberty from labor will be curse of no
small magnitude.
That part of the laboring element of
this country, which is continually kicking
for more pay, generally least deserves
what 1T already gets. The scabs, bum
mers and botches are generally the loud
est IN their clamors for more pay and less
work. What they get is mainly fooled
away In cumming brawls, and the height
| of their ambition is to fool away more in
| the same way.
| The workman who has the welfare of
his employer at heart, takes an interest
In his work and is faithful to the end, sell
dom makes much complaint. He is salts
fiod, happy, saves his earnings and builds
up true happiness and comforts in his
home. To him a reduction of hours is
blessing; for his leisure will be we'll en-
ployed. The lamentable feature in his
case is that he is sometimes compelled to
suffer for the wrongs of the worthless
class who possess no merit worthy of no.
tlce, and who, the less leisure they have
the better they are off.
If a reduction of hours will give en-
ployment to many who are now idle, and
thus enable all to live and provide the
necessaries and comforts of life, the
change will not be without its advantages.
spending that which is earned, the results
will not be very beneficial. In any event,
the correct verdict can best be arrived at
after trial
Agricultural Items.
There is colored State Agricultural
society in Arkansas.
-White-shelled eggs have to be sold at
discount in the Eastern markets.
The Iowa Register says vegetation
was farther advanced on April % at Des
Moines, than before for thirty-oae years.
There is a mule in California over 40
years of age. It was taken across the
plains by Gen. Kearney in 1849.
If you want eggs from your Brahmas,
don't feed them too strongly. They take
on fat readily, and when fat they do not
lay. Plymouth Rocks and Wyandottes
need liberal feeding when they are laying.
A correspondent of the Country Gen
tleman thinks bogus butter has advanced
the price of the first-grade pure article by
alarming the public until those who are
able will pay almost any price for the best
butter.
A correspondent of the New York
Tribune recommends as a specific against
gnarly, scabbed fruit, the scattering of a
liberal allowance of good, rich manure
and plenty of wood ashes on the surface
under the tree.
Professor Stewart says green sorghum
is better green food for COWS in August
than green corn, because it has more solu-
BILE sugar and is quite as rich it heterogeneous
elements.
A noted horticulturist remarks that the
orchardist who neglects to care for his
trees and feed the soil has no more right
to expect permanent, good results than
the stock-grower has who only occasion
ally feeds his live stock.
SELECTED RECIPES.