Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-05-06
For the Ellsworth American
Speoulations on the Labor Question.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE QUESTION.
Mr.. Editor:

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE QUESTION.
Mr.. Editor:
| notice in a recent issue of the AMERI-
CAN an article Expectations on the Labor
Question. One side of the question:" and
with your permission, should like to give
some thoughts and points on the other side.
The writer's criticism is nearly all on the
twenty-first plank, which calls for eight
hours to constitute legal days work Let
Us look at that plank in the light Of reason.
Ia our judgment the number of hours that
shall constitute legal days work is de-
pendent entirely upon the condition Of the
supply and demand for labor If there is
a greater supply than there IS demand. then
there should be less hours to the day, but if
there is a greater demand than supply, then
there would be need Of more hours to the
day. This is upon The supposition that the
labor question is TO be solved and settled by
whatever means that will give all the labor
that presents itself constant employ at fair
wages and read, pay. Now II there ever
was time when the law making powers
thought it advisable to fix the hours for
days service. land they did make ten hours
lawful days work many years ago. il
seems to me the height of error to suppose
such law IS not repealabe or amendable.
especially under entirely difFeren, conditions
/ That ten hour law was made upon the sup
/ position that there was at that time Just
workers enough to do all the work that
/ there a demand for. The conditions are
very much changed now. there being much
I labor unemployed for want Of opportunity.
/ which the manufacturers say is caused hy
reproductions This reproduction the
DRY is another powerful argument in favor
Of the eight, hour system, for il the people
by their long days work have produced
more than the country can consume, what
other remedy so good to solve this theory
to reduce the number Of hours which
make days work
ing '''p"'At1oH Hau"'attuttIH nave an
ASSOCIATION just as 'he bankers DO anu ho'd
meetings 70 consult ana ttsermine no" much
Of the time in year they can afford 10 run
u'eH mii1S IN oFder 10 just meet the demand
ior theT goods, hnd 'heE often order their
mills run on half or three -fuurth> time.
thereby cutting down the lab1rer's income
one-i"urih or one-haH reducing h!m 10
starvation ~ages TINS ne eIght-hour day
"iI' help TO some extent. Your correspond
ent asks Il just arbitration would allow
the same wages for eight as for ten hours
for days labor We say yes emphaticat-
y el.e there would be MP virtue IN the
change. This Is The lit'Ie David with the
sing WITH which We propose 10 s.ay Goliath.
that :, We hope by this means to force the
employers 70 advocate and demand an in
creased amount Of circulating medium So
as 10 get a rise in the price Of their goods To
otf.s, the rise ID wage. because nf i-ss hours
iu da,'. work. The greatest argument in
favor Of the eight hour day i il will .;,t.
employment to a larger number Of l.borer>
which IS IL, great object and purpose. |, i
a well known fact that our Government r,r
many wears has hrid out inducements ID Dur
inventive genius, 10 invent all kind. Of la
bor saving machinery by which III lessen
manual labor. This It has done b, Offering
subsidies, patents. or brides. whichever II
may be called. and th., has stimulated people
eycrywhcte TO spend their time and talents
in .nycntins labor saving machinery which
ha, taken the place Of manual labor TO the
extent Of over fifty fo!I think, Il have not
the statistic, at hand now and although BY
the help Of this machinery man, want, have
been more LIBERAL, supplied, vet the ability
70 supply our wants has hot kcp, pace with
our ability to produce and manufacture,
hence We have at times an oyer-stocked
market for commodities and a consequent,
over-stoc.ed market for labor Here too
the need Of the eight hour system come, III.
We believe i, Is the duty of free govern
ment 10 -er that ali lts Iaboriug ueonle uho
wan, and need work can obtain !, at good
wages ana ready pa, How can thi. Be
done " hen this labor saving machinery has