New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-01
TILE EIGHT-HOCR QUESTION.

The demand for eight hours is supported at the
W est by threats of a general strike. Dispatches
from Chicago and other points render it not i'm
probable that industry may be for time con-
sideraby disorg anized in some cities There is
no occasion for panic, however, for more than
nine tenths of the labor of the country is now
regularly and productivity employed, and the
demand for a change of hours really affects
workers in only few employments at present.
Then il is well to remember that Mr.. Powderly
distinctly stated that no such strike for eight
hours had been ordered by the Knights of
Labor, and that none would be. He held that
the workingmen were not only unprepared as
yet to convince the public of the justice of a
change, but did not themselves understand the
reason for it. Certainly this criticism is JUST
fled, but it has appeared already that the local
organizations are stronger than Mr.. Powdery
or his associates in the Executive Committee.
The transformation of workingmen on the
eght-hour question is illustrated in a commune
cation to The TRIBUNE, i'll which the writer
urges that eight hours work instead of ten
would make room for the employment of
great army of men now unemployed, in number
equal to fifth of all the workers in the cOun-
try In that case, it is said, the quantity of
things produced by labor would not be less than
are now produced. There would be the same
supply of things to be divided as the reward of
labor. This is doubtless reason in the minds
of the more intelligent men, whose approval is
necessary to make a movement important. But
it is not the chief reason with a much larger
number, who consider only that they would get
the same wages for fewer hours work, would
have more time to employ as they please, and
meanwhile they never stop to think whether
wages would buy as many things as they do
now.
TO illustrate, let eight men represent the
whole number now employed, and ten the num-
Der of all things produced by labor The men
get for ten hours work, let us suppose, So each.
1t is assumed that two men are unemployed
that these would be set at work on the eight
hour plan, and that the same ten things would
then be produced. But the eight men would
then get So each, as they do now, and two
others would then get So each, making $50 in
wages to be spent III buying the things produced.
Only SIG is now spent in buying the same things,
namely all the products of all labor. Prices must
Iise not only because the whole body of labor
ers has 500 to spend for the same things which
they now buy for SIG, but because the employ
ers would pay out 500 in the cost of production
where they now pay out $40. Taking ten to
represent all the things produced, if the former
price was 81 GO each, the new price would be
81 each. The eight men now employed would
have only 81 6, as they have now. They would
therefore buy only eight of the things produced,
where they now buy ten; that is, only four-ifths
of their present supply. The other part of the
men, having fifth of the money, would take
the other fifth of the things produced. Hence,
if these suppOsltiOns OF the wOrkncn are cor
rect, the laborer would get only eight hours
worth of things, if he should choose to work
eight hours, while the other men, who do the
other tw 10 hours work, would get fifth of the
things now produced. But how would that help
the present workmen, to get along with one
fifth less things for the satisfaction of all their
desires, less house roOm less food, less clothing,
and less cigars and beer
But the truth is, first that there is not now
nor has there been at any time fifth of the
working population unemployed. Many of
those who are not Employed are simply unwill
ing to work when they can. The loss of time in
the days work could only be made up by the
use of more machinery. That means more
capital. Labor would do less of the work to
produce the same things capital must do more
of the work. But will the larger capital be in
vested 7 VIII capitalists eagerly come forward
to put more money where they cannot take it
out again, and where it would be at the mercy
of labor organizAtions7 Probably not. at least
until the wages of labor should fall. But re-
fGsal of only part of the capitalists to 90 on
producing at a fifth higher cost would also
affect both the employment and the wages of
labor. The supply of things would then be re-
duced. All labor would get less for its time if |
1t spends less time in work The sim pie Ques-