Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-05-07

oneht 10 be capable Of being demon
strated and IL point Of prime moment
IN this agitation. But these two points
should be kept distinct--length OF LABOR
ana the conditions under which the labor
ing Is carried on.
MANY people are greatly concerned as 70
the use TO which labor Will put its leisure
IL won. There Is, unfortunately TOO
muchfevidence that hosts Of men would
not use IL for self-improyement, but abuse
II for self.deterloration. But this u a
risk that must be run for the sake OF the
many who would rightfully employ THIS
leisure. There are hosts OF such men.
And there are good grounds for believing
that experience shows a prepoDderance OF
encouragement over Encouragement Is
this aspect Of the case.
II is said again, as the final clincher OF
every objection, that legislation cannot
achieve this reform. II Is true that leg
Ialatlon cannot affect II, II that legislation
be greatly in advance OF public sentiment.
But, on the other hand, there Is no such
effective power to secure II when the
time is ripe, and there Is q public senti-
ment back Of the measure which win en-
force IL. The agitation for the reduction
try was carried on through strikes and
through riots until 1870, when the presi.
dent OF the United States issued his
proclamation that ten hours should be q
legal days work in all the estab-
llshments OF the United States. Two
or three months after this proc
lamatlon the system was introduced
through the manufacturing establish
80. ,.lh 4 .a,iat "A
without any violence. few employers
held out for awhile but they had finally to
submit. The real question for the pres
ent hour, as IL seems 10 me, " whether
the public opinion OF the country II ripe
for such legislation now For one, do
not believe that II is The evidence OF
this is that 1t is found desirable TO call
out such an expression OF opinion as IL
now being laid before the people In this
symposium. That evidence lies In the
utter contrariety OF opinion that exists
to-day, Labor IL by no means unit on
this point, and capital, 1t Is needless to
say, II very far from being converted to
this theory. II the grounds on which its
friends advocate this measure are solid,
enough men viii be bought to take their
stand upon this position TO win the day
after the agitation Is continued for a few
years Too hasty action would throw
the movement back, The thing to be
done now, IL seems to me,
Is TO secure the widest possible
discussion OF the subject-to make work
ingmen know the employers view OF the
matter, and think II over carefully, and to
make capitalists understand the working
mans view Of the subject, and to think 1t
over carefully The mass of our thought
full people prepared TO favor all reason
able measures for the welfare Of labor,
need TO be convinced that this particular
measure Is practical aud wise. II they
are convinced of this there will be force
back of the movement which will insure
Its success. II they fail Of being con-
vlnced, IL will be because the evidence
does not sustain the cnse---in which event
a verdict for labor would be set aside by
higher court than the United States con
gress. Even an apparently successful
strike, # premature, might prove boom
erann,