The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1886-03-10
The Eight-Hour Labor Law.


In the discussion on Mr.. McBride's sub.
stitute for Mr. Haley's eight-hour bill, in
the House, Mr.. Washburn, of Lorain, re
piled to the speech of Mr.. Mcbride. AS
this IS a matter OF great intereot to labor
ing men, as well as employers, we give
space to Representative Washburn's re
marks on this question. In main, we
agree with him, but there are many points
where we differ. There is already too much
legislation pointing to that question. We
claim that 1t needs none. Men are men
the world over, and are abundantly able
10 make contracts for themselves; and, II
they would rely upon their own ability,
keep out of the unions and labor for
the interest of their employers, we predict
that different state of affairs would ex.
its.
Mr.. SPEAKER In the few minutes
that crave the indulgence of the House,
/ shall give some some Of the reasons why
cannot support the substitute under con-
sideration. In the first place. will say
that / consider the labor question one of
the greatest problems this generation will
be called upon to solve. The relation that
capital bears to labor, and the just adjust
ment of the differences that are constantly
arising between the employer and EN-.
ployet., may well tax the best thoughts OF
the wisest men in the land, who desire the
welfare of all classes af our fellow citi.
zens. Mr.. Speaker, / am one Of those who
believe the laborer of to-day, in most Of
the departments of industry, is too poorly
paid for his toll. His wages, II he be an
honest and industrious person, should be
increased, rather than diminished. The
bill offered by the gentleman from Stark,
is drafted with the studied design of re.
ducing the wages of the laboring man. Its
language is plain and unqualified. 1t
provides that any firm, company or cor
poration that either compels or permits
person 10 work more than eight hours in
each calendar day of twenty y-four hours,
shall be punished. II takes from the am.
bilious laborer, who has steady employ.
ment at remunefative wages, the right he
has ever enjoyed to work as many hours
day as he pleases, with the laudable pur.
pose of furnishing himself and his depend.
ent family the comforts Of home that he
can call his own. Whatever may be his
ambition, his opportunities, or his desires,
this act demands that he shall divide his
time and money, with that other class Of
J1aborers, who are known as idlers; who
have no ambition beyond the qualification
Of their appetites and desires for the day;
whose families are too often supported by
the labor Of the wife, who spends fifteen
hours day in the hardest Of toll to keep
her dependent children from hunger, and
herself from the poor-house. 1t goes into
every workshop in the State and ruthless.
ly robs every toiler, who earns dollar
and halt day, of thirty cents of his
earnings. 1t takes from every mechanic,
who earns two dollars day, forty cents;
and the humble worker who is glad to re.
ceive one dollar for such work as he may
secure by odd jobs among his neighbors,
is compelled, by this law, 10 accept only
eighty cents, because in this free govern.
ment, where the right Of man TO labor,
as long as he pleases for the bread where
with to feed his family has never been
questioned, this law steps in and limits
his hours of labor to eight
Mr.. Speaker, II is not denied by the au.
thor OF this bill that his design is to re.
duce the price OF days labor. He free.
ly admits that the enactment OF this law
will take twenty per cent from the wages
Of every workingman, whether he be EN-.
ployed by the month, the week, the day
or the hour. His sole plea Is in behalf Of
those who have no present employment
that class OF men who too often lose their
situations by their excesses, and whose In.
doleDce and unthriit form their most dis
tinguished characteristics. He would di.
vide the pittance now paid the great horde
OF ambitious toilers, with this class OF
men, and thus reduce all to the point of
penury and want.
But there is another class OF laborers,
who are excepted by the provisions Of this
bill. Its language includes "all places
where manual labor is performed, except
farm labor" If this act is TO benefit the
laboring man, why is farm labor excepted
] am addressing many gentlemen upon
this floor who know by long experience
what is the daily task of the man who
works upon farm. share In that ex.
perience, and know what farm labor
means-especially that which is employed
In clearing away the forests and fitting
the soil for cultivation. No ten-hour law
even, limits the daily iarm laborer. In
heat and in cold, In sunshine and In storm
he is often compelled to labor almost from
sun TO sun. In the open fields, under the
pitiless rays of the scorching sun, he is
compelled to toll through planting and
harvest, while the man in the workshop
4 sheltered from both sun and storm, and
.oes home to his family at the end of ten
.o.rs. Does not farm labor need the ben.
c1nf protection Of this enforced eight