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

uhr VI Out thuuohiNo1 OhhhhaSN W. e~~
sideration?
Mr.. Speaker, l have only alluded to a
few of the acts Of injustice that this law
would impose upon the great mass OF Ia
boring men in Ohio. There are other peo-
pie who would be injured by the enforce
ment to an equal extent II would injure
the employer as we'll as the employed.
Ny belief is that the relations of employ
er AMI employe are so intimately related
that no act, that seriously injured the one,
could fail to seriously affect the other.
The laboring man is dependent upon
the prosperity of his employer, Tor other
wise, organized industries would cease TO
exist and the mechanic and artisan, as
we'll as the great mass Of tradesmen and
handiworkers, would And no employment.
On the other hand, it is equally for the in
terest of the employer that his employees
receive sufficient pay to make them pros
porous and contented with their employ
ment, and ambitious to become employ
ers themselves. This bill affects both
classes injuriously. 1t compels every
merchant in the State to employ two corps
Of clerks, or to close his business at the
end Of eight hours This extra cost would
be taxed upon the goods the laboring man
is compelled to purchase with his reduced
earnings, thus imposing double burden
upon him. 1t would discriminate against
the laboring man, for capital always has
the advantage Of labor, which should,
therefore, be all the more carefully pro.
tected by law. 1t compels every railroad
TO have additional mtn scattered along its
line TO take the place of these whose
"eight hours" have expired-otherwise Its
charter is forfeited by the provisions OF
the law. 1t would require extra help in
every printing Office, and in every mart of
industry, where the work could not be
performed in eight hours. 1t would add
one-fiith TO the cost OF manufactured arti.
cles, as we'll as take one.fifth from the wa
ges of every laborer.
But, Mr. Speaker, these are not all the
evils that would result from the passage
Of this BILL, If the workshops of Ohio
were 10 be closed at the end oil eight hours
each day, as the gentleman from Stark
urges, how could the industries of Ohio
compete with those of the surrounding
States, whose shops are open ten and
twelve hours day, as the workmen may
desire tn contract? 1t is clear that its ef.
fects would be ruinous TO Ohio industries.
Orders could be filled in other States, that
could not be filled under our compulsory
eight hour law. The shops would be
closed, and laborers would be denied even
eight hours employment, unless they emi.
grated TO those States where they ctn
have the God.given right to contract for
as many hours labor us they please. But
more injurious than all the points l have
yet referred to, is the crowning effect 1t
would have upon the enterprise and the
ambition that alone lifts the laboring man
up to higher plane, and a more comfort.
able, though not a more honorable, posi-.
tion among his fellow.men. This.eniorc-
ed reduction in wages, by the curtailment
Of the hours Of labor, would inevitably
tend to discourage the ambitious bread.
winners of today, who are striving to pay
for their homes, and feed and clothe their
children, while II would encourage that
already too large class oi idlers who care
only TO supply the wants Of the present
moment There are thousands in Ohio
who belong to this class, who are able.
bodied men, but unwilling to work. For
one, | say thar those already employed
should not be compelled by law to divide
their scanty earnings with this class of
men. 1t partakes OF the communistic
spirit that would divide all property
among the worthy and unworthy alike.
The bill of the gentleman from Cuyahoga,
contains none Of these Objectionable fea-
lures. 1t changes the single word "ten"
to "eight," and leaves the laborer to con.
tract for as many hours as he desires To-
work. 1t is because am laboring man
myself and have ever sympathized with
those who toll with their hands for the
gaining Of their bread, that l protest in
their behalf against this compulsory law
that takes from them part Of their hard.
earned wages, and robs them OF the right
TO contract for their labor, as they may
see, will be for their best interest. The
substitute should be defeated, and the
original bill should be adopted.
CThe substitute was voted down by a
large majority, and the original bill was
amended so as to read: "In all engage.
ments TO labor in any mechanical, manu-.
featuring or mining business" etc, and
was then adopted, with only eleven votes
in the negatively