Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-05-04
ONLY EIGHT HOURS
DO the Carpenters OF Fort Worth Pro.
pose TO Work ForsHklng Their
Tools Mt 4.
what WIN the Contractors DO About IT,
Big Mass Meeting Last Night
at Daggetpa Hnn
TnE NEw REGIME.

AT 4 O'Clock yesterday the carpenters
engaged on the Brown building, on Mr.
Il. M. Pages lumber sheds, and on va
rious other buildings, laid down their
tools and ceased work for the day, In.
forming their bosses that the elght-hcur
system had come In vogue In Fort Worth.
MI. Abererombie, superintendent of
the Brown building, paid off the
men and discharged them. What
the other employers will do is not known.
Mr.. Anderson, who has the contract for
the erection Of several houses for Mr..
Page, stated to a GAzETTE reporter tina.
he had no objection to the eight-hour
system, provided 1t was coupled with
eight hours pay. II Is understood that
Two firms OF contractors have signed an
agreement TO adopt the new system,
modified to the extent OF eight
hours pay for eight hours labor. The
general Impression among contractors
ana those who contemplate building Is
that the movement ls the outgroWth of
unreasonable agitation aud will soon run
its course. But little objection will he
urged by any one against reducing the
hours of work, but II is evident that anv
attempt TO maintain wages at the present
standard, giving an increase practically
OF 20 per cent, will be stoutly resisted.
LAST SIGHr's MEETING.
The large hall on Main street next to
Godfrey's hall was filled to Overlooking
last night by five to six hundred
mechanics and laborers, who assembled
by call To discuss and take action on the
elght-hour move.
Richard Matthews, a carpenter, was
made chairman and briefly stated the
objects OF the meeting.
number OF speeches were then made,
some OF them very positive as to what
the workingmen OF the city should de-
mand, but the majority being conservative
and urging calm consideration OF the adj
visibility OF enforcing a measure AT this
time.
voice called out: "Let's have eight
hours now or never,n but the sentiment
was not Endorsed by any action.
II was then decided that the different
trades and the laborers hold mass.meet.
ings and pass on what they Intended 20
do and another Joint mass.meeting be
held Saturday night,
The stone cutters now reported TO the
meeting that they Endorsed the elght-hour
movement and would back the carpenters
who had adopted the eight-hour law at
O'Clock
The stone masons reported similar res
olutlons adopted by their craft.
The painters reported they would meet
Tuesday night, and were ore and ali for
eight hours
The lahorefs said they were for eight
hours, and were ready to stop work al =
O'Clock to-day TO get IT,
voice, "The carpenters are there
now, and we will hold them there and
follow them"
Chairman Matthews said, "what we
mean ~ this move Is that where four
men are at work now i've men win get
work, and all the idle labor of the country
will get work. Prices will regulate
themselves, SO stick TO the elghi-hour
law II you don't get ten hours pay
The meeting then adjourned to Satur.
day night. The Joint meeting at that
time Will determine how popular the
movement win become after calm de-
liberation.
No demand was made last night for
| Ten hours pay for eight hours work.