The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-05-05

President HoXie, who refused repeatedly
to listen to their complaints. The dis
trict assembly was not required by ou:
laws, however, to appeal the matter K
the executive board before ordering {
strike, and this is one Of the things tha
we expect to amend at our next genera
convention. We shall so amend the law!
Of the order that no assembly can ordel
a strike hereafter without first submitting
the matter to the highest authority in The
organization, except at the risk Of having
its charter revoked. There must be nc
more strikes if it is possible to aver
them, and I think it is
. els it true that general effort will be
put forth by the order throughout the
country, on the first Of next month, tc
make eight hours the standard day:
work?"
''There is no truth whatever in such {
report. While I am, as you know, il
favor Of shortening the hours Of labor,
recognize the great fact that the public
is not yet fully educated up to the re-
quirements of inaugJrating the eight
hour system successfully. A reform like
that requires time for discussion. We
want the manufacturers and employers
of all kinds to have plenty of time tc
talk the matter over and see wherein il
would be of benefit to all concerned
the man who employs labor as well as
the man who labors.
'EIt is quite generally reported that an
effort will be made on the 1st of May ii
behalf Of the eight-hour system. Would
it have the approval of the order?"
eve cannot countenance it at present,
because we believe such a movement
now would prove abortive, and we want
to prepare the country for it. Just now
the public is unprepared, and the result
would be to seriously cripple industry and
prevent men from making contracts. We
are not in favor of introducing any such
chaotic condition Of affairs %
"Do you expect to see the eight-hoUu
movement effective at any time in the
near futrue?"
"Whenever We find that the country
is ready for it We shall urge it with all
the earnestness at our command, but be-
fore that time employees and employed
must have ample opportunity to become
acquainted with its benefits %
"What would be the principle benefits
of shorter hours of labor to the working
men of the country?"
"a more general diffusion Of labor and
consequently fewer idle men in til, co1n-
try. The employed have not as many
opportunities to improve their condition
when there are great many idle men as
they would have if all were at work
There are many other advantages to be
derived from shorter hours of labor
which it is not necessary to enumerate at
present, since that would lead to the dis
cussion of the question Of labor-saving
machinery and matters Of incidental i'm
portance.' y
Chow soon do you expect to see the
eight-hour movement successful?'
''No time has been fixed for it, and it
would be difficult to fix any time just
now. It may be two, three, or more
years hence, but not until the question is
fully discussed and thoroughly under
stood by the country. There will be no
general strike for the eight-hour move
ment in this country on the lst Of May,
as some of the newspapers suppose"
Mr. Powderly appeared before Con-
gresham Curtin's committee Of investi-
cation at Washington on Tuesday.