The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-05-06

men, owing to tho ObShnacy of Vice
President HoXie who refused repeatedly
to listen to their complaints. The dis
trict assembly was not required by our
laws, however, to appeal tho matter to
tho executive board before ordering q
strike, and this is one of the things that
we expect to amend at our next general
convention. We shall so amend the laws
of the order that no assembly can order
a strike hereafter without first submitting
the matter to the highest authority in the
organization, except at the risk of having
it's charter revoked. There must be no
moro strikes if it is possible to avert
them, and think it is."
"Is it truo that general effort will be
put forth by the order throughout the
country, on the first of next month, to
make eight hours tho standard days.
work?"
''Thcre is no truth whatever in such q
report While l am, as you know, in
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 inaugurating tho eight
hour system successfully A reform like
that requires timo for discussion. We
want the manufacturers and employers
of all kinds to have plenty of tin,o to
talk the matter over and sec wherein il
would be of benefit to all concerned
the man who employs labor as well as
the man who labors"
cit is quito generally reported that an
effort will be made OH the Ist of MAY in
behalf of the eight-hour system. Would
1T have the approval of the order?"
"Nc cannot cOuntenancc it ut present,
because We believe such IL movement
now would prove abortive, and We want
to prepare the country for it. Just now
the public is unprcpared, and the result
would be to seriously cripple industry and
prevent men from making contracts. We
are not III favor OF introducing any such
chaotic condition Of affairs
"Do you expect to see the cight-hour
movement effective ut any time in the
near futurc?"
"Whencvcr we find that the country
IS ready for it We shall urge it with all
the carncStncSS ut our command, but be-
tore 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 comtry?"
"a moro general diffusion Of labor and
consequently fewer idle men in the corm.
try. The employed have not as many
opportunities to improve their condition
when there arc a great many idle men II.
they would have if all were at work
There arc many other advantages to b.
derived from shorter hours Of labo
Which 1t IS not necessary to cnlumcratc u
present, since that would lead to the dis
cusslon Of the question Of labor-savine
machinery and matters of incidental i'm.
portancc."
GLOW soon do you expect to sec the
clght-hour movement successfully"
'No time has been fixed for it, and il
would be difficult to fix any time lust
now. 1t may be two, thrco, 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 cight-hour move.
mcnt III this country on the lst of May,
as some OF the newspapers suppose"
MI. Iowdcrly appeared before Con-
GrcSSman Curtm'S committee Of imvcsti-
CATION ut Washington Oh Tuesday.