The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-27
THE EIGHT-HOUR SYSTEM.
BIG DEMONSTRATION BY THE
CHICAGO COMMUNISTS.
What Leading Capitalists ThiRk OF
the MOVement-The Agitation
at Boston,

CuoAeo. Ill April 26.-Through-
orr the larger portion OF the city yes
terday all reminders that It wal Eester
sunday we're permitted to attract
much les attention than the evil
dencesfhat it was a day OF display for
fine international Workingmen's As.
so,alion. Streaming crimson banners
Sdd hurryiug groups Of swarthy.faced
Foreigners were far more conspicuous
in the eastern half OF the city than
any tokens OF the resurrection or OF
church.goiDg. The day had been
chosen Tor IN eight-hour demonstra-
ton under the auspices OF the Central
Labor Union, representing the COM
munistic element among the laboring
people Of the city. There was a great
number OF men in line, probably 5000
to 1000; several bands Of music, red
banners by the score and United
States flags. The organizations began
gathering on Randolph street in the
old haymarket before 10 o'clock am,
and the marching soon began. The
line OF march was apparently chosen
to cross and recross as many street-car
lines as possible. AT many places cars
stood in lines over half a mile in
length. The objective point was the
Lake Front, where a mtss-meeting Of
all participants was 10 be held. The
long route Of the procession was
thIOnged by
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE,
but notably lacking in any semblance
OF enthusiasm. Those in the ranks,
however, cheered and shouted for
Eight hours and Down with the
capitalists" There were hardly a
dozen banners in English in the entire
length OF the procession, and two or
three confined instructions TO boycott
certain individuals or their manuiac-
tuTe. One was RS follows: private
capital represents stolen labor" An
other had the words: Eight hours a
day." One banner bore in German
the words: Drink water like cattle,
30 says Master Workman Powderly."
On the way down Madison street the
through the procession. His wagon
was quickly overturned and left up.
side down in the gutter. When the
procession reached the Lake Front the
various organizations, augmented by
thronRs Of curious people, In all per-
haps 10000, gathered around two
stands and listened to speeches by A.
r. Parsons, Michael Schwab and a Mr..
Harasach from one stand. Parsons
spoke In English, SchwAb in German,
and Harasach in Bohemian. On the
other platform Sam Fielding, August
Spies and John A. Henry
HARANGUED THE MULTITUDE.
Spiesspokei in German audthe others
in English. The speeches were all OF
the : blood and thunder" order, and
declared in favor Of the abolition of
private capital and the unifcation OF
all wealth. Parsons declared il star
vartion was forced upon the masses
they would raise the banner OF liberty
aud equality and sweep away all their
oppressors. Henry said that hereto
fore all strikes had been wrong. The
men had struck to walk out. They
must change front and : strike TO
walk in and throw the owners aud
managers out. II was better to throw
out the owner OF a factory than to
throw out 200 or 800 workmen. While
the speaking was In progress all the
United States flags about the stand on
which Parsons stood were furled and
tucked out OF sight, while the red flag
was Haunted on all sides. Some one
yelled ont, "Where's the stars and
stripes" as Parsons spoke Of raising
the "banner OF liberty" and pointed to
the red Gag OF the Central Labor
Union. No answer was ~voucheated,
bnt In a couple OF minutes the stars
and stripes were uniurled from the
platform. When the speaking had
been concluded at each platform three
cheers we're given for the eight.bouI
movement, and the crowd quickly
went away.
WHAT LEADING CAPITALIsTs THINK OIL
THE KIGHT-HoUR MOVEMENT.
The Tunes published the following
yesterday: AS time approaches for the
test OF the eight-hour labor system in.
terest deepens in the movement, ant
capital represented in vast and varied
enterprises is taking a more serious
view Of the future. Heedful of thI
strength OF labor unions and alarmed
at the prospects in store II the move
ment be confined alone TO Chicago
and its immediate vicinity, II the arml
OF workingmen In Chicago deman(
that eight hours constitute a day
work, aud tha. ten hours pay be Rivel
for that service, II can carry its point
and perhaps close up the manufActc
ries. A reporter Of the Times inter
viewed leading capitalists and bust
ness men on this question.
In an interview with j. V. Farwel
OF j. V. Farwell a. Co., regarding tn
effect of the eight-hour law on tn
production and distribution OF good
and its prospective results on trade
general, Mr.. Farwell stated that h
house was practically an eight-hor
house ut the present time. In th
busy lime wholesale houses wei
obliged to open early for the acco1
mediation of country traders who, b.
ing used to early rising az home, e.
pected 10 find wholesale houses ope
early also. To close early in the bus
season would greatly retard the speed
shipment Of goods. So many order
ara reeeiyao IA Ma morning mail y
wholesalers that every anment ip<th
h,Nsy season must be made NE rsEost
by each employer, and unleeS all u
houses in the city were to adopt u
eiRht-hour system the trade OF thoi
who did 80 would suffer. Their traC
would 90 elsewhere. MIR. Farwe
thought the eight-hJor system wouI
not affect the production Of foods, bl
would hinder their distribution
buoy seasons.
Mr.. LYMAN j. Gage, v~ice-prasideI
OF the + rat National Bank, was askG
for an exputssion Of opinion on Il
subject. ~ do not think | am in
con1nuop 10 say what effect may !
produced said he. at is in advanl
Of Che movement and too early to for
a cleapI upinion upon it, l will 81
this, However, that II the change fro
tentb eight hours labor shall becon
gep6ral, and not local, there Won.
pbhably be little cause fordis'urbanc
Hthe proposition for eight hours VOL