The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-25
a LIMIT TO WORKING HOURS.
"A Large Attendance at the Meeting in
the Interest of the Movement.
The Eight-Hour Labor Reform Endorsed by
Governor Porter and Others, Who Explain
It's Practicability and Its Benefits.

men and their earnest supporters who are In
terested in the eight.hour movement 1t was
not long before the gallery and balcony were
backed with men and women. During this time
the parquette filed rapidly. and when everything
was ready for beginning the evenings exercises
fully three thousand people were present The
audience represented in the highest sense the
intelligent industrious and deserving operatives
of the factory and workshop. 1t gave the pro-
ceedings the closest attention showing that the
spirit of the movement was very near to
the sympathy Of the people. The meeting was
held under the auspices of the Central Trades and
Labor Union, with J. E. Twiname as chairman.
At o'clock the speakers came upon the stage
meeting with an enthusiastic reception. The
chairman introduced Ex-Governor A. G. Porter
as the FIRST speaker Great applause greeted
ehis announcement, and at frequent periods his
emphatic Endorsement Of the eight-hour move
ment and every other measure that promised
benefit to the workman, ELECTED cheer after
cheer. His speech was as follows:
Elk GOVERNOR poRTER's SPEECH.
am friend of the eighthour movement I
am not a convert for have been in favor of the
movement from the beginning If to bring up
the young to be useful members of society and
good citizens requires attentive parental care
and training, do not believe that 1t agrees with
che design of a benevolent Providence that one
half, at least, of all parents shall be required to
work 80 many hours Of each day that they
fannot give to their children such care and train
am friend Of the Knights of Labor ad-
xEire their name. They the advocates Of
labor They are not the patrons OF idleness and
mendieancy. If they could achieve the object Of
A1~s.1 H. H. 60 Ill
Mendicaucy that exist would disappear. They
wish to work themselves; they wish to have
plenty of work. and they wish to receive just
compensation for their labor. They call them
selves knights They admire the qualities of a
knght-ehivalric and manly qualities. Under
their plain garments and muscles hardened by
4eil they bear warm and gallant hearts /
like the knights of Labor because, as founda-
Eion for ell action, they strive, according
10 the constitution Of their ORDER to acquire the
largest possible amount of knowledge. They
know that when they do this they work with
Ratchet. holding what they get. In every State
where their numbers have been sufficient to ex-
ert an influence. they have obtained the passage
Of laws establishing bureaus of labor statistics,
for the purpose of collecting impartially all the
facts obtainabe concerning the relations of CAPT
tel and labor. They seek knowledge. They carry
the torch that enlightens-not the brand that
consumes Honest intelligence is not one of the
destructive forces. Ignorance, installing some
times the method of doing good, may despoil and
devastate; honest intelligence will not. look
into these earnest faces-lit up with unpretend-
ing inteliigencs-and see in them the free com
mon schools of the country bearing fruit in an
aspiration, In an upright determination, on their
bart, to improve the condition of the class to
which they belong. I respect the knights of
Labor because they know the value Of organiza-
zion. No class can materially improve its condi-
zion until it has learned that. No class can ever
fail to improve its condition after 1t has learned
thaA
The merchants have their exchanges and their
boards of trade, whore they meet to consult to-
@ether about all matters relating to their occu
cations and TO promote the interest of their bus
tness. The physicians have their societies or
genized for discussion, to share with each other
pew knowledge, to regulate rates of compensa-
tion for their services and frame codes of medi-
col ethics. The lawyers have their bar assecia-
zion to fix, as far as practicable scales
ps charges and to recommend to
The courts such rules and regulations
from time to time as will promote the conve-
Mience of themselves and their clientage. The
Incorporated bankers have their associations to
consult upon improvements in methods and addi-
tional safeguards against losses by sudden ad-
verse changes OF the times. 1t is remarkable
Eact connected with all these associations, that
Eath an access of knowledge and improvement
In organization the hours OF work diminish. l
snquired of the clerk longest in service in
the oldest bank in the city what the
business hours of the bank used to be
W0eh ne euGefeQ lQLO lLS SerVLCo. he tOlQ me
that when he came into the bank the hours were
from 8 A. M. to 4 p NJ. Now the hours of all the
banks are, believe, from A. NJ to P. NJ If
business increases they do not increase the
hours, but the force The physicians do not
spend nearly as much time at their Offices as
ehey used TO do. They used, themselves. to COM
pound their prescriptions Now they turn that
business over to the druggists, who therefore,
have to employ more clerks. The mer-
chants used to keep open their stores
ct their business than they do now. have no
houbt that even further shortening will take
place The clerks in stores become acquainted
with the customers who are vast in numbers,
and they make friends Of these customers. 1t
was the power of public opinion that brought
about the change. The newspapers, rejecting
that opinion, urged 1t with an earnest and un
divided voice. As business grows with the
be increases the force of his employees.
&c Is remarkable-it IL lamentable
eact-that just among the classes where the work
ts the hardest, there has been the least reduction
pr hours Why has this been2 These classes
have been the least fully informed and organized.
You desire that the hours of labor shall be re-
duced to eight. You who have families desire to
give more hours to your families; you who have
none, desire more time for physical and social
Fecreation You desire. also, by shortening
hours. to furnish employment to more of your
feilow-workmep. You strive that no
man shall be idle who wishes to work You
desire not to live by charity, but by work Now
bow are you to accomplish what you desire2
answer, let the State, the counties, and the town
ships, set the example of eight hours for days
work for them. Is it said that the work that
may be done may cost some morei reply that
the loss will be made up by the saving in the
township trustees Offices aud in the courts.
Then. having the help Of that example
proceed to organize public opinion. Public
opinion will be found to be a powerful
instrumentality on your side. Wherever you
fre talk about what you want and the justice of
st Talk about it wherever you deal. Talk
about 1t in the market house. on the street, at
che church. wherever you are Talk about it
pleasantly and briefly Don't think your tongue
must be glib to talk effectively. man can
from an honest. warm heart make laundering
words often tell more than if he talked duently.
Talk about the subject until it is in the yery air
we breathe. Then public opinion will begin to
take sides with you and demand the reform. and
the newspapers will urge it with unanimity, and