Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-09-03

mans wages depends on what he gets
What determines the size of the so-callet
wage fund.-" The amount that can b
probably employed by its owners il
making more. In the last twenty year,
the increase of wealth has been marvel
GUS, but the wage fund is relatively nc
larger. During the last twenty years
wages have steadily declined and
the army Of unemployed increased in size
and desperation. Why cannot each Of
the hungry, naked and cold employ theil
time and strength in cooperating to bring
happiness to the homes of allf Because
the land and all means of production are
owned and controlled by a small fraction
of the community. and the rest can only
work when this handful say the word.
The price of labor. like that of all other
commodities. Is governed by the law OF
supply and demand, and under our in
dustrial system which constantly causes
the supply to outrun the demand, the
downward tendency of wages can only
stop at the point that will keep the
workingmsn alive.
No one who will take a sober thought
can doubt that eight hours work is am
Pile to provide for the comfort of the hu>
man race, and organized labor Is now en-
gagged in a righteous effort to redue the
hours of all who toll to not more than
eight hours per day. With what show
of right can this movement be opposed?
He who pleads for an eight-hour day
simply asks that the burdens of life
should be fairly borne by all. aud he
who intelligently resists asks that some
may labor long that others may be en-
tirely freed from toll What opportun>
ity has the lsborer of today, who tolls
ten hours, to improvef A reduction of
two hours a day means a chance to dou-
BILE his home life, to improve, to be a
man; chance to study the great prob
lens that are pressing for solution; a
chance to be an intelligent and worthy
citizen; and a chance to take his children
from the factory and guide them in the
paths of usefulness and right. If the
eight-hour day will add to production,
equalize burdens, increase home life,
raise the standard of living and give
more culture and leisure to the race, what
can be urged against it? We are told
that the hours of labor should not be
shortened lest the toiler spend the extra
time in revelry and vice. The speaker
did not believe that the only way you
can keep poor man out of Jail is by
making him work. But" we
are asked. do you demand ten
hours pay for eight hours work.
BY no means. we say nothing about
wages; We wish an eight hour day;
wages do not and cannot be fixed by what
workingmsn earns, but by what the
law of supply and demand allows him to
claim. But finally We are met with the
statement that an eight hour day cannot
be enforced. unless the rule be made
universal. Experience. history. philoso-
ply and humanity alike give the lie to
this statement. 1t is useless to resist
this movement; it is borne along by the
spirit of progress that has raised man
from the brute to his present state; it is
in the line of evolution, and in keeping
with the eternal force that makes for
good. You must be for or against it.
IL against it, like those who have ever
stood in the path of progress and op-
posed all movements for the elevation of
the race. You will be borne away by the
resistless tide, and be remembered as one
who lent his energy and strength to OPP
pose moveme Mt to advance and liberste
the world.
RESOLUTION
After the speech making a resolution
was adopted, petitiouing the members of
both houses of the general assembly
from this senatorial district to present TO
the next Legislature and use every effort
to secure its passage, of bill making the
first Monday in September legal holiday
in Illinois.
Afterward there were sports, games
and various forms of amusement
nUnrDNNfHNn