Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-01
HIS IDEAL WORK DAY.
President Gompers Addresses South
Side Glass Workers,
ADVANCING THE EIGHT HOURP PLAN
Bow it Pays to Make the Workman Broader,
Better and Happier.
AN INDUSTRIAL VIEW OF THE THING

President Samuel Gompers, of the Feder-
alton of Trades, who was delayed by the
latest wreck on the Pennsylvania Railroad,
/ and did not get to Rock Point in time to
speak before the American Flints Satur-
| day at their picnic, delivered an address
Yesterday afternoon in Odi Fellows Hall,
Southside, under the auspices of the Flints.
| Four other labor meetings were going on at
A the same time, having tendency to divert
the attendance; still good audience turned
out to hear the exponent of the eight-hour
labor system, and all listened for fully two
hours without an abatement of interest. Mr.
Gompers is an easy, clear speaker, and
very logical in his arguments. He is we'll
'-nown in this city, the first meeting of the
ganization of which he is the head
aying been held here. The following is
esume of his speech:
The question of labor has been too often dis
"ussed without a remedy being suggested
mere are too many who, when suggesting rem
les fly to the chimercal or ideal; too many
10 deal with the impracticable instead of the
actical, and divert the thoughts from present
eds. The men who do this think are doing
1t which they do not believe. Any question
she movement that is not based upon logic
n ais surroundings as well as its theory, is not
light We as workmen, desire to obtain the
highest wages possible for our work. We have
,,een told that we are never satisfied, but al
ways demanding more.
BLEMIsH, OR A CREDIT?
If what they say is a blemish on our conduct,
we ought to know it. If, On the other hand, it
as credit to us, we ought to know it, The
workmen of America are not satisfied. 1t is
this principle that moves the world. The dis
content of the masses is the means to better
the condition of man. To the charge that we
waSst more, we say the country where the peo-
pie have more is the most prosperous place.
We want more; we insist on having more, and
on continuing to have more until we have the
full results of our labor. The quacks and
sophists will have to learn that the laborer will
have more. The purpose of the labor organ
izations is to concentrate the isolated efforts Of
the workmen into one channel, and IN it OBJ
tain the best result with the least injury to all
classes i maintain that the labor organiza-
tlons of the world are the conservative leaders
of the universe.
In spe aking of the cry against the workmen
controlling the law of supply and demand in
the matter of labor, insist that the trusts and
combinations are formed to this end by the
wealthy, by controlling the supply and demand
ef the product handled; and why should not
the laborer do the same thing? If the laborers
on the streets are constant menace to the
laborer out of the streets. ready to take his
place and rise upon his fallen form, they ought
10 be given work and thus put out of the way
Of hindering the advancement to the cause.
Z Now, if we reduce the hours of labor, will a
reduction of wages follow? Will your condi-
tion deteriorate Let us see. If the hours OF
labor are reduced, don't you know that it
brings factors that tend to raise your condi-
tion First you are given chance to pro-
: vide for the unemployed, and do away with
their competition. Again, you make them
consumers This is not only a question of
piece or day work. 1 advise the laborers to
even submit for a while TO a reduction, and in
less than a month they will obtain an increase.
LOGIC OF THE CHANGE.
The improvement in the condition of labor
comes with reduction of hours. To perma.
nently improve the condition of a people you
must improve their habits. A man who works
l6 to Is hours per dayeTas no chance to expand
his intelligence andh ate desire for better
condition. Whathe works he to form desire
for better tbi-orl, from Cd of having time