The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-28
THE EIGHT.HOUR AGITATION
What Organized Workingmen Propose
to Do in That Direction Hereafter.
The knights of Labor General Assembly to Con-
slider the Question Next Pall-StOne Cutters
and the Parry Employees Quiet-Notes.

T. NJ. Gruelle, of the Labor Signal, had
something to say, yesterday, to the reporter
on the subject of the eight-hOur movement:
"In November, at their annual meeting, at
Atlanta, Ca, the Knights of Labor will
take action as to whether they will indorse
the movement. Their platform already
commits them to it. and so why they are
holding Oft 1 can't tell. The purpose of all
the agitation is to establish the eight-hour
system. all over the United States. by the
1st of May, 1890. The American Fedora
ton of Labor has already come into line.
The German printers. cigar-makers
aud stOne-cutters are the only
national organizations that have been
able to carry their point all over the
country. OF course other bodies have sue
ceeded in bringing it about in some To-
calties. 1t is the purpose of the Central
Labor Union here to hold several meetings
this winter for the purpose of pushing the
agitation to a successful termination. The
most successful meeting of the kind was
that held in this city at English's Opera
house. three years ago. 1t is our purpose
in agitating the question to place the ad-
vantages o. the system before manufacture
ers and employers in such manner
that the change may be made without any
trouble. One advantage will be to take up
the surplus labor of the country and give
work TO all unemployed laborers. Then
the wages will gradually increase, but not
to such an extent as to be hardship for
the employer. Again, the workingmen will
have more leisure time In which to gain
recreation rnd to devote themselves to
self-cultur.. In this way they will not
only benefit themselves but in so doing
Will be able to do more and better work,
thus helping their employers as well. There
is a decidedly favorable sentiment in this
direction on the part of employers, and we
wish to bring the change about without
any trouble, if we can possibly do 3d. DEM
onstratiOns are Of much Importance In
helping along the work"
All Quiet with the Parry Company.
The trouble at the Parry Road-cart Com
pany's works seems to have subsidized. A
part of the shaft-paekers quit work last
week, claiming that under the piece system
they could not make living wages. Their
places were. however, at once filled from
the numerous applicants for work. All day
long when it was said trouble would occur
several men were waiting for the places to
be left vacant By the malcOntents. One of
the wOrkmen who operated planer said to
a reporter: Il think the men are them
selves largely to blame for all this discOn-
tent They were in the habit of coming
down here and going to work as early as
O'Clock in the morning sometimes. Why
couldn't they have been satisfied to work
the regular hours thus earning from $1.50
to Sl.75 day, instead of working day and
night too to make from S2.25 to 2.5Of They
were too grasping and got punished for it,
You see the company were not willing that
its hands should be drawing from SIG to S18
a week when the earnings should have been
lower than that-s0 the cut came. 1t seems
to me that we are not being paid enough,
though Here work planer, taking COM
plete oversight of it. and get but SIPS
day. But, you see jobs are scarce. and
had better get even that than nothing"