Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-25
EIGHT HOURS A DAY.
A Mass Meeting of German Working
men FaYOring the Movement.
IT WOULD INCREASE PRODUCTION.
John Ehman Makes Reasonable Argument
for Better Hours.
AGITATION WILL LEAD TO SUCCESS


Hall to hear addresses from local labor
leaders on the eight-hour question. Tha
the meeting was SO largely German wal
due to the fact that notice thereof has moi
been made among other locals. As it was
some 500 wage-earners of the two cities Wert
present.
The meeting was called to order at 2:S0 by
Charles Lcether, of the Southside, who
after briefly stating the object Of the call
introduced Mr., John Ehman. He said
''The city Of Pittsburg, the home of the
workingman, has not been as active In pro
noting the eight-hour movement as Other
cities have been, and it is to the credit
of the Central Labor Union that il
commenced the agitation in this direc-
ton in this city. To its credit
it is that it inaugurated the first public
meeting held here for the promotion Of a
healthy discussion of the subject. To
many people the eight-hour movement ap-
pears only on the surface, just as they view
the earth; they are content to believe that 1t
is round, but as far as they care to see, it
seems to them to be fat. The idea OF a
great public movement, strongly and deter
minedly pushing its way through this
country for the reduction Of the working
day from ten hours to eight hours, is not
apparent to them, and that workingmen
should desire to work but eight hours, when
they claim that workingmen cannot now
obtain enough to live on in ten hours, ap-
pears to them to be absurd. When such
people have the eight-hour question put be-
fore them as a matter for deliberate consid-
Grafton, they will find that the introduction
of the system will not alone provide more
employment, but will also increase the rate
of wages"
OLD ENGLISH CUSTOMS.
Mr.. Ehman then made retrospect of the
conditions of labor in the anti-organization
davs, and mentioned the customs at one
time common in England of leasing young
children to factory owners, who paid them
but small wages and made them work long
hours. 1t was not until agitation
of the question had called the
attention of the Government to the abuse,
that these barbarous conditions of Iafairs
were remedied. 1t was not, though, with
out persistent opposition from capital,
which, all through the agitation, threw the
weight of its influence against any reduc-
ton of the hours of labor. It was claimed,
too, by the advocates of long hours that any
reduction would open the doors of the
country to lively competition with France
and Germany. But the measure shortening
the hours of labor was pressed, and in place
of England suffering from the change, she
only advanced the more rapidly to the place
she now holds of being in the van in COM
mercial prosperity among the nations of the
world. The same objections as were offered
in England were put forward in this coun-
try when a proposal came to reduce the
hours of toll from II to 10, but the change
was effected, and American manufacturers
have increased, and multiplied, and pros
pered, nevertheless. Mr.. Ehman referred
to the fact that the wealth of the country
was in the hands of few, and argued that
those by whose toll that wealth was accu-
mulated should receive their just proper
ton of its rewards
Proceeding the speaker said:
81 have no sympathy with any plan for
taking the wealth from the few and dividing
it among the many, but I do hold that the
man who helps in building up that wealth
should have opportunity of enjoying more
of the fruits of his toll, by having a greater
time at his disposal to pursue his rights as
an American citizen, and receiving more
adequate remuneration for his efforts. It is
true that labor is valued by the laws Of sup
ply and demand, and that competition fixes
its prices; hence the necessity for killing
by organizing for mutual pro-
lection and promoting the creation of such
scales of working hours and remuneration
as will tend to benefit the whole working
population.
WAGES WOULD BE BETTER.
'If it were true that long hours of
toll would increase wages, wages in con-
sequence should be high, but as matter Of
fact in trades where long hours are in vogue,
wages are lower than in those where shorter
hours are worked. In long-hour trades, the
men really perform the part of two men, and
t is the number of men out of work that
likes the wages of those who are in. It |
seems strange, but it is the man outside who |
controls the price, for the reason that the |
has the opportunity of holding |
he threat over his mans head of filling his |
place from the ranks of the unemployed. |
rhe aim of the eight-hour movement is |
% decrease the number of unemployed |
,y providing for them a share OF the |
Tork now performed by men who do little |
Use than work, since owing to the long |
lours they put in, they are unable to find |
ime for social enjoyment 1t is held that
two hours were taken off the time of the
lays work that the employer would benefit
" the increased production consequent on
be employment of more men, and that the
lationsl wealth would be distributed more
quitably among the masses. A reduction
# the hours means that the actual producer
# the wealth would receive more of it, and
ind, beside, an increase in social enjoyment
nd happiness and quietude.
NJ III 4lo, "a. fo-ra3 - on,,.n |
onditions existing under the long hours
nd instanced the case of the street car men,
Eho work 15 hours as receiving but a poor
eturn for their share In piling up enormous
dividends on the Watered stock of the op-
rating companies. He spoke of the bene-
its that had accrued to those trades that
lad introduced the short hour system, and,
lluding to the agitation in Chicago for the
een for the mistaken policy Of labor
fficials that the movement there
would have made better progress.
ime was 900 miles away, sent telegram
0 the 10000 men employed by the pork
,ackers telling them to go to work under
be alternative of losing their charter.
BETWEEN TWO FIRES.
They had no option but sign the IRON
lad agreement, or cease to be K. of L.
len. This hasty movement demoralized
be movement in Chicago, where public
was enlisted in favor of the
lght-hour movement Many Chicago en-
loyers placed themselves on record as in
avOr of it, and the porkpackers would have
ranted the reduction if the movement had
xtended to indianapolis and other cities
here their trade met with competition.
Continuing, the speaker said: I'm this
lovement some of the trades will no doubt
ain the point, but those that do not must
egard it as an advance and promise for
le future. Labor organizations we're
'unded just for this purpose, and it is
heir mission to promote the interests and