Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-03-01
The Etght-Hour League.

EDITORS HERALD-As a result of the
meeting in the Opera House hall on Feb
ruary 22d, AN Eight Hour League has been
organized in this city under the auspices
of the American Federation Of Labor,
and active work commenced to bring
about the eight-hour working day on the
date set by the Federation, May LIST,
1890. The movement to make eight
hours the standard days work on and
after the above date is general through
out the United States and Canada. The
American Federation of Labor, numbers
over five hundred thousand mem
bers, and being closely affiliated with all
the leading organizations of the country.
The state of the labor market during the
past few years has shown the absolute
necessity of curtailing the hours of toll.
as, owing to the invention of
labor-saving machinery and improved
methods of work, producing power has
increased many fold during the last gen.
Grafton. One close student of these
questions (the late Henry G. Cary states
that with the aid of the inventions now
in use the labor of one man is equal to
that of seven fifty years ago. This state
of affairs has brought us face to face
with the condition in which the masses
of the country are placed at the present
time. The past ten years have been re-
garded as years of unusual prosperity.
Yet the returns published by the differ
ent State and National labor bureaus,
and other authorities, show that during
| that time only about two thirds of our
people dependent on wages for support
have found steady employment. Or in
other words one.third of those willing to
work have been idle for want of en-
ployment. The question arises: "What
can be done with and for this vast
army of enforced idlers? The work
ers propose to solve this problem by
claiming for themselves small portion
of the benefits arising from improved
methods of work and increased produc-
ton. They propose by shortening the
hours of labor to enlarge the number
employed, and thus lessen to that extent
the bitterness of the struggle for exist
enee in which, under our present sys-
tenn, large majority of our people are
condemned to spend their lives.
The shortening of the hours of labor to
eight per day will work no injury to any
member of the community. But, on the
contrary, will be a positive benefit to
every one, no matter what his calling or
business. To the mechanic or laborer it
means steady work at less fuctuating
wages. To the employer it means a
steadier basis on which to conduct his
business, fixed and less rowing, and
consequently more satisfactory and
profitable, class OF labor. To the
merchant it means more customers
with money in their pockets to
purchase his goods. To anyone with
anything to sell it means increased abil
ity on the part of the people to buy. To
the minister who seeks to turn mems
feet into the path trod by the outcast
carpenter of Nazareth it means an in
crease of those who seek the portals of
the church. For we have not far to seek
to prove to ourselves that the men bru-
talized by poverty and in whose mind is
ever present the haunting fear of want
for self and family turn usually to places
of far different character from the
church to find forgetfulness. Shorter
hours means better times and a better
life morally, physically and financially
for every one, and for this reason this
movement should have the earnest sup
port of everyone who has the interests OF
the community at heart. The league, at
their recent meeting, appointed an en-
rolling board of twenty. seven members,
one for each precinct in the city, who
are authorized to enroll members either
active or honorary. Each active mem
ber, on signing the roll, takes the follow
ing pledge:
l hereby solemly pledge myself that
on and after the 1st day of May, 1889,
will work only eight hours per day.
That no argument or threat shall move
me from my purpose. That will attend
all meetings of the Eight Hour League,
and use all my influence to increase the
number of eight-hour men.
An honorary member on enrolling
himself takes this pledge: fully recog-
nize and endorse the aims and objects of
the Eight-Hour League, and do solemnly
pledge myself to aid and support the
movement. In witness whereof, / do
hereby append my signature.
All will have chance to aid this good
work. Let us each and all enroll our
selves under the motto: Eight hours for
work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for
social and intellectual improvement.
ENROLLING BOARD,
Eight-Hour League.