Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-28
THE EICnT.HOUR MOVEMENT
a Workman Who Ref cots Reviews
the Situation.
PEOPLE WHOM 1T WILL BENEFIT.
1t Rests with the workingman TO
Provide for Himself Steady Em-
pioymeut and Sufficient
Leisurc-Lnbor Notes.
Hands That Toll,

Con Lynch thus expresses himself on the
eght-hour question:
AT the present time there is no question of
more importance 10 the interests Of working
men. whether organized or unorganzed, than
that which is attracting the attention of all
bodies OF organized labor in America, namely,
the eighthour movement 1t is important to
the working people from the fact that, IL or
ganzed, labor Is successful in reducing the
hours of labor to eight per day, it will re-
move from The 'army of unemployed" at
east 20 per cent Of those who are now suffer
ing from enforced idleness. It is important
10 the wage-workers engaged in every branch
of industry, the common laborer aud skilled
mechanic alike, that the hours of toll shou Id
be reduced from ten to eight per day, for the
same causes that lead TO the present enforced
idleness of many of those who are out of en-
ployment and unable to obtain it. are still at
work. and will in the future, as In the past,
continue TO constantly cause n gradual in
crease in tho number of unemployed wage.
earners, while, at the same time they will
continue to cause gradual decrease
Of the employed wage earning portion of the
population OF the country unless labor de-
vises some method whereby the causes that
exist for so much idleness on the part of the
bread winners, can be overcome This can
partially be done by reduction in the pres
ont number OF working hours. But in order
TO understand the necessity for reduction
OF the hours of labor, from ten to eight, IL ls
necessary to INQUIRE into the cause that has
led to this necessity.
Labor saving machinery has, by. the
skill and genius Of the American work
man, been brought to such a high de-
gree of perfection, that human labor is
rapidly giving way to machine labor
in all branches of industry Where
there, too may the saving meGhne hSyfa, BE-
found Its strength and rapidity enables it
to perform IN day the work OF many human
hands Thus it reduces the cost of pro-
uuction, and consequently throws out OF
employment the workman, because he is
unable to perform the same amount Of Labor
In the same given time and at the same cost
as the machine Thus it, instead of being d
blessing TO the workman by relieving him of
the burdens of exhaustive physical toll has,
on the contrary, increased his misery by
often depriving MIN of the opportunity of
selling his labor. And. while the labor
Saving machine has undoubtedly reduced the
cost of production, yet to the average wage
Garner it has made no material change in the
price of consumption, for what benefits can the
wage Garner derive from the reduction in the
cost of production by labor saving machinery
II that same labor saving machine causes
him to be thrown out of employment or
suffer reduction in wages caused BY a sur
plus of idle labor which has been displaced
by some labor saving device, placing him in
such position that from reduced wages it
requires if not all at least the greater por-
tOn of his earnings to MAINTAIN himself and
those dependent upon him, leaving him no
margin or saving.
Another evil which the wage worker is
forced to suffer is the introduction Of chi Id
labor in manufacturing establishments to
run the machine at child wages, which Of
tentimes necessarily forces the father to
compete in the labor market against his own
child, which, at the time, should be at
school. While this is but another effect OF
labor-saving machinery upon labor it is
dangerous one from the fact that it has
tendency to spread illteracy among the chill
dren Of the manufacturing localities by fore
lng them to enter a factory at an nge when
they should be entering the school house.
Foreign immigration, too. plays an impor-
tant part in the American labor mar
ket, constantly adding to the already over
flowing surplus of idle labor And, il under
the present ten-hour system the working
population of the country is unable to find
employment, what will be the condition of
affairs five years hence, with steady stream
OF foreYn labor pouring in. To say the
, least, it will be dangerous state of affairs,
for those people meeting with disappont-
ment and distress are likely to feel that they
owe nothing to our government and furnish
germs for another French revolution on
American soil. 1t is the duty of the AM
erican people to furnish the opportunity for
all those who may seek our shores for the
purpose of bettering their condition to do so,
or at once withdraw the invitation TO the
oppressed and poor of all lands to seek our
shores, where they can enjoy 1.-The unalieu-
able rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness" and at once and forever close
our forts against immigrants.
The natural increase Of population by birth
also adds its quota to the army of American
labor and room must be made for IL as it en-
ters the labor market
Labor saving machinery, foreign Immigra-
tion and the natural increase of population,
constantly reducing the cost of production
to the minimum, and monopolies, combines
and trusts increasing the cost OF consump-
tion to the maximum, forms the mill stones
that are constantly grinding American labor,
the working man, from his situation in life,
being both producer and consumer.
But the same genius that has invented
and the same intellectual skill that has
constructed all this wonderful machinery
is able to remove those evils complained Of
by labor And that genius and intellect Is
the American workman himself. He is now
about to Calm and utilize for his own bene-
fit u part Of the results of his genius and
labor. And this he proposes to do by reduc-
ing his hours of toll. While engaged in the
production OF machinery, he had no time to
turn the products of his labor to his own
benefit But now, after his task has been
partially completed, he proposes to pause
long enough to use what he has already pro-
duced as stepping stone to higher plane
of civilization by devotng two hours of his
presesent workday to study and recreation.
The reduction OF the hours of labor
10 of interest TO more than workmen. IL is Of
interest TO all who desire that American
institutions shall flourish. for after all it is
upon the prosperity and contentment OF the
industrial masses that the progress and
stability of republican form of government
mainly depends and in order that the in-
dustral masses may be prosperous it is nee
essary that they should be steadily en-
ployed
A reduction in the hours of labor is also of
interest to those who, by the nature of their
business, are forced TO depend on the patron
age OF the public. In proportion to the num-
ber of idle hands that will obtain steady EN-
10 ployment will their business increase, be-
cause II will increase the purchasing power
of 20 per cont Of those who now, through
lack of steady employment are compelled to
deprive themselves OF many of the comforts
of life and to be content with the bare neces-
sites only. And what is true of the retail
dealer is also true Of the wholesale dealer
ana the manufacturer.
II is the purchasing power of the consumer
that increases or decreases production. Thus
the interests of those who deal in the neces-
saries of life are identical with the interests
of the wage earners so far as steady employ
ment on the part of the wages -earners is con-
cerned. Steady employment for all those
who seek it is also Of interest TO those who
are engaged In moral reform, and who are
constantly deploring what Is termed an in
crease Of crime. III ialeness is productive OF
vice and crime in places where want is q
Rfrnnpar what must ha ha rasnlt tyhan an.