Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-02-22
HOURS OF LABOR.

The desire to obtain something for moth
ing seems Unborn in the human race. No
thing is more notable, both in governments
and In the people, and yet 1t is one of those
futile things that sooner or later return to
plague the pursuers. One manifestation of
il in the olden times was in reducing the
value of coinage. Governments at times
would reduce the amount of gold or silver
in the current money of the realm. Crowns,
shillings, sixpenses, &C., were issued by au
thority with less of the precious metals in
them, and for a time the government fiat
would cause them to circulate equally with
money OF greater value, but only for very
short period. They would finally seek their
level, for while the disposition of man is to
obtain something for nothing it is constant
ly met by that other disposition to always
obtain true value for service or property
So in the end, if shilling would be reduced
to one half OF its value 1t would only have
one-haf of its purchasing power. The same
effect was seen during the civil war, when
greenbacks were made legal tender. They
unequally, but as they became reduced in
value from the gold standard the value of
every purchasable commodity became en-
HANGED
For many years there has been move
ment in progress TO reduce the hours of labor
from ten to eight hours day. Some Of the
workiugmen's leagues have appointed the
lst Of May year hence when they would
insist upon having eight hours called a days
work. Whilst VIC have no desire to place any
obstacle in the way of its accomplishment,
we can but think that is mere debasing OF
the coinage. II is possible that for brief
period II man might obtain as high wages
for eight hours work as for ten hours, but
every reasonable human being knows that
such condition could not last long. Every
workingman must be conscious Of the fact
that two hours work is worth something,
and that the man who works ten hours is
deserving OF more pay than the man who
works eight hours.
The truth is, in this work a. day world, no
man will ever be able to get ahead unless
he is not only willing 10 work ten hours a
day, but more than ten hours. No great
fortune now known in this country was
earned on eight hours daily work. Every
successful man will say, no matter what his
pursuit has been, that he has had 10 work
in season and out Of season to accomplish
the things that he has accomplished. While
it might be wise, in view of the number OF
laborers, to limit the hours of work so as to
give all y chance, no man who is emuous OF
competence or fortune should ever haggle
over his hours. If he would go ahead he
must work and accumulate money and then
the money will help him in his work. Every
dollar he can save and invest gives him
added power, and there is no man who is an
honest workman who cannot soon possess
this power. Money gives increased ability
Tor work, giving man greater strength and
an additional hand to work with
The point we wish to emphasize is that
no man, no matter how skillful he may be-
can ever obtain a competence with eight
hours labor. Not in any profession. bust
ness or trade can it be done; but in any
trade, business or profession it can be done
if he will work hard and faithfully as long
as he has the work to do, even if 1t takes up
the full twenty-four hours of some particular
day. And then, if he leaves dissipation and
folly aside and INDUCES in no vain imagin-
ings, the over work will hurt him not at
all