Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-12-22
FOR EIGHT HOURS.
SOYB VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVE LABOR
MIN on THB MOVEMENT.
A Description Of the Badge by Which Those Active
II the Movement Will be Here
after Known.

The movement having for its object the
restriction of the working day to eight
hours, inaugurated in this city some time
ago, and which received an impetus from
the mass meeting at Trades Assembly Hall,
on the evening of November 2Sth last, is
beginning to occupy great deal of atten-
ton. as the end of the year draws near,
and the subj ect is one of general and con-
slant discussion among the members Of
the various industrial organizations.
In other cities, where the movement is
more general and preparations for the
adoption of the new rule are more adj
vanced than here in Wheeling there is
corresponding degree of activity, and the
discussions upon the question, and the
action taken at the late session of the
Federation at Boston, has brought the sub
iect to the font everywhere.
In a number of cities badges have been
prepared by tens of thousands, and are
worn By workingmen everywhere. At
sessions of labor organizations every man
wears q badge, announcing his sympathy
with the eight-hour movement, and one
sees them upon the street, in the shop
and in all localities where workingmen
pursue their various callings. These
badges have not vet made their appear
auce in Wheeling, but 1t is safe to say it
will not be long until they will be seen,
and pending their arrival, description Of
them will be appropriate and interesting :
The badge is a disk Of copper or gold,
half an inch in diameter, enamelled to
represent hemisphere, as shown in maps
of the world, in blue or black, but marked
By only eight meridisns in gilt. These are
Indicative of the demand of the Federation
OF Labor for a work day Of eight hours
Above the disk is a scroll with the letters
A. F. of L. Underneath ia pendant in
scribed Labor Omnia Vincit," emitting,
az is usual, the word "Improbush from
the quotation. On the disk at the north
pole is the figure "S, - and at the south
pole is the word ''hours."
The following expressions from local Ia
hor leaders are selected from number OBJ
tanned yesterday by REGISTER reporter
Mr.. William StoetZer, of the Plasters'
Union, was seen at work and asked as to
his views on the eight-hour movement
Mt Stoeizer was rather disinclined to talk
much on the subject, but finally said:
at is my belief that the eight-hour
movement is being pushed a little
too soon. The people are scarcely
ready for it and until all take
up with it, or at least the majority favor
il, il cannot be made a 90. A good,
healthy sentiment is being bred about here
in its favor, and l think all trades will
come to it in time. What is the principal
reason for the eight-hOur moment? Why,
that it will give employment to many good
wOrkingmen who are nov idle. That is q
great point Now IN the case OF the plas-
terers of the city, by having eight hours
for a days work more hands could find
employ and it is my belief that there
would not be an idle plssterer in the city.
Don't you think that would be a good
thing? 1t seems so to me-"
A leading carpenter, who would under
no consideration allow his nome to be used,
said
"There will doubtless be meeting in
this neighbOrbOod in the course of 8
short time to consider this matter OF
eight hours for a days work and
I think some important action
will he taken that will be of much inter
est to the people of the city. can't tell
you when the. meeting will be held, or
what sc.iOn will be taken"
"Whst is the principal idea in this
movement"
"Why, it is 10 give employment to the
vast number of unemployed workingmen.
That is the principal reason, but then ii
doesn't make it 20 hard on those that
have labor to do. 1t evens things up, and
gives eight hours for work, eight hours for
sleep and eight hours to do as you please. "
W. W. Wood, of the Carpenters Brother
hood think the movement will be a
a successful one 1t is no new thing at
all, and people have recognized the fact
that the eight hour day is bound to come
some time, and that time is now ripe, OF
will be the first of next MAY. People
say that it will have a bad effect on the
building interests. Well, do not agree
with them. A prominent business man
in this city who has been contemplating
the erection of new building
for some time was advised to put
it mp last fall on account
of the fact that if he waited until spring
and the building trades got what they de-
manded, the cost of building would be
greatly increased. But he said he did not
care for the extra amount, as it would 90
into the hands of labor and eventually
come back into his business.
NOW, the idea of the eight-hour move.
80 r,s-a r,0ra v,a,