Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-12
EIGHT HOURS ENOUGH.
What Portion Of the Day Man
Should Labor.
Rev. -. w. Gue's Address before the
Rock Island League--A ID Declaration
Of Objects on the Part or the Assoc
citation.

Rev. q. W. Cue. OF the First Me.
church. addressed the Rock leland Eight
Hour league at its weekly meeting at
Hillier's hall last evening. Tie different
ministers Of the city have al agreed to
speak before the league as they NAV be
called upon to do so by the committee
MIR. Cue expressed the pleas Ire and the
honor he felt when called upon to ad-
dress gathering OF workingInen.
We ought to be in the warm est sympa,
tny' as our interests flow together The
true minister OF the gospel is friend of
the working classes. and of the poor and
helpless. The very nature of his calling
sends him out TO work in the interest of
others. believe the great reforms and
benevolent enterprises of the age are due
more to them than any other class of
men. We are hard toilers in The interest
oil humanity. Ii Is our privilege and duty
10 touch in our discourses upon all
themes that concern our country and hu>
manity-political. secular and religious.
In this land of liberty we want to fear
lessly discuss every measure that Effects
our citizens. There are two principles
that should govern us in every reform
enterprise: One is organization; the 9th.
CT agitation. No great reformation ever
came In any other way. Tho abolition
OF slavery was brought about by organs
izlng and sgitating until the whole coun-
Try was stirred. This Is the hopeful fea>
ture IN this eight hour movement that
brings us together this even ny. Ii is
not question concerning some political
party or church creed, but ons effecting
all classes. You certainly are taking
hold of this matter in the most sensible
and intelligent way.
Public discussion, printed documents,
calling the attention of the intelligent
public, aud when the movement is
prope'l understood it will commend
Itself. You are hundred times
more likely TO succeed in this way
than though you went out on strikes and
boycotting. The laboring men in this
country. If organized on the principle of
righteousness, would be the mightiest
power in this land. They would com.
mand respect for those who are doing the
hardest work and carrying the greatest
responsibilities Capital is organized and
intrenched and can do about as il
pleases.
Let laboring classes organize in the
right spirit. and there will be compro-
mise between labor and capital. Why
DO banks open at 8 a. m. anC close at
p. MP Because they are organized
why do school teachers begin heir days
work at a. N. and close at 4 .. m. with
an hours nooningG Because there is
organization in the educational work in
this country. Why de the les ding men,
clerks. etc, in our great corporations
work only eight hoursi Because the men
who control these corporations know
that eight hours of work by clear headed
fresh men is worth more than Ten to six
teen hours of work by overtsxed ex~,
hsusted men. Why is it that the gov
eminent recognizes eight hours as q DAYS
laborr Because the men who have made
It study believe that it is as much as
men can endure day after day and con-
tinue healthy and pure. WIZ rs it that
tens of thousands of hard telling men
have no regard shown them, and capital
debating to them as though they were
slavesr Because they are not organized,
and do not stand up for their own rights
The capitalist claims right to his
property. and dictates regarding the way
1t is to be used. and it is right. And the
has q stock in trade-it is
his time, his brains, his sweat and mus
Gle; and he has q right to ss7 what his
labor is worth, and how many hours he
will work, and with proper organization
he can do 1t. But you are tolC it is your
right TO work as few hours in day MS
you choose. but you should be paid pro-
pOrtionAlly. But such do no. take into
account that the less hours If toll the
better quality OF work you " Il do, and
judging from the past the les hours OF
work the better pay. Men who now
work the greatest number of hours get
the least wages.
Eight hours work day after day by the
same man is worth more to Q firm than
sixteen hours work. Men are not able
to toll more than eight hours every day
and keep up good spirits and in good
health.
When the eight hour principle is gen.
orally recognized we will see a better
state of things among our working
classes. they will receive better pay, more
men will be employed ana better quail
ity of work will be given. and they will
be better class Of citizens. But we are
told that it will only afford more time to
visit saloons and will increase dissipation
- but the reverse is true. VINO are the
drunkards and disspsted men among our
working classesf They are those who
work the greatest number of hours and
receive the smallest wages. Over taxing
the physical powers tends to dissipation.
Eight hours for sleep, eight hours for
labor and eight hours for recrsstion and
improvement of the mind There is no
country in the world where more works
ingmen own their own homes han here
in America, because they have more
rights here and better pay.
But there are those in this country who
are over taxed physically and II ey have no
ambition OF care for personal opearance.
for home comforts or ANYTHING of the
kind; they are nearly all renters, living
in garrets, cellars ard back al eys. doing
the hardest work, working the most hours
for the least pay.
The christian religion can scarcely
reach these classes, they have no ambi-
ton to 90 TO church and do not appre-
ciate the gospel blessing. What they
need first is more daylight at home, more
hours to read, more hours to make home
pleasant. When manhood is not crushed
finer feelings will develop and love for
home and home comforts will manifest
themselves. Such q home will cultivate
loyalty to our country and a respect for
our laws. We want in this and of Lbs
erty higher type Of citizenship, con-
scientious regard for the rights Of others.
We all should stand on Chfist's great
principle "As ye would that Ipen should
do for you, do ye even so to them"
committee composed of the officers
of the league reported the following
DECLARATION OF PURPOSES
Of the league which was adopted
We, the officers Of the Rock Island
Eight Hour League have been informed
that rumor is current that this league is
not what il is claimed to be )y the pros
iectors of the movement, OF in other