St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-23
SOME EIGHT HOURS TALK.
The First Of a Series Of Meetings to
Shorten Labor's Hours.
A DAYS NATURAL DIVISION.
Arguments Not Especially New Are
Forcibly and Eloquently Presented
by Leading Speakers. or

last night by an audience composed OF
WOrklngmen and women from all
branches of labor, who met in response
to the call for mass meeting to discuss
the eight-hour question. Several lead
ing labor men were on the stage, among
then T. M. Brosnan, J. p. McGaughey,
H. B. Marten, j. II. Hills, George
Ledgerwood, L. FL. Lucas. Herman Ash
and S. q. Gomez: also Rev. James Nc
Golrick and Rev. Christopher Jansen.
At s o'clock George Ledgerwood,
president of the executive committee,
called the meeting to order, and after
stating the purpose of the meeting, in
troduced as the first speaker II. B. Mar
ten. editor of the Northwestern Labor
Union. Mr.. Marten alluded to the large
number of idle people who are
willing to work but unable to
procure employment, and claimed
that an eight-hour day for the la
boring people, giving them more lels-
ur for mental and moral culture. ap-
pealing to the people to interest them
selves in the movement and pointing
out the necessity for some intelligent
action on the part Of the industrial
classes, and that an agitation for an
eight-hour day in all branches OF trade
is a simple and necessary step to REM
edy the existing condition of affairs.
A SCANDINAVIAN ADDRESS.
Rev. Kristofer Jansen spoke briefly in
Scandinavian of the present degraded
and oppressed condition of the laboring
classes, and the prejudice and misun-
derstandings between employers and
help. That many employers forget that
oil frr
THAT the working classes must have an
opportunity to study the present cOndl-
tion of affairs in order to agree upon an
Intelligent understanding. The eight
hour movement is step in the
right direction. members of both sexes,
and of all branches of trade,
should join IN the work. Among those
who are helping in the work of reform
in various directions are Henry George,
Father McGlynn, Hugh Pentecost and
others, who are anxious to see the work.
ing classes arrive at an intelligent un-
derstandiGg of the present economic
condition. The gentleman spoke in a
witty and sarcastic manner. and was
warmly applauded.
REV. JAMES M'GoLRICK
said: 81 am glad. of an opportunity to
express my sentiments in meeting of
this sort. Coming from land where
laborers were obliged to plod from early
morn till late at night to earn a bare
livelihood, 25 cents a day was often the
days wages; where, on the other hand;
were the palaces of those who lived in
idleness and luxury, and rode rough
shod over the people, it is then great
pleasure to address meeting of free
people, who have resolved to ask of en-
pioyers an eight-hour day, and wages
sufficiently to live comfortably. A few
years ago political economists claimed
that the labor market must not be dis
turbed by labor agitation. Now the
people know better, and are endeavor-
ing to progress in the right direction;
but when see men able and Wiling to
work, and unable to find it, then say
the nineteenth century is not pro-
gressive one, for, in spite of inventions
and science, labor is in a deplorable
condition. When the ten-hour agita-
ton began itencountered great Opposi-
ton, but h H IA
THE TIME IS NEAR 5iii
when an eight-hour day will be the
rule. At the present time | find the
non-producer living in palace and the
producer living in hovel. The most
that ought to be exacted from any man
in Justice and equity is eight hours,
whether it be mental or physical labor,
leaving eight hours for sleep and all
equal time for recreation and study.
/ am not opposed to capital in
its legitimate place. but at the
same time the workingmen must
organize for protection. There
are even times when strikes are justifi-
able. 1t is because the question is not
understood that employers of labor op-
pose this movement. The employer has
a moral obligation to see that his help
are comfortably housed and wen fed.
By careful organization and intelligent
action the laboring people will be able
ment.
HON. T. II. LUCAS
thought the ministers showed the
proper spirit in coming On the public
platform to discuss labor reform. "Our
forefathers founded our present govern
ment as a protest against oppression
and tyranny in older countries. 1t was
intended that all men should be equals,
but they allowed a competitive system
to creep in and allowed some to obtain
a great advantage over Others by pri-
vate ownership of land. 1t is on ac-
here tonight. There is room for
all without encroaching on the liberties
OF others. Some men have become
enormously wealthy at the expense of
others, causing poverty and suffering
among workers. Nothing can be gained
by force, but all by intelligent and rea-
sonable action. We want the privileges
of life, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness. We don't want to injure the
rich, but we want portion of our
God-given rights. This eight-hour
movement is not a new one. for 400
years ago the members of guilds
worked only eight hours. The
Masonic lodges teach the eight-hour
doctrine, but its members are apt to for
get it when they become employers of
labors. The eight-hour movement is
only step in the right direction, but
when that is taken. we will be ready
for another step. The speaker gave a
list of statistics showing tbs increase Of
lawyers, liquor dealers and government
officials, while at the same time labor
was being displaced by labor-sav-
ing machinery. and claimed that all in
creased salaries were taken from the
products of the peoples labor.
Up. M'GAUGHEY
was greeted by round of applause as
he stepped forward. In the course of
his remarks he said:
'The working people have o perfect
right to say just how many hours thew
will work. The establishment of an
eight-hour day is step toward solving.
the labor problem. l believe that the
two hours would be spent in study, not
in the saloon. l don't believe that all
the present evils are the fault OF en-.
ployers. They are simply the logical
result of the illogical basis OF our pres.
ent system. Carroll D. Wright says
that in 1885 there were 1000. 200 idle
people, and their number has largely,
increased during the past four,
years. Benjamin Franklin said that
in his day four hours per