The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-04-25
HOW THE PRINTERS STAND.
y. A. Labsdie Writes of the Position OF HIS
Trade IA the Eight Hour Movement.

y. A. Labsdie Writes of the Position OF HIS
Trade IA tho Eight Hour Movement.
Especial Correspondence
The time set by the American Fedora
ton of Labor for its second attempt to
establish the eight hour work day is al
most at hand, and feeling Of suspense
prevails all along the line, both in the
ranks of organized labor and unat of en-
ployer. 1t Is generally conceded that the
building trades throughout the country
will adopt the new rule, although the
builders exchanges in several places are
only now officially recognizing the nine
hour rule, which has practically been in
operation since 1886. The bosses are
keeping an hour behind the demands of
the workmen, and this official recognition
now of the nine hour day is looked upon
good naturally by the workmen as a
bluff. Probably Mason Contractor George
c. Prussing, of Chicago, expressed the
sentiments of builders generally when
he said at the st. Paul convention of the
Employing Builders National associa-
ton, that the eight hour day had got to
come, that it is best to have it come, and
the best thing to do is to make arrange
ments to meet it as soon as possible.
The horse collar makers will in all
likelihood make a move towards the
eight hour day. There are not many Of
them, and the union is well organized.
The boot and shoe workers will not
make any general attempt to shorten the
work day in their trade. There are two
or three conflicting organizations in the
concerted action in any direction what
ever.
The printers will make no attempt to
nationalize the eight hour day in May.
The International union considered the
subject at Denver last June and decided
not to press the matter this year. New
York union, however, has put the mat
ter so its members may work by the
week on daily newspapers, eight hours
to constitute day, but it seems no ac-
ton is contemplated to reduce the work
ing time in book and job offices. Boston
union has been agitated for several
months to reduce the working time in
the daily offices, where the men are
obliged to work on the afternoon as well
as the morning editions.
In st. Louis no action has been taken
in the eight hour movement by the print
ers. The strike of November, 1887, was
a somewhat disastrous one, and the union
has been badly demoralized ever since,
especially in the book and job offices.
The union is regaining lost ground, how
ever, and will be in good condition again.
Chicago union has appointed commit
tee to define its position on the present
eight hour movement. The probability
is it will not make demand for less
hours, but will assist unions that do.
Indianapolis union has requested all
other printers unions to adopt resolu-
tions authorizing the International union
to pay the assessment of two cents per
capita per week levied by the American
Federation of Labor, without referring
the matter to subordinate unions, as the
law provides. 1t is quite probable, how
ever, that the international union will
not consider the matter of such urgency
as to warrant the violation of its own
constitution.
The law adopted by the American
Federation Of Labor at Boston may put
the International Typographical union in
an embarrassing position. 1t says that any
body failing within thirty days to pay as
sessments levied by the executive council
shall be suspended, providing, however,
that organizations represented at the
Boston convention whose delegates were
instructed to oppose the levying of as
sessments shall not be suspended until
they have acted on the matter at their
next convention. The International
union meets in June, and whether its
acquiescence in the principle of allowing
the federation the power to assess will
be construed in such way rs to prevent
suspensions remains to be seen.
The subordinate unions may not agree
to the federation's assessment plan, and
they only have the power to make it a
law of the printers. Topeka union re-
Gently resolved to aid all unions that con-
template action on the 1st of May, and
Washington union is agitated because
the printers in the government Office
work overtime in violation of the United
States law, which says that "eight hours
shall constitute days work" for all
those employed by the government.
They will also ask the proprietors of
book and job offices in Washington to
reduce the hours to eight per day. No
union in Michigan has yet put itself on
record in the matter, and is not likely to.
There ia no indication so far that any
considerable number of printers will ask
the eight hour day May l..
Detroit. JOSEPH A. LABADIE.
a New Cigar Flavor.