The Russellville Democrat., 1890-05-08
THE EIeAT-HouR MOVE.

General Master Workman Powderlys oi
the knights of Labor In Favor OF the
Shorter Day, But Mt the Same rate Of
Pay Now Received for the Day OF
Ten Hours s-His Plan for Securing 1t.
SCRANTON, Pa. May 1.-General Mas
ter Workman Powderly of the Knights
OF Labor was seen at his horne yester-
day BY a reporter Of the United Press.
| The master workman had just returned
from Buffalo, whore he had gone to ad-
just labor differences. lie was asked
his views concerning the u lsn- .:.::..IoIi-
stration in Nesse'sI a,..---. ana elsewhere to-
day, and at first stated that he had
nothing to say and that all such infor-
nation should come from Mr.. Gompers,
presidentof the Federation of Labor,
under whose auspices the demonstra-
tion would be held
Mr. Powderly said that he would adj
dress labor meeting in Jersey City
this evening, at which time he would
air his ideas concerning this great labor
movement. Warming up to the subject
he said that his position on this ques-
tion was too we'll known TO need expla-
nation. He had always favored an
|seight-hour law. The Knights of Labor
had also indorsed it, adopting a preanl-
Bile fayoring itat the general assembly
in 1873. As he understood it. to-day's
demonstrations throughout the country
were to convince the public that the
labor element. was really in favor of
shorter hours for the toilers. 1t had
been alleged BY. many that the, eight
honr movement was simply for effect,
and that the workmen did not really
favor il. &After the demonstration of
to-day it was to be hoped that there
would be no, untrue charges Of this
kind.
The movement to secure an eigit-
hour law is an universal one, = said Mr..
Powderly, s'and we are all working
steadily for 1t. Within the last few
years about thirty Industries employ
ing labor have adopted II, and still
others have adopted the nine-hour sys-
tenn. In some instances worlzmen re-
ceived but eight hours compensation
and in others they got ten hours pay
for eight hours work. Other industries
pay their worlmen ten hours compen-
sation for nine hours work.
Tho plan which | recommended to
the general assembly was to reduce the
hours of labor. oneshalf hour each years
till an eight-hour system could be OBJ
tanned with ten hours pay. This has been
adopted by the Union Pacific Railroad
Company. and in three years their mon
will be working eight hours daily l
believe that the American Federation
of Labor is concentrating its efforts in
favor of the carpenters just now, and /
they succeed it will be great gain to
labor generally. The carpenters are
the largest class of mechanics which
have membership In the Federation.
The cigarmakers are already working
on the eight-hour system; at least all
who are members of the Knights of La
Dor are. "a FL ssd -. a
''You will see, = concluded. Mr.. Pow
derly, "that this eight-hour law is a
most righteous one when you remember
that man can perform between the
hours of eight and twelve in the morn
ing more.labor with the implements OF
the present than two men could perform
In two days of ten hours each with the
implements of forty years ago. The
genius Of the mechanic provided this
labor saving machinery, and it is but
right that he should share its benefits
However, the solution of the whole
problem will come when the laborer
shares the profits of his toll. AS he
will be then working for himself, he
can labor eight or ten hours as he may
desire :