New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-05
nous quantity of not less than 5o'ooo'ooo cigars
yearly.
yIEWS ON THE EIGHrHOUR .MOVEMENT
MANY PROMINENT MEN EXPRESS THLMSEL' H'
WITH REGARD TO THAT IMPORTANT
QUESTION.

With klTAhD ~ Ina $500
QUESTION.
For the purpose of obtaining the views OF proml-
nent statesmen professors and clergymen on the sub
ject OF eight hour workday, samuel GomperS'
president Of the American Federation Of Labor, sent
a circular letter to leading men in each state OF the
Union asking the questions; ." should the worinhS
people Of our country be required to work more than
eight hours day and what would be the erect OF
a workday Of eight hours the social Intellectual
industrial. economic and commercial development OF
the country ?" To this circular letter Mr. Gompers
received about fifty replies the large majority of which
urge the establishment Of an cght-hOur workday,
while non-commital, and Others oppose such
a radical and sudden change contemplated by the
American Federation OF Labor.
President Harrison, through his private secretary,
Z. W. Halford writes The President directs me to
acknowledge the receipt OF your letter Of the I'd inst.
and to say that it has had his attention. You will
ind in his public speeches, both In the Senate and in
canvasscs "A full and frank expression Of his views
upon the question:, you PROFOUND to him. He has
not hesitatcd to give his mind 10 the public upon
these very important matters. In his present relation
to the public service you Will see the mpIopriety Of
his making any further statements. inasmuch 1t is
possible that some of the subjects connected with the
labor question may come before him for his official
ton
seth Low in a long letter, says: q am in sym
pathy with the desire Of the working people for an
eight hour WOrkday.' Congressman Amos j. Cum
mings also favors the proposed change The Rev. Dr.
Lyman Abbott says: In my judgment eight hours
day is quite much ~ any man devote to any
form of muscular labor handicraft and leave ade
quatc time for the cultivation Of mind. for the en-
ioymcnt and development Of home, and for those
higher pursuits which necessary ~ a rounded man
hood
Congressman William Mckinley, r., Of Ohio says ;
d" believe in eight hours constituting days work
senator John j. ingalls, writes A general reduction Of
the hours of labor eight per day would in my opinion
have bcnchcent effect upon the manhood, indie
pcndcnce and citizenship Of The people senator
been Of the opinion that for ordinary labor eight hours
q day D. enough.
Edward II. Ammidowu. president Of the American
Protective Iaru League. idNoro an eight hour work
day coudiuoually, and cnde an exhaustive discussion ~
tc question at issue a, follows; 81 would not De I'M
der TODD desiring Tor moment 10 impede or en-
harrl,- the upward movement of the woraiugmen or
"at" CORNERS Of ting world. i'ut impressed as am
With the dau ger, II All radical or arbitrary change, ia
tl" custom, Of mon. say earnestly. Ic.tiua lclte.
Professor FELIX ADLER mvors ""r'dty Of eight hours
lcr-c il will give opportunity for uellc tua labor
for social recreation aud for the development Of higher
Among others from whom Mr. Gompcrs ha. received
rcpA'- to hi, question, are Professor hn-"n d. Morse
of Michigan George T.. Garrison. John Clark Rcdpah
Thomas Davidson; G. Il. hmoAerrdre' who oppose
worday of eight hour, Professor simon y Iaiien OF
thr University o. rcnu-t Nanl. Joseph D. Weeks,
Professor Edward " Bcmi-. Of vanderbilt University
Cog rir--mtn t.. -. osborne lf'ir 'r NatHahleI
schmidt Of IN" Hamilton Thcol1scal seminary Pro-
f"--or Roland T.. l1'hn"r. oi ne ni'rNliy 81 F'n
-ylN1na John T.. Dash J.. +. vi kinney. Professor j.
%. Cark. of smith college Northnmpton Ma. /;
President G.. X. adams. of Cornell University Henry
j. bl"uut T. T. thompson, oi FHIp'IpnIA Jonnn H.
Eaacr. " D.. r. Hi-s. Conere--man II. D. byngmi'
t"n-rc--man r. J.. Beard. cN '"nfr~'nan +. y. Col
ln-. Benjamin Ilcrmann II OREGON. and other, -.
senator Henry ". Blair write AZ length ana SAYS :
Eit hour are to' long Co. OBJ ana 5,ol bie1, you in
country would uorl, only -iN hours day.' Franci, b.
Ihurher. Iu Ions letter q" VT 'omper~; -a!s Do part