Omaha daily bee., 1890-05-11
WANT THE CHICAGO RATE.
Omaha Carpenters Preparing for an Eight
Hour Demand.
CHE REQUEST TO BE MADE IN JUNE.
Shoe, Men Will Not Close EarIy-The
Old Printers Home-The Grip
mems Grievances-Local
Labor Notes.

For months the outlook in the building
trades of the country has been an interesting
= one to watch, as between the eight-hour law
had the demand for more wages upon the
part of the mechanics, matters have been in
very unsettled condition. The attempt to
enforce the eight-hour law in Chicago resulted
IN great strike which has been watched by
the mechanics of this city with great inter
est. The termination of that strike was the
road upon which skilled workmen hoped to
build their hopes.
The desired result has been attained, the
worlkmen won their victory, and now they
have no hesitancy in openly expressing the
opinion that ere another season rolls around,
eight hours will constitute days labor.
TO Garry out the principles for which
they fought, the knights of Labor have
taken AN active interest in the eight
hour movement and are now urging upon all
trades 1he Importance of organizing unions
throughout the country, that when the gener-
al demand is made they viii be in position
where they can make their influence felt The
work of organizing has been going on for
months. Since the first of January they have
made tremendous effort, and to show for
this they now point TO 456 new lodges since
the date above mentioned OF this number
sixty-tiye of the lodges have been organized
by the carpenters, with more falling into line
every day.
According to the theory of the knights of
this city, this work is not urged for the pur-
pose of bringing about a strike, nor is it for
the purpose of declaring war against the con-
tractors, but simply TO place themselves in
line where they may demand and receive their
rights as men among men.
Said a prominent member of the brother
hood yesterday; 'The manufacturers, the
producers, the capitalists and in fact NEST of
tho business men of the country have banded
IL efnsclves into societies for mutual protec-
ton; and why should not we.
"tor years the people of the country have
tsat.
and regarded us as demons instead of men,
but nj last that prejudice has been overcome
and now the community has been educated up
10 point where we are looked upon as not
only the bone and sinew OF the country, but
men of standing in social and business circles
"Our members have held positions of honor
and trust, their voices have resounded in the
halls of congress as well us those OF the legis-
latures of many OF the states of the union.
This has been brought about by educa-
tion.
i Fifty years ago a man with rade was
hut little more than slave. He was denied
the associations that surround the laboring
man of today; was an outcast from society,
and WAS compelled to labor from sun to sun,
receiving but mere pittance for his services.
"Snce then we have gradually risen from
this plane OF obscurity until now we can hold
up our heads and state with pride that we
arr carpenters, plumbers, smiths, masons or
representatives of the many other trades
that nhmber their members by the thou
sands,
"You ask me why this change has taken
place. In few brief words ii is because the
hours of daily toll have been lessened. BY
this we have had time TO read, to think and
? 10 better our conditions in various Ways
The sentiments of this gentleman are
those of the tradesmen OF this city in every
particular. They all believe that by shorten
Ing the hours of labor they will alike benefit
themselves aud their employees.
But TO accomplish this purpose they do not
intend 10 be hasty in their actions, prefering
70 educate the men for whom they work 10
the necessity of this end.
Before the summer IS over, however, the