Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-28

In all the literature on the eight-hour
movement the case of the advocates OF the
sshort day" has nowhere been stated more
logically or more forcibly than in a speech
published in this volume, which was deliv-
cred in February last on the eve of the Chi
caco carpenters strike. The issue was
never more aptly put than when the speak
er said that "when one class OF people is
confined to, and is exhausted by manual Ia
Dor, The former class will soon be absolutely
in the power of the latter"
THE EIGHT-HoUR SYSTEM.
A short hour movement to be successful,
he believes must be coeItensive with the
field of competition, and therefore any at
tempt to introduce the eighthour system
into the manufacturing world must be
general. This will require universal and
thorough organization on the part OF the
laboring classes. without thorough or
garization, no movement of that kind can
succeed, and the organization must not only
be general, but it must embrace all lines of
labor; it must be general in order that the
movement may be general; 1t must embrace
all lines in order; first, so that they can
support each other; second, that there may
be concert of action; third, that the million
or more of men out of employment, and who
are hungry, will not at once rush in and
maintain the old system; and, what is still
more important, that the movement may be
controlled by reason and kept free from
violence"
An essay on Arbitration of Strikes" is
well worthy OF careful reading. The author
believes that, when any considerable num-
Der of men are involved in q strike and
others are thrown out of work in conse-
quence of it, it is emphatically not only the
right, but also the duty, OF the State to step
in and put an end to it.
JUST ARBITRATION.
Conceding that it would be impossible for
any board of arbitration to compel an un-
willing employer to run his mill, or to COM
pei unwilling workmen to resume their
work, he believes that fairly constituted
board of arbitrators, having the confidence
of both parties, can terminate any labor dis
pute. He would make the board not perma-
nent, but provisional for each case, consist
ing OF one representative chosen by the men
and one by their employer and an umpire
selected by the two. He would give the
arbitrators full power to Investigate and
would make their award final and subject
to no appeal. Many of the ideas advanced
in the essay are embodied in the arbitration
law of Pennsylvania, which was passed in
1888, under the sponsorship Of Senator
been made use of in any of the many labor
disputes which have occurred since it was
placed on the statute books.
Some time ago bright woman reporter of
one of the Chicago papers wrote series of
descriptive articles on the working girls of
Chicago-the thousands of young women
who are employed at starvation wages in
manufacturing or mercantile establishments
and forced to work Tor long hours in very
unfavorable surroundings.
THE POOR WORKING GIRLS.
At the close of the series, the editor ad.
dressed letter to q number of representa-
tive citizens asking them to suggest a
remedy for the evils he had disclosed and
this formed the occasion for an essay on
1.-The Slave Girls of Chicago" The author
takes the ground that while legislation NAV
do much, the great remedy is to raise tie
standard of intelligence of the girls. "Until
this is DONE" he says, ''they can do little to
help themselves, for Ignorance and helpless
ness go together. Society can do this, and
it can furnish them protection-nothing
more-nor will much more be required, for
this once done they will be able to take care
of themselves" But it is worthy of note
that Chicago "society" is doing nothing OF
the sort. The 'slave girls" toll on to-day
Just as they toiled before the light of pub
licity was turned upon them.
But all this has been written without
word having been said on the subjects of
court machinery and the treatment of
criminals, with which fully one-half of the |
volume is taken. up.
EVILS OF LEGAL PROCEDURE.
Judge Altgeld is quite an iconoclast. He |
would abolish the grand jury, because it
delays trials and thereby facilitates the
escape Of the guilty, and unnecessarily
harasses the innocent prisoner who is unable
to furnish bail and is obliged to remain in
Jail Tor months awaiting trial. He does not |
believe in requiring the unanimous verdict
of the jury in civil cases. He has hearty
detestation of the justice court system, in |
vogue in Chicago and Pittsburg, in which
the magistrate is paid out of the fees of his
court, and he thinks that infinite harm is
caused by the practice OF Chicago policemen
in making unnecessary arrests-"running
in" large numbers of unfortunates in order
to keep up their record for visilance and
activity.
IfJudge Altgeld were Gar of Chicago for
a while visitors would scarcely recognize the
place, but the changes would be mostly for
the better L. M ACKIEy