New-York tribune., 1890-04-30
HISTORY OF THE MOTEMENT.
PLANS LONG AGO FORMED By LABOR MEN
MAyY CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE, But WORK
ING PEOPLE ARE DETERMINED-oPIN
IONS OF EMPLOYERS As TO THE
RESULT or THE FIGHT.

For more than twenty years workngmen belong
, t l,h,~ examinations in Europe and America have
hacked forward hopcflllv to the time when day of
,,,enty four hours would b. divided Ffo three periods
a. oual length Of eight hour~ each ono for work. one
for rc.t and one for recreation. At thc time when
AGITATION for worlday Of eight hours began the llea
Va. looked upon by the large majority "f worRmeh
n. imu.cticabe and those who advocated the senene
were laughed az as cranks.7 As the years passed
some Of the more progressive unions belonging 10 the
American Federation OF Labor took mp the night Tor
echf hou-, and IN some few instances achieved thclr
end notably the cgarmakcrs. Systematic as"'on
on .,roatcr scale began when the American Fedora
tlon Of Labor, i'm IL, annual convention IN 1851 mel"
ln = Lnu. passcd resolutions favorng the adoption
Of general vorkday of eight hours in this country OH
Nav l. lrgO Il was AZ first Intended that All
affiliated unions should simultaneously make the de-
naud FOR a shorter workday, but recently 1t was
realized by Samuel Gompers, president ana 1. h'
Nc,ulre. Of the Executive Council OF the AiHerl'ui
Federation Of Labor that any attempt TO Involve III
"A general fight dSor.anized forces Wouid rc'u' III
a disastrous defeat and so in the last annual conven-
ton Of the American Federation Of Labor, held IN ho''
ton last November resolutions we're passed psoviuin5
for the appointment Of what may be called fororh
hope" consisting OF few Of the best organized anu
richest unions TO begin the battle The selection ol
tho Fororn Hope left to the Executive 'ouhcii
~ the American Federation Of Labor and President
tvup'r-. IL took acNclil l'tlin-H VI Oc '>'N''N'~
Council settle this important question, a. Opinions
differed. Mr. Gompcls progressive. lie ahVo
cated "A more comprehensive action tinn the EAc'u-
iiye Council believed the Boston convention hdd IN
tended.
Ahor several plan, had been decided upon and re-
ie,ied. compromise was agreed upon. lie 'aTpc"'
ter, Of Chicago were to begin the tight as they have
done with much rt,huc~>l. and on the outcome "i
th, >tl,hc will depend the extent to which the move
mcnt for "A wOrhday Of eight hours will spread ii
tire carpenters OF chic ago successful ia thcir at
tcmpt many union, in this city and N> N'lhity VIII
make similar demands on their responsibility. hut
In connection VITA the champion unions of the Nherl'
can Federation of Labor the United brotlerhoo" ol
Carpenters and Joiner, and the Amalgamatcd socct,
# Carpcnicrs and Joncr>, which have been selected
to hccin the crusade here under the auspices OF the
American Federation OF Labor. General strikes VIII
occur when the nght begins In TN, city, for the
.ori side" nn,n, VII! DEE called upon 30 support tl1
demand, Oi the carpenters.
rhl, substantial, i, The programme formulated by
thc American Federation -, Lauor. but .Ac all pre-
arranged public demonstrations the programme ot the
leader, i, more than likely to be deserted ana chA''
and violence might follow. Not on!y III America
but also IN ~oivillcd' Europe. Nay l hdo been made
a general holidl, by organized labor ana the action
, ,,r,,nv of Lr.o employers threatening 10 dis
charge those men vino forced To stop work AT tio
command of their union viii prcrpit2tc the uSs
and instead Of ntludating them Will throw upon the
,own t,or,and, OF angry. reckless unemployed men,
il. probl, the first tiiAc in the history of Tie world
that a holiday has been once made 80 far reaching
IN 30 many naMonslitics A. May VIII be-
In I'm, city interviews with men prominent as
cmplo,cr, Of labor show that The work day vi eight
honr, demanded by the carpenters would Willingly DC
,,,,cd if fine men interested would make some sllsht
concession Tor the benefit received, as tile de!ahd 'r
shorter wor,day At the present rate oi pay Is smpH
another form for an increase Of wages.
\n,on, the boss carpenter, OF this city the large
,.iority e>pccting the change. have figured on all
contracts on IL basis OF eight hours and are prepared
q, .., on with work under the arrangement II the
A,rLucn in turn viii accept an increase oi Wages
IA 10 cents an hour and Will be pad by the hodr
instead of Dy the day. An . ,,
InIn g. l.ogcrt oi the firm Of Aher' &. Eoscft
A i,rr.. 9NO 10 ;,Ankst.. said II the nle'i ac
Iutriacni' ononch to regulate their lcnI~ OF lauor
and want to work eight hours a day, Why A.. , ~t,.
inc thry shoulc-at TIE rate Of wagcs-Dut th'N
l,u>t realize that the question OF wages VIII >ucN
regulate Itself by supply ana demand ,.u,.., Z,
hdyin Eotb,, of No. ~ Ntsey-st. u mcuusr OK
,l,c Ttnders and Mechanics EAclGnsc, wlth iarN
hnlldlnc interests uptown. said This dgilhn % ,ni
cight honls will greatly inIure business me i,uu-
ing nrcau has this year passed on NOR, iniP'V'c.
rrnts millions Of dollars. ihan ever pciois Dit
now many the pL,ns have lcen elihei "i'ura~h % ,
nr laid by for time. | thin. the reason WHY n,s
,,,r,' /. In ttorc,- at prcs,ni than usual II due
In a great measure TO uncertainty III rcia.ioh ~
tils eight hour agitation. MthN ,ir u",e, ~, ii,
i',,. Thc cost of buildings Will. therefore. bo
increased with he natural consequence zee @ .n" ne.S
, ,soI ,.iut, when they cannot get air interest
on the Investment, and the cost on cons'luun WI; WI,
hr ~ much increased that bnlldlng opeTuchs VIII
uerrs"'C smith, vice president Of the Traders and
Mechanics EXchange SAID make u1 ter p empIoVers pay
.nn ali the benefits they receive II tley want UNI
worldav of eight hours so much. let them make
Continued on seventh PAGE.