Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-01
THE EIGHT-HoUR AGITATION.

THE EIGHT-HoUR AGITATION.
The eight-hour issue takes more def
mite form to-day with the demonstration
OF the House Carpenters and Joiners. If
they succeed other trades will follow them.
The question has two sides, and there is
logical strength on both. But it is COM
pick question; the issue is not to be set
tied or even understood in the midst of
passionate feeling. 1t must be discussed
and settled in the calm; by violence or
interference with the rights of the citizen
IT can never reach satisfactory conclu.
sion.
The agitation is in one respect a good
sign, for it testiies to the fact that while
iabor-saving appliances have multiplied
and the ability to produce has been stead
lily augmented, the working man has also
been advancing; has been thinking upon
the betterment of his condition, and seek
ing to keep abreast with the age. Whether
he is wise in the present manifestation,
trial and experience must determine, for
not all that is theoretically fair and SEEM
ingly probable proves on trial feasible.
The agitation also testifes to the fact
that adjustment and change are going on
in the social system, adjustment that can
neither be checked nor controlled by arbi-
trary action on the part of any branch of
society, nor by the Intervention of Iegisla-
ton.
The laborer has the right to refuse to
work any longer than he chooses; the en-
pioyer has the right to refuse to employ
the worker excep. on his own terms.
These are inalienable rights. The conces-
sion of the first carries with it admission of
the other. So in fact it may be said that
this whole question is to be adjusted as are
all contracts, by the agreement of the par
ties to it-that is to say, what the employer
is willing or able to pay for labor; what
the worker is willing to take for his labor.
These are the essential factors of the issue,
and we believe that they will work out
its solution. Historically it is true that
the hours of labor have been shortened in
the last half of the century, and in every
instance by peaceful means and without
violence or the disturbance of revolution
1t is for labor to resolve that the pres
ent agitation shall not have less reput-
able record.
If the agitation results in the better
ment of the condition of the wage-earners
moving in the matter, there will be no
true friend Of humanity who will regret
the outcome. The real question of debate
is, therefore, whether such result can
follow, and We repeat that only by expert
ence will the two parties to the issue be
convinced; it is not, therefore, perhaps, to
be regretted that the issue has been pro-
jected at this time, since the sooner it is
settled the better for industrial and man.
ufacturing conditions in a new and ex-
banding country.
There is just SO much labor to be per-
formed; shortening the hours of labor
without lessening the wages therefore
means increased cost of production by
labor, and increased cost to the con-
sumner, since we may take it for granted
that the very best the workers can accom-
plish, they cannot shear capital of an APP
preciable share more of its earnings, as 1t
is now receiving, by from so to 90 per cent.
less from the product of labor, than the
share received back by labor. Admitting
that there is not now enough labor for all
capable of earning wages, it follows that
either the present workers must share with
their fellows, or the employers Of labor
must bear the loss of the increased number
to be employed without proportional de-
crease of the wages. But this they declare
they will not do, and that if additional
charge is made in the cost of production,
the consumer must meet it. Since the
body of workers in the land constitute the
greater body of consumers, il would follow
Thai iutf Will uedT their sudTc oi Tue III
creased cost of production, and hence
really suffer some depreciation of wages,
and those of them who do not lose sight of
the fact that they are consumers as we'll as
producers, freely admit this. But they
add that there viii be gain in the in
creased capacitysof the worker to produce
in eight hours as total span more than in
eight hours where ten is the fell working
day, and that the intellectual and domestic
gain will compensate for any increased
cost of living.
Probably there is in this an element of
truth, but it is scarcely possible that it
viii materially affect the settlement of the
question. Most thoughtful writers upon
the capacity of workers agree, that we'll
and diligently improved, eight or nine
hours are sufficient for any human being
to labor out of the twenty-four. And it
NAV be admitted that if the whole social
system had been adjusted upon that basis
there would not have been any material
difference between the social and indus
trial conditions under that system and
those prevailing under the present The