The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-14
LE1SURE DOES NOT MEAN Run.
Testimony OF John Burns 20 the Clviun1nr
Influence OF short Houra.

Testimony OF John Burns TO the CivtIlninn
Hnnuence OF short Hours.
At the National Temperance Congress held
In this city last month Samuel Gomperp said
that the eiRht-hour movement was in favor
Of temperance. and that It was the long
hours OF labor that drove mon to barroome. L.
Thompson. member OF tho Single Tax Club,
denied the truth OF this and In an attack on
the eieht-hour movement. quoted Mr.. George
J. Goschen. Chancellor OF the English Ex-
chequer. as his authority for the assertion that
the reduction OF the hours of labor for the
London dock laborers only tended to Increase
the drinking habit among them. Doubling tho
truth Of this statement Mr.. Gompors wrote to
Mr. Gosrhen. and also TO John Burns,
who was the leader of tho dock laborers
in their strike, and asked them for some
received replies. Mr.. GGschens secretary
writes that Mr.; Goschenn, never said an thing
OF the kind. What he did say in his budget
speech was that the recent increased prosper
tty Of al! G. asses IL Great Britain has been 40
BY AZ II the
have combined to toast the prosperity OF the
country" MIR. Burns wrote
luS LAvENDKs Hill BAr1RRsEAt
DEAR sR:-The Chancellor Of tie ESeGeomer did no,
Of labor OF the dock ahorers OF London had merely
rtd an in Il. treasury G from G tns 9 T0
millions tn a IN. ' psC had Of br T9
tOAsnR the prosperity in country lie mad
no reference TO any clR. hut did that there had
attended meeting last night or q, 90 dock labor
ers and askcd those VII" ought know what
was the effect OF higher wages and better conditions.
and the universal opinion WAS that the workers II
London who had received better wages more sober
than ever they were As an AbstAiner myself am
lighted ht the conduct Of tho nuckers and more than
pleased at the dininuon not OF urinktnK, but of
betting among them due. in small measure to tho
tart that their leaders MessrS Mann Tiett Others
are temperance men. The greatest enemies have in
London are mo betting men and pubhcAns Their en-
mitv IL testimony to this fact, that ask
duCtiOn OF hours for more leisure aud education AMI
urge the men 10 spend their higher wages in home
head of population has decreased ~ yer cent while
the aggregate has increased through growth OF popu
ation
In England as elsewhere. the short hours movement
has always tended to sobrety and increased tho int
gence Of the worker. In my trade twelve four
teen years ago secretaries brUed transfe tho
Bear that tho pnbcnnB might have the profit from
drink conrumed So great has been tho change that
tue PROPRIETOR OF the Brown Bear will almost give
you A2o to take tho meeting away, as tho
drink consumed does not pay him to have
the meeting there. Al boat races bean feasis,
holiday gatherngs &c, the change 10 tho drinking
for shorter hours also the demand for libraries
parks and open spacca Rymnasa cricket and football
grounds. Leisure TO-DAY dues not mean drinking but
the opportunities for thought, education and true
thrift, which s lml osSnie to men whose long hours
mako them animals and content with IA brutal exist
The rich man who drinks does because he has
who provides him with the for drinking, has
work longer hours than he should. and,
sequence often heals the monot0ny OF his toll by bouts
of drinking tho cause OF which the eight hour id-
vorates going to remove by eguazng Tho labor Of
both Thus the lazy man will have something to tak"
an interest in while the previously oyerworkcd slave
JOHN BuRsS