Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-01-05
THE EIGHT HOUR QUESTION.

Both Sides of the Matter Handled by
Their Respective Champions.
The following article, taken from The
Safety Ealre, a journal devoted to the in
terests of owners, constructors and opera
tors of land and marine power appliances,
insurers, etc, has been sent to the REGIS
TER, with a request that it be published
Manufacturers will be uniformly inter-
ested in the announcement that the
knights of Labor, assembled in solemn
conclave at Atlanta, Ga, have resolved, in
the fullness of their wisdom, that they
will not attempt to force the eight-hour
day to an issue with employers, but that
they will leave the question to work itself
out, to "sin mer in its OWE gravy" as Prince
Bismarck is fond of saying. At the same
time, while stating their intention not to
take any part in the movement as body,
they are very particular to assert that they
will not interfere with any movements
that the different organizations msy insti-
tute on their own account.
The proposition now made in connection
with this movement is that all the labor
organizations in the country shall insist
that on and after May l, 1890, no one
working for wages shall be permitted to
serve in such employment longer than
eight hours each working day. This is an
exaction reaching much further than the
one usually entertained in the thoughts
of those who have heretofore dis
cussed it. When there is a de.
mand from a body of men for shorter
hours of labor, or strike among work
men who insist On the limitation, it has
been supposed that those who ask for the
concessions are only. concerned for them
selves, but here We have nm extension of
the principle; it is proposed to dictate TO
all wage.workers who belong to trade un-
ions the maximum number of hours they
may devote to labor out of the twenty
four.
We have seen this plan tried elsewhere,
and it proved a hardship to employer and
employed. The former was debarred
from profiting by any opportunity to make
little overtime, no matter how welcome
it might be; the other, in case
of emergency, would be put to
considerable trouble to complete on
contract time, work in which unavoid-
able delays had occurred. If the rule is
to give any satisfaction TO its originstors,
it must be vigorously enforced, and its en-
forcement means the arbitrary Limitation
of every workmsn's usefulness 10 himself
and his employer, the curtailment of his
bread winning capacity, the creation a.
the expense of the industrious and pro-
gressive of a corner in labor for the bene-
fit of the idle and incompetent.
Hardly anything more tyrannical and
unjust than a determination to enforce
the eight-hour law could be imagined.
A combination to enfore from an unwilling
employer higher rate of wages. or the
privilege Of shorter hours of service with
no diminution Of the pay, is certainly Of
fensive enough. But an agreement to
prohibit any other free man from working
for such compensation, or at such hours as
may be agreeable to him and acceptable to
his employer, is the extreme Of tyranny.
We do not think it possible that the
working man. enjoying all the blessings of
freedom that fall to the right Of the Amer
ican laborer, especially after what has been
seen Of these strikes of late, will be willing
to transfer not only his right to demand or
accept the wages thst seem best to him.
his right to turn his hand to any branch OF
his business that suits bis necessities or
facilities, his right TO decide as to
the length of time he can labor day by
dsy, his entire capital-in fact, his skill
and his time-to the account Of the pro-
moters of the eight-hour system. Bat, if
he is foolish enough to do 30, the employer
has right to be considered be-
fore the bargain is made.
An arbitrary limitation of the hours Of
daily labor would prove hardship to mas