Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-02-12
EIGHT HOURS ENOUGH.
Men Back the City Coun.
ellis Ordinance.
The View Day Must be Strictly Adj
hered TO In Contract work Under
the City--.Last Nights Labor Meet.
Ing

The call for meeting of those inter
ested in the eight.hour day movement
was responded to by an enthusiastic
gathering at Killers hall last evening
President Klo,z. of the Rock Island Eight
Hour League. presided. and after explain
ing briefly the object of the meeting as
the result of rumors that the eight hour
ordin ince recently adopted by the city
council was to be evaded In the contracts
for the proposed paving extensions in the
city. he called upon Aid. A. III.
HAMPTON who was present, to pre-
sent his views of the matter as repre-
sentative of the municipal body. Mr.
Hampton stated that in the specifications
which accompanied the advertisement for
bids for the proposed pavement the eight
hour ordinance was made part. Ii was
one o. the specifications. If contrac-
tor violates any part of the specifications
he violates the whole, and the alderman
had no doubt but that the city attorney
woulo draw an ordinance that would
amply provide for the stIict adherence to
every part and condition of the specifi-
cations contained in the advertisement.
Mr.. Klotz asked If there would be a
papalfv nrayidad ~ Tho oon,raotora 1;d
not comply with the eight hour pro-
vision.
Mr. Hampton replied that if the eight
hour ordinance is legal, the council can
compel contractors to abide by it.
Mr.. Klotz held that the success of the
eight hour ordinance depended entirely
upon the vigilance of the council and the
mayor to secure its enforcement. The
city attorney had nothing to do with
that. The ordinance was there and had
been made part of the specifications
and the contractors knew what to ex.
pect when they bid on the WORK.
]. Il. Dsnforth gave sketch of the
eight hour movement and its relation TO
the city ordinances. He gave the names
of the nine aldermen who voted for the
recently passed ordinance and of those
who Lad opposed IL, but assured the
meeting that the entire aldermanic body
and al members of it. whether they
voted for the eight hour ordinance or
not, were bound by their oath of office to
sustain il now as law and whether they
believed In il or not. In conclusion he
moved the appointment of committee
of five on resolutions.
The motion prevailing the chairman
namei the mover as chairman and
MessIs. Robert Hudson of the Carpen.
ter's union, II. Bostock, of the Glass
Workers union, VIM. p. Dover, of the
Iron Moulders' union, and Steven O'Con-
nor. Of the Eight Hour league.
Willie the committee was out Aid. Lar
kin was called upon to express his views.
and be stated that he was present for en-
lighte rather than to talk. He was
anxious to learn the opinion aud the de>
sire of the laboring people and to perfect
his own way of thinking as far as posi-
BILE thereby. For his part he could not
see how the eight hour ordinance could be
violated. He did not think there was any
d anger of any of the aldermen who had
voted for the eight hour ordinance waver-
ing iu their duty as applied to it. and he
believed that the provisions in regard to
it in ell contracts let by the city could be
scrupllouslY guarded.
Mr. ]. W. Cavanaugh called attention
to the clauses in the declaration Of prin-
ciples in most Knights of Labor organi
cations deprecisting the idea of contract
labor in all work to be performed by the
government. state, county or city. This
ground had been taken because the
labor societies believed the people
had lost IN every undertaking in
which they had trusted 10 con-
tractors. The best wayl the people
could accomplish work and protect
themselves and protect labor was to do
1t the mselves. In this case the people
outside of those who were to pay for the
work by special assessment had an in
terest In the matter as the city-the gen.
ersl Esx payers--had to pay for the
street and alley intersections. But as
long Is contract work is to be permitted
at all, the eight hour day should be Sc
cured at any rate. The quicker the
eight hour day is adopted, the sooner
will the laboring people be more con-
tented, more prosperous and more in
telligent. The question is not as to
wages. 1t is shall we have the eight hour
dav. and the laboring men are attempts
ing to get it by an honest, legal way. As
lsboIing people we want more time to
educate ourselves, more time to read
our newspapers. more time for our books,
more time for our families - our homes
which constitute the real and first OBJ
lect of honest endeavor and labor
We want the eight hour law enforced,
that will give to us the eight hour day
We say nothing about the wages, we
want more time to ourselves. Let eight
hours constitute days work and the
wage question will regulate itself.
The committee on resolutions reported
| through its chairman the following,