Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-02

Il ~ ~ +
last summer be had taken contracts fol
$500, 900 worth Of new work, beside thai
which he had on hand. =
K. OF L. oPPosITIoN EXPECTED.
A. j. Harnuck, Of E. Magee & Co.,
dealers in builders supplies, believes that
such movement on the part of the Fedora
tion of Labor will be opposed by the
knights of Labor, but Notwithstanding the
federation would probably come out ahead
in the fight.
Joseph Keeling, of Keeling & Co., of the
Southside, brickmakers, did not believe that
the brickmakers would care about the eight
hour movement as they now work by the
piece, and often have days work done IN
seven hours unless delayed by breakages.
"We work two gangs, one goes to work at
noon and the other at midnight The night
shift is frequently through by in the morn
ing, and nothing is then done till noon.
do not know how the feeling is among other
trades, and do not care to commit myself on
the subject, but if the men unite in demand
ing eight hours l suppose their request would
have to be granted"
WHAT LABOR LEADERS SAY.
Secretary William Martin, of the Anal
gamated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers, said;
Personally am in favor of general ex-
tension of the eight-hour movement. be-
Iieve that it is perfectly feasible for the
building trades to take successful action in
this direction. In common with Mr.. Weihe,
hold that not alone is it feasible, but de-
sirable for certain trades to obtain for its
members limitation of the working hours
to eight hours. And believe that the feel
ing among good many of the employers is
favorable to the proposition. 1 have already
expressed myself on this subject in The
DISPATCH and there is hardly any use in
going over the ground again."
District Master Workman Ross said: ''I
am very much in favor of the eight-hour
day, but I doubt it it can be obtained by
any concerted movement, or at any one
time. think it can best be obtained by
gradual movement In that direction; by
gradually shortening the hours; and by
being strictly conservative in the manner in
which the object is attained. 1 haven't any
doubt that employers would more generally
favor it, if the movement were more
general"
INTEREST WILL INCREASE.
Editor John Ehman said "a greater
interest will be taken in the question as the
time set by the federation for trial
thereof, approaches. You may remember
that similar agitation was inaugurated in
1886. The greatest benefit that will result
will be in cutting down the number of
trades that now work long hours, and as a
result the employment of the greater
number of men in these trades, with
out reducing the wages. The early
closing movement among storekeepers and
others, sprung out of the movement of 1886,
nj will ho 6aA 4 ,-,4L.o L.
the movement OF 1890. believe that the
governments will follow the ex-
ample of the Federal Government and adopt
the eight-hour week day. am of opinion
that the more employers study the question,
the more they will favor it. Some of them
may Claim that their business will be inter-
fered with, but il the movement becomes
general, no injury will insue. 1 remember
that IL years ago the Chicago furniture deal
ers issued circular favoring an eight-hour
work day, as remedy against overproduc-
lion in their particular line of trade
REGARDING EXTREME MEASURES,
NJ. P. Carrick, of the Painters Union,
Iald: President Sayward, of the Master
Builders Association, at the Boston conven-
ion, declared that he would not oppose the
main principles of the movement that were
1t stake. He also said that he was a be-
lever in. shorter hours, but that be would
oppose any methods that seemed to be either
or extreme. 1 believe that ma
ority of employers are in favor of the
sight-hour system, and that they are in
,lined to recognize from its fulfilIment a
cessation of all trouble, such as strikes and
and soon no individual en-
oloyer could suffer from the enaction of the
hort day if the movement were general"