Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-28

tne NaJlODal TRADES ASSOclaIlOn, NO. lOl
K. of L., composed of brass molders. said
81 don't know what the ultimate result will
be, but 1 do know that eight hours i
long enough for any man to work
and 1 believe the only solution o
the labor problem. so as to Civ,
employment to all, is to reduce the hour
and make the pay accordingly. 1 look fol
general suspension OF business all ovel
the country this season as a result of thi
agitation"
A member of the Street Car Employees
Assembly, composed of the Birmingham
Traction conductors and drivers, said: "Wt
are heartily in favor of the move, and arr
watching Developments. However. We will
not be satisfied with any comparative re
duction in wages. The men work for q
cents per trip. A trip takes an hour and q
minutes, and the conductors work from II
to II or more hours"
John j. Martin, associate editor of the
Conanaoner and GlaSS,oorker, said: 81 be.
lieve there will be no general move for the
adoption of the eighthour day in Pittsburg.
Few trades, If any, have made preparation
for the event. The American Federation Of
Labor has advised none but the carpenter:
here or elsewhere to make a demand. The
carpenters here refuse TO join the movement
at present. There is no valid reason why
the eight-hour day should not be peaceably
| granted by employers. The margin of profit
is not so small as to make a concession i'm
possible. Opposition to the movement mast
of necessity be blind, and there is no use OBJ.
structing the inevitable.
The Work of n Number of Ycnrs.
"There has been for years persistent ten
dency to reduce the hours of labor, and the
hof oil Ir, 3ol- ,,Ioa
have left no mark of desolation behind.
| The fact that the carpenters are already 60
ing into business for themselves in places
where they are out, proves that there is a
reasonably profitable margin on the new ba-
sis.
1.-THE question at present should be ques-
ton of policy as to how the new conditions
! may be most easily accomplished. The
workers have in many cases shown dispo-
sition to adopt a sensible policy by relin-
gushing portion of their wages to secure
their end, but the employers seem to be anx-
ious to force the question of principle to the
front and to deny the justice or correctness
Of the idea of shorter hours. The old
economical views must die. Under the
present wage system industry is not re-
warded. The harder man works, with but
few exceptions, the sooner will his wages be
Gated men and better citizens. 1t will do
more to improve the standing and intellect
of our people than churches or ma1ims can
ever do; it will reflect happiness even on the
wealthy, who cannot really be happy while
dangerous criminals threaten them; while
grinding poverty surrounds them, and i'm
morality, the result OF bad conditions rather
than inherent viciousness, sickens and
shocks them"
A PhiIosophic View of Ii.
John Ehman, editor of the Glass Budget,
looks at the question in philosophic man
ner. He says: my opinion of the eight
hour movement is, that it will not only re-
suit in establishing this standard in the
building trades in many of the large cities,
but it will also succeed in shortening the
hours In trades where they are now longer
than ten. Where the building trades at
the present time are unable to secure the
eight-hour system, nine hours will be insti-
tuted. At present it appears that the build
ing trades lead the van in the short-hour
movement, and the carpenters are at the
head of the column.
1.-THE International Cigarmakers' Union
adopted the eight-hour standard on May 1,
1856, four years ago. 1t has been found to
work very admirably, and wages are not any
lower because of the reduction in hours.
Among the steel workers a progressive
movement is also at work, as notice the
men in Jones & Laughlins' Bessemer Steel
Works have instituted three turns of eight
hours each, In place of two of IL hours each.
As they are paid by the hundred tons,
the change will not necessitate pay
ing out more money. In fact, the
firm is more likely to secure a larger
output every "a hours with three eight
hour turns than with two working II
hours. 1 believe the reduction OF hours will
be eventually recognized as one of the great
est progressive measures ever undertaken by
the working class. 1t will mean increased
education, less crowded tenement houses,
more intelligent citizenship, better paid
labor and longer average existence 1t is
absurd to think that in the nineteenth
century it should take the average man
every hour of his conscious existence to
earn the means to feed and clothe himself
and family"
Looked at in Another Light.
According to Joseph L. Evans, Master
Workman of d. A. 3, knights of Labor. the
rule would be acceptable to the members of
his organization. Said he: I'VE all favor
it. An eight-hour work-day will furnish
labor for the unemployed; will give the en-
Ol
Mr.. Carnegie's free Libraries, and will lessen
crime. AS it is, the laboring man
has no time for anything but
to eat, sleep and work. The Knights of
Labor were preaching reduction OF hours
long before the Federation was organized,
and the only reason we are not in the move
ment now is because we don't think the peo-
pie are educated enough on the question
yet"
Editor John Fiannery of the Trades
Journal, gives an interesting and instruc-
tive talk onfthe subject: 'The investment
of tens of millions depends upon this one
question. The workingmen who are thor
oughly organized seem to think they never
had better opportunity, and they are not
mistaken. Capitalists are anxious to in
vest. The fever for making money is at
high pitch. Opportunities for profitable in
vestments are multiplying. Shorter hours
are necessity, and it must be conceded |
that the workers have the best of the argu-
ment. The advance made in labor-saving |
the increasing wealth of the
country and improved facilities for ex-
changing products, the demand for better
education to fit men for active, useful and |
efficient service, even in mechanical work; |
the broadening of character to keep pace |
with national progress, which can only be ac- |
quired through more leisure and better re- |
all point to the need ofthe reform. |
VIII Not Force the Issue.
Locally. the building trades are not to |
force the issue. The carpenters of this dis |
trict have voted for continuance of the |
nine-hour day for a year longer Eight |
hours, if labor so elects. and eight hours |
pay, may soon bring u or Is hours pay for
eioht hours' labor The eipht- hour mova