Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-05-08
THE EIGHT-HOUR MOVE,

General Master Workman Powderly OF
she knights of Labor in Favor of the
shorter Day. But at the Same Rate of
Pay as Now Received for the Day OF
Ten Hours-His Plan for Securing 1t.
SCRANTON. Pa, May General Mas
ter Workman Powderly of the knights
of Labor was seen at his home yester-
day by a reporter of the United Press
The master workman had just returned
from Buffalo, where he had gone to ad
just labor differences. He was asked
his views concerning the labor demon
stration in New York and elsewhere to-
day, and at first stated that he had
nothing to say and that all such infor-
nation should come from Mr.. Gompers,
president of the Federation of Labor,
under whose auspices the demonstra-
ton would be held.
Mr.. Powderly said that he would ad-
dress a labor meeting in Jersey City
this evening, at which time he would
air his ideas concerning this great la Dor
movement. Warming up to the subject
he said that his position on this ques-
ton was too well known to need expla-
nation. He had always favored an
eight-hour law. The knights of Labor
had also Endorsed it, adopting pream-
BILE favoring it at the general assembly
in 1878. As he understood it. to-days
demonstrations throughout the country
were to convince the public that the
labor element was really in favor of
shorter hours for the toilers. 1t had
been alleged by many that the eight
hour movement was simply for effect
and that the workmen did not really
fn +1a 4 -
to-day it was to be hoped that there
would be no untrue charges of this
kind.
The movement to secure an eight
hour law is an universal one" said Mr..
Powderly, land we are all working
steadily for it. Within the last few
years about thirty industries employ
ing labor have adopted it, and still
others have adopted the nine-hour sys-
tenn. In some instances workmen re-
ceived but eight hours compensation
and in others they got ten hours pay
for eight hours work. Other industries
pay their workmen ten hours compen-
sation for nine hours work.
The plan which | recommended to
the general assembly was toreduce the
hours of labor one-half hour each year
till an eight-hour system could be OBJ
tanned with ten hours pay. This has been
adopted by the Union Pacific Railroad
Company, and in three years their men
will be working eight hours daily. L
believe that the American Federation
of Labor is concentrating its efforts in
favor of the carpenters just now, and if
they succeed it will be a great gain to
labor generally. The carpenters are
the largest class of mechanics which
have membership in the Fedora ton.
The cigarmakerS are already working
on the cight-hour system: at least all
who are members of the knights of La
Dor are.
You will scc," concluded Mr.. Pow
derby, that this eight-hour law IS
most righteous one when you remember
that a man can perform between the
hours of eight and twelve in the morn
ing more labor with the implements of
the present than two men could perform
in two days of ten hours each with the
implements of forty years ago. The
genius of the mechanic provided this
labor saving machinery, and it IS but
right that he should share its benefits.
However, the solution of the whole
problem will come when the laboTer
shares the profits Of his toll. AS he
will be then working for himself. he
can labor eight or ten hours as he may
desire"