The advocate., 1891-07-01
A MIsSrEP AT CINCINNATI.

Clnclnnau conference 10 cOmmcuuS anu SONAS
things as well to heartily condemn. Without
entering into discussion Of the work OF the
convention we want to refer to two items which
must come under the latter head. When farm
ers assembled passed resolution recommend
Ing eight hours for legal days work, they
were guilty Of an act Of sheer demagOgueFy. ANY
one who knows the hours Of farmers, and un
derstands their feelings on the subject, as vel
as the necessities by which they are governed
can see that the only object In passing this reso
luton was the hope Of catching votes among
eight hour men. OF similar nature was o
resolution cOndemning the managers OF the
Worlds Columbian Exposition for refusing the
minimum rate Of wages asked for by labor or.
ganizatiOns. The business OF, the managers
ended when the contract for the buildings was
made and as to the arrangements between con-
tractors and labOrers 1t was q matter with
which the convention at Cincinnati had no con-
nectlOn whatever. The passage Of these two
resolutions was simply buncOmbe, Of indulging
In which we are sorry that Q farmers cOnVen-
ton was guilty. Our idea Of the duties Of farm
erS In their meetings Is that they clearly and
positively set forth In digniaed terms demands
for such things as they need, and which the
country win clearly recognize that they need;
and when they go outside Of this and pass resO-
lutIons simply to catch votes they are entering a
field of demagOgism which should be left to the
Old and less ScrupulOuS political parties.-NG
ttOnGl StOckmGn.
The above is a fair sample of the
one sided and illogical reasoning TO
be found in opposition to the eight
hour law, and to the wage system in
general. In reference to the eight
hour law we hold, and we defy any
one TO controvert the position, that its
immediate adoption would inure to
the interest Of the farmer as well as
the lsborer. 1t would give employ
ment to thousands of men now idle,
and transform them from burdens 10
society into self supporting consum-
ers of manufactured and agricultural
products. We presented some argu-
ments upon this subject in our last
issue, and neither the National Stock
man nor any other journal can sue
cessfully controvert the principles
there laid down. The Cincinnati con.
vention was not guilty OF dems
goguery in the endorsement of the
eight hour law. The men at thai
convention have gone little deeper
into the great labor problem of thu
age than has the editor Of the Stock
man, and he might proftably study
this question under the tutelsge o.
almost any one of the farmers there
present with the result of broadening
his views and bringing him far nearer
to the spirit Of his time.
In relation to his statement con
cerning the managers Of the World'l
Columbian Exposition,it is a mere at
tempt to shift responsibility so as Il
make it rest on no one and remove
all blame in the case. It is said "th'
business of the managers ended whel
the contract for the buildings wa
made, and as to the arrangements be
tween contractors and laborers it wa
a matter with which the directors hat
no part"
This is mere quibble unworthy O.
serious reply. There can be no ques