, 1892-01-09
SIGNS THAT GIVE HOPE.
A Clergyman Who Views Labor's Pros
poets In n Bright Light.

poets In n Bright Light.
Rev. Leighton Williams delivered an
address the other evening before the
Working Women's Society of New
York. Among other interesting things
he said
l stand here tonight as the representa-
tive of a small but rapidly Increasing
number of men in clerical and profess
sional life who are sallying themselves
with the manual workers of the country
for the enfranchisement and elevation of
labor. In England the body of clergy
men and university graduates who have
joined in this movement is far greater
than as yet it is here.
Cardinal Manning, in the Roman
Catholic communion; Barnett and Head
lane in the Established church; Hugh
Price Hughes and Mark Guy Karn,
among the Dissenters, are conspicuous
names among a host of others who have
thrown themselves into this great cause.
Toynbee hall and the University settle
ments in east and south London exer-
else a wide social and political influence.
The old laissez faire policy of letting
things alone is thoroughly discredited.
Trades unions are recognized as necessi-
ties and the right of organization no
where denied.
In the great dock strikes of 1889 pub
lie opinion was behind the strikers. This
year the trades congress at Newcastle
receives wide attention and its actions
are generally commended. England is
rapidly progressing through a vast yet
entirely peaceful revolution. And what
is there largely an accomplished fact, We
may fairly assume is yet before us and
not far distant. But today the situation
in this country is not SO cheering. The
right of labor to organize is not freely
admitted All possible obstacles are
thrown in its way. The old laissez faire
notions still hold their sway over the
commercial and manufacturing interests
of the country. Educated men are in
different or hostile to the claims of the
wage earners. Christian ministers stand
aloof from all social questions except
that of intemperance, which is largely a
symptom of a deeper disease in the so
cial organism.
Yet there are signs of a coming change
even here. The younger economists are
preaching a healthier social economy.
The Henry George movement has
hoaSbO9 bLhiAJ oohSabCo llCht III IuOoo
whom it has aroused have not confined
their thoughts solely to the land ques-
ton. Ministers are treating social topics
from the pulpit. The political parties
are putting labor planks in their plat
forms. The condition of our great
municipalities is receiving attention.
The farmers are aroused. The college
graduates are beginning to move.
Now the hours of labor form an i'm
portant subsidiary question in the great
general movement for the enfranchise-
ment and elevation of labor. A specially
hopeful feature of this question is the
general favor with which it meets.
Many who, like Mr.. George Gunton,
rank among the conservative economists
on most questions are in sympathy with
this movement. He states that legisla-
ton shortening the hours of labor has
uniformly borne good results. Many
considerations favor the movement for
shorter hours
First-Its hygienic effects. Too pro-
longed manual labor stunts physical
growth and induces disease. Eight
hours should be the limit in all confin-
ing pursuits, or where labor Is heavy,
monotonous and carried on within doors.
Second-Its social effect, in affording
greater leisure for home culture and
education. To show that such leisure
will not always be well employed is not
sufficient answer.
Third-The mora bearing of the ques-
ton is important. Weakened physical
energy and intellectual power leave the
passions uncontrolled sway and sexual
excuses naturally become frequent.
Fourth-The economic effects of suoh
a movement are not harmful, but on tho
contrary beneficial. Under the opera
ton Of such laws the employees become
superior workmen and the cost of pro-
duction is lessened, not heightened, as
some suppose it must be.
Finally, the collateral effects on the
community at large are to be considered.
It is estimated hat a general eight hour
law would absorb the million or more
Of the unemployed in gainful pursuits.
Historically this movement can be
shown to justify itself. The present
conditions demand such a movement.