Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-05-12
FOR A N|NE-HOUR DAY.
Hugh Mckay Addresses
The Carpenters Union.
WELL ATTENDED MEETING.
mo Man Must Work Over NINE Hours
on Monday"

Last evening another public meeting OF
the Carpenters and Joiners Union was
held in Young Irelanders Hall. James
DUFFY called the meeting to order, and
said that since the last meeting he had
seen many of the contractors and all
were willing TO give the nine hour day.
Only one man objected and that was
August Berndt, who will give nine hours
pay for nine hours work.
Mr.. Duffy said: Wheaton Cole and
Mr.. Anderton are the only ones who op-
pose the nine- hour day. Only this week
a man came into this town and agreed to
put up a building for si 200.
"Workmen should watch that man and
join the Union. A man I'm order to join
the Union mnst be three years In the
business and be able to earn f2.25 day.
After this meeting we are ready to receive
your names and initiate you.
"There Is a scarcity of carpenters and
men are asking me for good carpenters
every day.
"Why only yesterday / was walking
down Westminster street and saw an ad-
vertisement for eight carpenters, some
thing never seen before In the history of
Rhode Island. Every union man gets a
nine hour day Monday morning"
He then introduced the speaker of the
| evening, member OF the executive com
mittee OF the Carpenters and Joiners
Union, Hugh Mckay OF Boston. MIR.
Mckay said he was pleased to see so
many present, as he had manv times been
here before and could only get a bakers
dozen to hear him. He said: "A few days
ago was down among the
historical battle fields OF the
South and 1t reminds me tonight OF Paw
tucket, where the carpenters are on the
eve OF battle for nine hour day and you
will get II. Our State and church IL a
beautiful organization and the working
men must have an organization In order
to succeed.
| "The workmen must organize. There Is
price set on the lrsnber, lime, cement, etc,
but there Is no price on labor. A price
should be put on labor. You have been
unorganixed here In Pawtucket and that
Is the only reason the carpenters of this
city have got small pay and long hours
while those within an hours ride OF yor
have everything they want.
"Every man has right to life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness and still
Edward Atkinson says that IL man Joins
a union he must sacrifice his personal
| liberty.
| "Not at all he does not do anything OF
the kind, although a man has to abide by
the Will OF the majority. It is an Ameri-
the will OF the majority.
"We hope to educate all to be more OF q
man and less of a machine. Don't stay
out of the union. Come into II and be
one OF US and help to better the condition.
OF the people and country.
| "Some say that IL laboring men have
shorter hours they will spend more time
In the saloon. Perhaps there are some so
inclined, but the great majority are not
and In order to have an intelligent
| government we must have an intelligent
people. Carroll ID. Wright says there is
not quite eight hours work day for
every man and II ! were to work ten hours
| should think was putting my hands
in somebody's pockets and taking money
out OF them. II IL were necessary to work
twelve hours | would do II, but II is not
there IL not work for all men at ten hours.
ave are only trying to help ourselves
and the contractors and perpetuate the
| name OF that country made a country by
| the blood OF our forefathers. They say
| that capital and labor can never agree.
Capital and labor can agree, for what
forms capital, but labor. Look at the
children going to the mill In your own
| city every morning, stunted in intellect
and In nature. Think OF the girl that
| will at some time be woman and think
| OF what kinu OF woman she will be II
compelled to labor every day and not be
able to cultivate any OF those traits that
| make woman such as she should be.
"In joining this union and asking for
nine hours you are not hurting the city,
but you are protecting the contractors,
yourselves and the city, and instead OF
people leaving here they will come here.
"You are only bettering the condition
OF all and there is not hing In Gods world
'h"s wy "ic'O tndn
increase the purchasing power OF the la.
boring people. The more money
they get the more they will spend.
"People are always grasping for better
conditions and ! want to see every man
In Pawtucket to grasp for better condi-
tioDs. Get what Is due you. Know what
Justly belongs TO you and have no
fear for the hereafter.
"Today In our land we have one boon
OF freedom, the franchise. Oh IL labor
knew only how to use II and capital knew
how to appreciate III II they only did,
then we shall have reache the millennium.
There were two grand events In the
history OF our country, the declaration OF
Independence and the emancipation OF
slavery, and the grsndest event will be
when labor is proclaimed King"