Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-28

must be convinced that there should be an
equitable adjustment of the product of la
Dor and machinery in the near future, SO
as to give the masses employment and fur
nish them the means of being consumers OF
the surplus products. Therefore, as one of
the means is in the shortening of the hours
of labor, the eight-hour day should be es-
tablished at the earliest opportunity.
LAS to the method of selecting one en- ire
trade to inaugurate the system, 1t seems to
me to be inexpedient, SO far as the building
trades are concerned, as they are so inter
Changeable that a suspension of work by
one would affect all branches.
Such a movement might succeed in the
label trades, which are Independent of each
other. The most successful strikes of the
past have been those that have been con-
fined to one locality at time, as the other
members of the trade have kept at work
and sustained those on strike with financial
aid. This was the case in the late strike of
the granite cutters, and in number of
other trades that were well organized and
which could call on the general organization
for funds when they were needed"
One Trade at IL Time.
Mr.. W. L. Bailey. leading member of
the Painters Assembly. said:
1.-The plan is impracticable. Why the
supposed representative men who composed
this national convention should adopt q
plan such as this to secure an eight-hour
working day 1 cannot understand.
Il cannot conceive how the plan could be
made successful. If some trade should be
decided upon, such as the bricklayers, and
II became necessary to enforce this de-
mand by a strike, the result would be a
ue-up OF all the trades engaged In building
construction and they would not be in a
condition to support the striking trade I'M
der present conditions. There are but
three ways by which an eight-hour day
could be secured. One is to agree to a per
hour rate of wages. by the hour, limiting
a days work to eight. If this cannot be
accomplished. then the question should be
submitted to arbitration. If this is not
possible, and a strike becomes necessary
as last resort. the strike should be gen.
eral In only one locality at time. and all
organizations beyond the particular local
ity should contribute generously until sue
cess is obtained: then another locality
could be chosen. and thus the conquest in
detail of the whole country could be
made"
Some Other Opinions.
E. J. Rea of the executive committee of
D. A. 66 said
THE plan suggested by the A. F. of l..
to secure eight-hour work day through
out the United States by combining the at
tempt to d single trade is an attempt to
make sreat question ridiculous. If the
attempt was along the lines proposed there
would be no employed members of organiza-
tons to assist the trade making the demand
Suppose the bricklaying trade was the one
utSISllalett, anu every one mat craft IN
the United States. the demand being refused
should cease work. every dependent trade
as the carpenters plasterers, painters hoist
ing engineers. electrical workers. plumbers
paperhangers, iron workers and {aany other
branches of labor. would be fbre edinto idle
ness. and instead of being in a position to
help the brickiayers. would themselves need
help.
Il think plan which has the greatest
possibilities Of success would be to localize
the effort. This could be done through a
single trade. Take Chicago for instance;
let the bricklayers make the demand; then
all OF the building trades should do like
wise. None should be permitted to work
upon the completed or partially completed
work of the bricklayers, which in many in
stances would Keep some of the trades en-
pioyed for some time. In the meantime
the PLACES of the bricklayers would be filled
with imported men, and the effort would
result In failure. Success will only attend
concerted united action. When one trade
makes the demand all other trades should do
Joseph K. Potter. secretary Federation of
Labor, said:
Il don't think the plan practicable 1t is
only an attempt to repeat failure 1t is
a change of method to accomplish defeat
If such an attempt was made with persist
ency necessary to success fifty per cent of
organized labor would soon be IN enforced
idleness. not only helpless to assist, but
needing assistance themselves If some
practical plan should be agreed upon which
gave some reasonable assurance of success
1t would not succeed without the united ac-
ton of the organized labor of the country
regardless of factional differences.
IT. B. Mcclure some years ago suggested
local effort to secure eight-hour day
This may be the most practicable plan; it
is certainly preferable to that proposed by
the A F. of L. If attempted it would be a
departure from the old method of general
strike, resulting in general loss. general
he!plessness and general failure"