The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-22
EIGHT HOUR LAW.
A sandy worlsingmnn Gives His
Views UDOn 1t.

SANDY. Utah. March I'll see in
this mornings paper that there is no
possible show for the eight hour bill
to pass through the present senate in
Utah. Yesterday there was joy in
every workingman's breast in this
place. They were in hopes and almost
sure that Governor Wells would sign
the bill. He could find no other ex-
cuse to send it back than a little IS:
of course, an 50 has got lot of mean
ing to it, for instance in Wells and so
in many other things. Although small
it seems big enough to probably kill
that much needed law in favor of the
Worklngmen, who are so unfortunate
as to have to work in the shelters and
mines. No man knows what 1t is to
work there, except those who have
done it. l tell you. let some of those
gentlemen in the Legislature who are
so opposed to the eight-hour law, come
out here and work in the smelter for
one week, and work twelve hours a
day, then let them go back to the legis-
lature, and | will guarantee that no
power on earth can influence them to
vote against an eight hour law; or
just let them come down here and see
the poor men working in the deathly
fumes and the smoke that is full of
poison and sickness, and even death;
and to see the men work in this visible
Vapor for twelve hours out of twenty
four. and l know that they will never
refuse to favor the workingmen, at
least little, as well as to favor the
capitalists all the time. The working
men do not look on it as favor, but
as a just law to preserve their health
and the happiness of their families.
The men do not expect that they will
5orI7f
as they get for twelve hours, but they
know that they can stand the work
right along with eight hours out of
tWenty-four; whereas, when they have
10 work twelve in twenty-four, thy
can only work about two weeks and
then they have to lay off for two weeks
III order to gain health and strength
to work another two weeks | do not
believe there is a man in the legislature
today, not even the president Of the
senate, II he owned mules. would be
willing to let them work in such a
place for twelve hours without rest.
because it would kill them in a short
time. Now, should they not have as
much feeling for humanity? But what
do men know about such work when
they have never done any of it?
Mr.. Wilson, the representa- tive of our
city, has done all he could for the
"ol Mig Ifeu lie CARED a mass meet
ing here of the laboring classes to get
their expression in regard to the eight
hour law. [ was elected chairman of
that meeting and l therefore know the
expression of the men there. 1t was
big meeting and there was not a
man in that big crowd that did not
favor the eight-hour law, regardless n
wages, as that was thoroughly dis
cussed. Mr.. Wilson has worked in
these places, and therefore knows more
about it than any other man in the
legislature. This is not political
measure, but no man need to apply for
the votes of the working men OF this
place unless he is favorable TO this
law, because they ask nothing that is
/ am in favor of pro-
lection for the laborers-the only
thing that the Republicans do not pro-
tect, for where is there a law that pro-
hibits the capitalists and the owners of
smelters and mines or any other mo-
nopoiy from reducing the wages of Ia
Dor to their own liking? SO 1 think:
THE men that are toiling from morn
ing to night,
Should all be favored in the rich man S
sight:
For through their hands come the rich
mans bread,
But without the laborers-oh. what
dread EQUAL RIGHTS.