The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-05
FOR EIGHT HOURS.
Mass Meeting Held Under Auspices
OF Painters Union.
Large Gathering and Som: Excellent
Addresses Made.

An eight-hour mass me citing was held
In Steinway Hall last evening under ths
auspices OF the painters' ana Decorators
Union, No. 1876, and Notwithstanding the
very dissereeable weather there was q
large attendance.
Shortly after 8 o'clock Josspn Hogg,
president OF the Union, called the gath
ering to order, and In a few words told
why the meeting bad bean called. He
then introduced Thomas r. Galligan +,
who stated that he was one of the found
ers of No. 1876 and assisted In gettin :
the nine-hour system adopted and vas
ready to take of his coat and work for
the eight-hour system. He stated thst
when he became member of the union
In 1891 many Of bis fellow workmen said,
"What Is the u-e OF joining the union?
II won't last" Bot Ii did last, and now
the union wanted the cooperation OF
non-union men to lessen the hours of la
Dor and get an increase in salary.
John II. Cook, secretary of the Central
Labor Unon, said that IL the union sue
ceeded in getting the eicht-hour system
1t would help all. nd one of the greatest
reasons why they should get eight hours
was because machinery was throwing
men out of WORK every day, and that
there men rushed to the painters' and
carpenters trades, and, sale he, it IS hard
and cruel to say to thess men that they
shall not WELD brush or q hammer.
Bv the eight-hour system a demand
for labor will be c eatcd and these men
who are waiting to see the boss can find
work. He told his hsarers that the best
time to ask for eight hour, was now
while work was scarce. He urged the
men to work for eight hours ply for when
the system is well ests blished ne pay will
take care of itself. The master psinters
have made their contracts for nine hours.
Their interests must bs taken into con-
slider ton. Don't strike. the speaker
advised. Strikes AMI tcycotts ere a thing
stop the wheel OF every industry on beth
side, of the ocean, and this can be done
only by an international union of all
trsdes.
Charles Lucier, who was Iron,inently
with labor organizations in
Buffalo, N. Y, short time ngo, urged
the p p'inters to stand together for tie sls-
vatiun OF the craft. Every craft needs
he declared. IL the painters
secure tight nours, 1t will 60 long way
coward doing his. Mr. Lucior uaid he was
! hrfa believer in strikes, when he knew
hat he was right, ard he told his hearers
that when they did strike never to take q
'efusal, tut acceIt q compromise. lie
aid that te thought the master pain
ers of Providencee we're a fair n inoed
et of men, who woali yield to tie re-
iue-t. He closed his remarks by saying
hat In cities where painter, worked but
light hours a day, they got the best
wages, and those thst workei 10 hours a
lay got tie l,ast. Ihe men who worket |
iine tolrs got a tritle more than the |
ren who worked 10 hours.
Among the other sneakers were Ihomss
)'Garr. James Moriarity and John Me-
'nrty, all Of whom arc wtll known In |
q Dor organizations.
nu,Eier az non-rnion men signi!led
teir intentions OF recop ing mem hers
I the union which was encouraging for
le workers OF the union.