The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-09
PIERCE WANTS TO KNOW.
Asks Aldermen to Explain Position on
Eight Hour Question.

Asks Aldermen to Explain Position on
Eight Hour Question.
To the Editor of The Spy
When the bill asking that eight hours
should constitute days work for all
cities and town employees was presented
to the committee on labor of the last
legislature, we found that it was the
unanimous opinion of the committee
that the time had come when it was
necessary to reduce the hours of labor
from 10 to s, but the members of the
legislature, believing that people
were the ones to decide thu question,
passed law saying eight hours should
constitute days work for all city
anG town employees when a majority of
voters therein should so decide at an
annual election.
Knowing that it was the wish of a
large per cent of our citizens to have
this question come up at the annual
election in December next, Alderman
O'Connell was requested to present the
order asking that the city clerk should
be instructed to insert that question in
the next warrant We never for one
minute supposed that a question of
that nature would meet with any oppo-
sition, always believing that any ques-
ton, no matter of what nature, could
safely be left to the people to decide,
but 1t appears we have as aldermen
men who seem to forget that they are
simply the servants Of the people and
who would allow personal and party
feelings to predominant tosuch an extent
that they would vote in direct opposi-
ton to the intention of the state legis-
lators and the wishes of a large per
cent of our citizens. / would like to
have the aldermen who opposed that
petition to please explain their posi-
ton. Do they forget the fact that
there are already employees of the city
working eight hours a day and less,
and can they explain why certain ones
should enjoy benefits refused to others
Is 1t more laborious to stand behind
a desk in comfortable Office than it
is to work out of doors, Drawing the
elements, working in holes in the
ground and being subjected to the dam
gers Of disease? Are city governments
run for the purpose of making easy
berths for the few at the expense of the
many? If the aldermen who believe we
cannot afford to give our employees
eight hours per day are honest, why
don't they advocate that all city en-
ployes shall work nine hours per day?
Why is 1t if their argument is sound
that we cannot afford to give our en-
DlOyeS as WnOIe the DenGnI OF an
eight-hour day. Willthe aldermen please
explain why it is that the favored few
can enjoy 10 days vacation without
loss of pay? l do not want to be mis-
understood in this matter. as ! believe
in eight hours as a days work. l also
agree in the 10 days vacation, but not
for part. but for all employees of the
city, no matter in what department
they may be employed. AS far as the
arguments of Alderman Kendall are
concerned, ] am willing to leave him in
the hands of the voters, and if they re-
tain him again to represent them | will
be willing to agree with him that they
have not intelligence enough to be
trusted on any question.
The trade unions do not propose to
let this matter drop, and will in all
probability take advantage of their
charter rights and demand the calling
! of public meeting where this question
may be discussed, and those aldermen
who voted against submitting this
proposition to the people viii be given
special invitation to be at the meet
ing and explain their position. 1t is
barely possible they may be right ir
the position they have maintained
and If so the public is entitled to the
benefit of their knowledge
Oct. Z. $50. j. D. Pierce.