Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-21

The matter published in this col
umn is furnished by the officers of the
Federation of Labor.l
From Tuesdays Daily.
The following short statement of
the, workings of the eight hour day,
as its results are now apparent, in
the mining circles of Iowa has been
prepared by j. f. Byrne, a lifelong
worker in the interest of the laboring
man. Mr.. Byrne has given the mat
ter the closest of attention and speaks
with authority upon the subject.
*** *** Il - X II = = =
FIFTY years ago the eight hour x
- movement would have seemed to =
both the employer and empoye, +
- little short of midsummer mad. =
- ness. For women and children y
= as well as for men, in the New $
8 England factories, was from sun 8
- up to sun down."-John Clark 81
? Ridpath. =
tsx# & & = q = IL u Il 4 4 n 4
A platform was established about
one hundred years ago, for a
reduction in the hour of labor. to
meet the natures responsibility in
the way of health and vigor. In 9TH
er words, eight hours for work and
eight hours for recreation. is no long
er dream, but is firmly establish
ed principal, in the hearts of the
American people. After hard and
ardent work, which was met with
much opposition from the employing
class and lack of interest, on the part
OF the toilers themselves, many advo-
Gates of either became discouraged
or left the field on account of the rid
tcule, heaped upon them, by the op-
ponents of this cause which has
shown not only to the business world
but to the toilers themselves to have
been inspired by God himself for the
advancement of the human family.
The dreamer of a century ago is
the philosopher of today, ,for within
period of twelve short years ten in
ternational unions representing 30O,-
600 toilers had established an eight
hour system, and had maintained it
against all opposition, and with the
swiftness with which. truth leads con-
scious humanity to better its condi-
ton the good tidings spread like wild
fire, and after slumber of nearly fit
W years this principle of an eight hour
day has brought to it's fold of thought
all the conscious inspired thinkers of
the world.
Many who gave the subject no
thought will ask what benefit the la
boring people had gained by increased
hours OF leisure of the eight hours a
day and its opponents will ask has it
reduced intemperance and bettered
the homes of the working man?
The first question will be answered
by stating that the extra hours have
been spent by a majority of the work
Ing men in study, advancing them
selves to position where they will
be of more worth as citizens, and bet
ter husbands and fathers and better
able to look after and care for their
children.
To the second question we have an
example of the eight hour system
that is thoroly enforced by the United
Mine Workers, of this state, and a
visit to the mining camps today, un-
der the eight hour system, after know
ing the miners when their work was
twelve to sixteen hours, plainly shows
to any thinking person just one thing
EtkiSt mp Wv S1lSAt VI Lie ulUldlS VI
the men, less intemperance, better
homes. better clothed children, who
go to school merrily singing the
praises of the eight hour a day, more
neighborly fraternity, consideration
Of the increased responsibilities, bet
. ter sanitary conditions, better, bright
er and happier people than ever be-
fore worked in the coal mines OF
Iowa. All this has been accomplish,
ed thru unionism, and except in iso-
lated cases every mine worker in
Iowa, is union man, and sounds the
praises of the United Mine Workers
of America, and he should do So be.
cause his organization has reduced his
hours nearly half, and increased his
pay, nearly twenty per cent. What
has been accomplished by the United
Mine Workers of America, can also
be accomplished by any other set OF
sincere and conscious men, who start
an organization for the purpose5of bet
tering their condition, with the policy
of Live and Let. Live" But all OF
the benefits accruing to this organiza-
tion,t have not been accomplished
without vast amount of self sacri
fee, and much encouragement but tc
the grandeur OF District No. ID, Unit
ed Mine Workers of America. They
persistently advocated these princi
pies and with brave tehacity and due
consideration they won, and today the
operators of Iowa would not change
the present condition of eight hours
to the long hourssystem.
The abolition of slavery was a ster
forward after years of fighting. 1t
raised the labor of the south at q
bound, from the condition Of the
beasts of burden to manhood, with
al it's responsibilities and rights. Ma
ttirally a suddenly enfranchised peo
pie were, for time, blinded in the
full glare of the dim light, from this
they like others had to learn, and
they have learned rapidly and have
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