The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-26
Speech by WelI-knOwn Indian
npOlitan Before the Pittsburg
Chamber of Commerce.
EFFECT OF SHORTER WORK DAY
MAY BE RUINOUs TO THE INDUS
TRIES OF THE COUNTRY.
Demand Of Labor Unions Must BE Met
by Counter Organization, in the
View of Mr.. Parry.
pecial to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
PITTSBURG, Nov 25.-David NJ. Parry,
of Indianapolis. president of the National
Association of Manufacturers, was the
guest of the evening here tonight at the
annual banquet of the Pittsburg Chamber
Of Commerce, given at the Schenley Hotel.
Mr.. Parry responded to the toast, 1.-The
National Association of Manufacturers"
His remarks were listened to with the most
intense interest as he took up the question
of the relations between labor and capital
and the attitude of the National Associa-
tion in connection with the same. Mr.. Par
ry declared that the National Association
had no against labor organizations,
but that the business men of the United
States have the right to protect themselves
from what they consider vicious legislation,
and that they propose to do so, no matter
what the cost. Mr.. Parry said in part:
1.-The eight-hour bill, which has passed
the lower branch of Congress three times
in succession, imposes penalty of 50 a day
upon any manufacturer contracting with
the government for each and every en-
ploye who is permitted to work over eight
hours a day. According to the proposed
law, a man will not be allowed to work
overtime for the benefit of his own family.
The antf-conSpiracy measure is simply
legaliZation of the picket and boycott
This bill imported to this country from
England and is two sections of an act en-
titled The Conspiracy and Protection of
Property Act which passed the Parlia-
ment of Great Britain in 1875
1.-The eight-hour bill is little understood
by our business men, but an investigation
of it will show that it means the quasi
thousand or more of our manufacturers
who are contracting with the government.
Mr.. Gompers, who fathers the bill, has
frankly admitted before the House commit
tee on labor that this proposed law is SIM
ply to be an opening wedge to force the
eight-hour day upon the entire country.
"It is panifestly true that if the hours of
labor are to be shortened from ten to eight
hours, that then 20 per cent. more men
must be employed in order that there may
be the same output. Inasmuch as the fac
tory worker of to-day is simply an adjunct
to a machine, then 1t follows that 20 per
cent. more machinery must be purchased
to keep up the output, and II this ma
chinery is purchased then there must be
20 per cent more floor space for the op-
Grafton of the machinery and the work Of
the men who run them. 1t is painful
thing to tell an employer that he must go
out and borrow 20 per cent. of his capitai-
zation in order that such an academic law
as this can be put in force.
WHAT MAY HAPPEN.
1.-The law is intended to apply immedi-
ately and most harshly to the great ship
building and iron manufacturing plants.
Mr.. Gompers tells his followers that by
some lnScTutdDle WORKING OF economic law
that they are to receive ten hours pay for
eight hours work He also argues quite
properly that if such a law is put into ef-
feet that more men will be Immediately
employed. Accepting the latter PROPOSE
tion then one of two things must happen:
either the wages will be reduced or they
will remain the same. If they are TO be.
reduced, the workers don't want the law
If they are TO remain the same, then the
profit OF a manufactured article will be
changed to loss, unless the manufacturer
can increase the selling price of the prod
uct Ii he increases the price, then he re-
duces the demand for it, for the people
cannot buy largely OF a hgh-priced arti-
Gle as they can of low-priced Then. il
the demand falls off. there will be less
demand for labor, and in few years after
the passage OF such an absurd bill. the de-
luded advocates of this Socialistic measure
will find themselves before the closed doors
OF the factory, reduced 70 bitter meditation
as 10 the blessings OF the shorter work
day.
''The eight-hour bill is simply another
part of the programme OF restricted out
put which is destroying England as a com
petitive commercial nation. The EMPLOYERS
and employees OF that country are working
at cross-purposes. The trades unions. by