The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-02-07
Comment On CURRENT EVENTS: ]
.-~~ *:*** LOCAL, STATE AND NATION. =, ><>><
LOCAL, STATE AND: NATION.

comment On: current sevents-continued
we nave before us a copy Of the re:
port OF the senate committee on educa-
tlon and labor, relative to the eight
nour bill now pending before the United
states senate. The report is favorable
and goes into the matter quite compre-
= nenslye!y. The history Of the eight
hour struggle from 1868. to this day Is
reviewed at length, and the strongest
arguments are advanced in behalf OF
the shorter work day.
CarrolD. Wright, the eminent sociol-
ogtst, is quoted In the report as saying
that this Legislation has become a set
| tied policy Of congress. All, such laws
are enacted TOR the plrpose Of protect
Ing the laboring man from the injurious
consequence of1prolonged physical ef-
fort, giving him more time for his per-
sonal affairs and more time and energy
to devote. to the cultivation Of his moral
and mental powers.
they would aid him in the acquisition of
kn3Wledge. thus tending. to make him
rh6 6ettSr hn and more cGnttented ,te citizen:
be ' GOOD one ' rRe be ov if difaculty Ut IL i IL IL
With necessary economic. conditions.
committed to this this poiicY." as 'o"* oee''
fhe eight hour legislation of the sew
eral states is also quoted and court de-
, cisions bearing On the several laws is
given to substantiate the claims Of labor
, that it is. better for. the country to
adopt the eight -hour work day.
A speech by VIM. Mckinley, when a
member OF congress in 1890, is given In
! full. It is perhaps one of the strongest
ever delivered before congress on the
eight-hour law.
We want to quote some good parts
from Mr.. McKinley's speech. It is good
doctrine for the advocates Of the eight
hour day to preach now.
ued ou h 1g ana IN of Ft6d nS
| faith. set this example of eight hours as
constituting a days work required Of
6h}ea tasa sn Il he the tendendSe ddsSe q f The
times the world over is for shorter hours
Of labor-shorter hours in the interest
Of health. shorter hours in the interest
terest Of the home and the family: and
the United States can do no better ser
vice to labor and to its citizens than to
tions. and to individuals employing men
by declaring that so far as the Gov
erllnlent Is concerned. eight hours shall
constitute a days work. and be all that
is REQUIRED of its laborinE force.
ghoad be- M iasaks5 eeieasas is M!
Morey. has stated that we owe the fam
, ilv in this connection. But iii; the do
mestic life Of; the people be vital at ali:
il the peace. the spurft ftYNOf homes, 4 the
~ tten,e
bands ard Of fathers Be writer III the
natural law ofSmankind. and if these
that can be sold in the market then 4
!! say if the hours of labor resulting
from the unregulated sale of a man s
strength and skill shall lead to the de-
struction Of domestic life. to the neglect
of children. to turning wives. and moth
ers into living machines. and Of fathers
area ana t3ua husba9ds NJ intoWhat shall say:
other word who rise up before the sun
and become back when it is set .wearied
and able only to take food and lie down
and rest. the domestic life of man exists
path.
Mr.. speaker. we owe something to the
care. the elevation and dignity and
the education Of labor. We owe some
Thing TO the Workingmen and the fam
lies Of the workingmen throughout the
United States who constitute the large
body Of our DODula tion. and this bill is a
step In the right direction.''
The Senate committee or labor con-
cludes its favorable report of the Eight
Hour Bill in the following language:
Your committee do not doubt the
right Of congress to extend the eight