The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-21

''The very best workmen in the United States" was the reply, land men of all | classes. In the United Mine Workers we l admit men of all nationalitIes and races. We have men of twenty different nations and twenty different languages. We have colored men as well as whites, and every | class of mining labor from the boy who 1 picks slate to the best of the skilled work men,"
 (Which element controls in such unions the foreign or the American" '"The American element always con- trols,'' said Mir. Mitchell. Tt is the most most intelligent element, and intelligence rules"
 How to Have Industrial Peace. What do you think of the employers forming association to deal with organ ized lahor?"
 q think 1t is only through concerted action of such associations and of the la bor unions that We can have industrial peace" said John Mitchell, Let the em- ployers' representatives meet with the representatives Of labor and discuss their differences, and if each isg willing. to do the fair thing there will, few labor troubles Such associations do great good" ,,i- -. ,.,s --. ,...
 Yes. MT. Mitchell but, do they not combine against the interests of the pub lie I mean the consumersT' . ..
 No" was the reply. ''The public will not permit itself to be fleeced, and any improper computation or agreement would be at once exposed" . f How about the coal dealers and coal teamsters of Chicago?' y There is a proof of what have just said. The coal dealers, and coal teamsters had an uhrighteous combination against rf fba n1hlio VFha,r oOnanfnnd fO bo them. l How long did their success last? Only few days. When 1t was exposed the combination was broken. and it will be so with any combination that may be formed Besides there is competition. You can't have big profits without 1t, don't care how large your capital is. It Is the same with wages. If you put them up here in Washington, the Baltimore work lnPsnen will rush in and competition will bring them down."
 $500 Year.
 Speaking of wages, Mir. Mitchell, what should be the lowest pay for an ordinary workingmanT
 Every man should have enough to keep his family. educate his children and law a little aside for the future.S Six hum dred dollars year Is the least that should be paid the unskllled common la borer. As the class of labor rises the man should receive more, and the pay should vary according to his location. The ordinary man should have more than 1 $500 in New York or Chicago Every man should have enough to supply the neces- stiles of life, and in the latter cities the l necessities cost more"
 What Every Workingman Needs.
 What would you call the necessities of the ordinary worklngman, Mir Mitchell?" | asked.
 "I think every man should have housa with at least six rooms" was the reply | He should have a bath room, a parlor. dining room, kitchen and enough bed rooms for decency and comfort. He should have carpets, pictures, books and sufficient furniture to make his homo ] bright and comfortable He should have | good food and should keep his children in school until they are sixteen, and ai the same time should be able to lay away something for old age and sickness. The unsllled workman might have these things for $500 a year in cities of from 5000 to 100000 inhabitants. but in larger places he needs more. This is only for the common laborer. As the skill of the man rises his wages increase and his l necessities grow"
 The Ideal Working Day. How about the eight-hour day. Mir. Mitchell? Can the United States be run l that way?"
 "Yes," was the reply. We should do more and better work everywhere if wa had eight hours only. Such matters must be considered as long time proposition There Is so much work in every man and if you take too much one day you will have so much less for the days to come. One of the college professors puts 1t this way If you want to get all you can out of a man for one day only work him the whole twenty-four hours. If you want to get all you can out of him for week only, work him twenty hours day; il for month, give him eighteen hours. ant If a year, work him fifteen hours and keeI him at 1t. If you want to work him sev eral years let him have the ten-hour day But if you want to get the most out O him for his whole working life time yo, must cut his hours of labor to eight pe day. The fact Is that a man can do ant does do more work in eight hours than fl ten"
 ''How do you know that. Mir Mitchell?' asked. Has it ever been tested?"
 Yes" was the reply. Tn the Illinoi coal mines the time was cut from tei hours to eight. After that the produc was measured and the eght-hour tim produced as much as the ten-hour time. But was that due to the freshness 0