Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-26

In the previous year, and 81 per cent great
er than Il was in 1902. This Increase In the
number of drinking places Is no doubt very
largely the natural result of the prosperity
of the miners, but many assert that II Is
more directly due to the increased leisure
allowed by the reduction of the working
day from ten to nine hours. 1t Is also as
serted that the moral tone of the most pros
porous communities Is not so high as IL
used to be. This opinion prevails gener-
ally among the clergy, school teachers.
charity workers and temperance leaders OF
the mining regions. 1t was expressed In a
letter which the President read in his
speech at Wilkes Barre last August at the
anniversary of the Catholic Temperance So
ciety.
Effect of Shorter Work Day.
This letter created a distinct sensation.
The President did not mention the name of
the writer. but described him as "a Cath
Ole priest whom 1 know well. and whom L
know to be stanch a friend of the labor
ing man as there is to be found In this
country" 1t has since become known that
the writer is pastor of the Catholic Church
at Shamokin In his letter to the President
he said:
There is one discouraging feature con-
nected with the upward tendency OF the
wage scale among the workmen of this
money they spend in the saloons. The
shorter the hours, the more they are in
: clined to absent themselves from home.
, An apparent disregard for family ties is
growing among the poorer classes, which
will eventually lead to a disregard of the
blessings our country affords them. Hence,
with an increase of wages a corresponding
movement for better manhood, nobler citl-
zenship and truer Christianity should be set
on foot. The dignity of labor should be
! maintained, which can be done only
| through the love that a man should have
| tor his work and through the intelligence
winch he puts into 1t. A steady hand and
sober mind are necessary for this Hence
| the necessity of the temperance cause and
of the efforts which organized abstainers
| are putting into the movement"
Inc PRESIDENTS remarks upon the contents
| or this letter were wholesome and timely
| He finished his talk as follows:
Il strongly believe in trades unions
wisely and justly handled. in which the
rlghtfui purpose to benefit those connected
with them is not accompanied by a desire
10 do injustice or wrong to others L be-
lieve in the duty of the capitalist and
Wage-worker to try to seek one another
out, to understand each others point of
view and to endeavor to show broad and
kindly human sympathy one with the other
L believe in the work of these great
temperance organizations, of all kindred
movements like the Young Mems and
Young Womens Christian Associations; in
short. in every movement which strives to
help man by teaching him how to help
himself. But most of all believe in the
efficacy of the man himself striving con-
tinually to increase his own self-respect by
the way In which he does his duty to him
self and to his neighbor."
Labor Leaders Dissent.
The Presidents speech was a distinct dis
appointment to many of the labor lead
ers. Although the occasion was the ceIebra-
ton of temperance anniversary, under
the auspices of total abstinence society,
1t was managed by the labor organizers and
a great Endorsement of organized labor
by the President of the United States was
expected. While he did commend the
unions Gas you will notice. he said nothing
about Mitchell and the other leaders, and
the introduction of the letter quoted above
was like turning hose upon the eight
hour movement.
All labor leaders, from Samuel Gompers
down. are very emphatic in dissenting from
the statement made by the Shamokn priest
They declare that the effect of the reduc-
ton in hours Is exactly the reverse of
what he claims. Their strongest argument
In favor of such reduction is to give the
men an opportunity TO improve their minds,
to qualify themselves for better positions,
and to enjoy the society of their families.
John Mitchell says:
II favor the eighth hour work-day be-
cause 1t is the recognized right of a work
ingman to have leisure for self-lmprove-
ment. and because 1t is a matter of good
citizenship. When man is kept at his
tasks nine, ten and twelve hours a day
he becomes a slave a serf-and no slave
or serf can be a good citizen. There is
no greater evil than excessive hours of
labor. Furthermore, man can do more
work in eight hours than he can in ten.
This has been demonstrated since the eight
hour day was adopted In the bituminous
coal regions. The statistics show that
more coal is produced per man in an eight
hour day than formerly produced in
ten-hour day. So far as the moral effect
OF eight-hour days is concerned, the ques
ton was decided long ago. Wherever the
eight-hour day has been adopted you Will
find the working men better educated more
temperate, with more comfortable homes,
better schools and more money In the saw
ings banks. 1 favor the eight-hour day
because it elevates the workman and bene-
fits him mentally. morally and physically.
The anthracite miners are not likely to
get eight-hour days without fighting. and
l think that 1t is a good time to fight for
1t now