The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-08-19
JIM DUNCAN REPLIES
TO PRINTERS BOSSES
Believes That Printers Should
be Supported in Demand
for Shorter Day. Z: {:
Advances Some Good Reasons
Why Typothetae Should
Agree With Printers,

The United Typothetae of America
sent circular to, Mr.. James Dun
can. editor of the Granite Cutters
Journal, setting forth the organiza-
tion's antipathy to the eight-hour
day. Mr.. Duncan replied as follows:
'Mr. John Mcintyre, Secretary Unit
ed Typothetae of America, 800
Broadway, New York: Is
Dear Sir-As editor of the Gran
ite Cutters Journal and manager of
the printing office of that associa-
tion, l received your circular letter
in reference to the resolution of
your association in St. Louis, June,
1904, and the resolution of the In
ternational Typographical union in
st. Louis, August, 1904, and have
carefully read all you have to say
on the subject.
In reply permit me to say I do
not agree with your conclusions. Our
association is not only ready for the
eight-hour workday in our printing
office, but we have had 1t in use
for a number of years and find it
both profitable and practical. You
are entirely mistaken in your state
ment about increased cost and de-
creased output, and if your associa-
tion will adopt the eight-hour day
In your printing establishments, you
will find it one of the best changes
you could possibly make, in fact, de-
sirable from every standpoint.
I'VE have other experience to
draw upon than our printing office
In this direction, for the members
of our association are themselves
now, and have been for a number
OF years, on an eight-hour workday
system, and so satisfactory has it
been to employer and employe of our
trade, that there has not been one
firm from the Atlantic to the Pacif-
ic since the system was put in use
who cared to be quoted as favoring
an extension of the workday beyond
the eight-hour limit, nor do any of
them complain about increased cost
OF manufacturing and decreased out
put. 4
with a reasonable workday men
go to the shop bright and cheerful.
are willing to work and do: SO In q
creditable manner; with a longer
workday their ambition is lost and
they work grudgingly and too often
when their employer is busy else
where shirk their duties. The eight
hour workday permits employees to.
have little time with their families
ana Tor social intercourse, which,
helps to make better men and wo-5
men OF them, and this being so they
could not fail to be better and more
profitable workers.
your reference to Ell Paso. Tex
Is much overdrawn and in anv event
IS not a fair criterion. It is evident
even from your own testimony that
the attempted, experiment in that ci-..
" was entered into grudgingly and
with desire as near as possible to.
snow that the eight-hour workdav
was failure, and the reference has.
as much the appearance of bejnp#
gotten up for effect as had the NOT,
orious report of Carroll d. Wright
some time ago about the cost n
living.
AFTER giving the subject deliber.
ate consideration along the most
practical lines possible, we take This
opportunity in replying to your cir
GUAR letter to invite the United Ty-s
pothetae of America to adopt the
e1ght-hour workday system, and in
doing SO conscientiously believe that
a1ter the system has been given "a
fair trial you will be found writing
to some other association on equal
~ favorable lines to the legislation
IN question as is cheerfully written
to you in this document. -
"Yours truly,
JAMES DUNCAN. Nzs !