The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-12-30
4 LEVEL HEADED
METHODIST MINISTER
Newark, N. j., Methodist Min
lister Says Eight Hours Is
Long Enough To Work.
Believes In Organization of
Labor Unions Because of
Combinations Of Capital.

! Rev. Dr. william H. Morgan. pastor
church. Newark. N. J., in q recent ser
mon spoke strongly in favor of the
adoption Of the universal eight hour
workday. In the congregation there
were a number Of members of Typogra-
phical union No. 1913, including many
who are at present Identified with the
job compositors' strike for an eight
hour day, says the News, of Newark,
N. ].
1t may not be known to many of you
In this congregation" said DR.. Nor
gan, that my early life was spent as
an iron. and steel worker and that
| was a member Of that great body
! known as organized labor. I am quail
lied to say something about the eight
| hour work day. I used to go into the
mills at $3.50 O'Clock in the morning and
| work from ten to sixteen hours a day.
These hands of mine have had the
! burns, this body Of mine still have the
| scars I received before the hot furnace.
After this toil-it was worse than slav-
ery-I had to crawl upon my hands and
knees to get to bed at night. so bruised
were the soles of my feet. So you see
I can speak from the viewpoint of the
1aboring man.
II am glad that conditions have
| changed in the iron and steel works.
I am glad that my brothers are work.
ing under better conditions. Now they
have three shifts of men, working eight
hours day, and up to date I haven't
heard that the steel trust has been
unable to declare dividends on account
of the cost of labor.
mo man ought to labor at any trade
more than eight hours a day. I don't
expect you to agree with me, but that's
my opinion and it Is your privilege to
disagree with me. ..
Sometimes We hear it said that
the labor union Is terrible thing, but
let me tell you there is not a single
privilege enjoyed by the workingmen
| today that was not bought by the
strength of organized labor. The CON-
pany store is gone; thank God for It,"
DR.. Morgan then told about the sys-
tenn which the coal trust had paid for
its labor in checks that could be dis
counted only at the store provided by
the the company" and continuing,
said:
NOW, these things have gone be-
cause the laboring man realized that
| united we stand, divided we fall We've
come to the day Of combination in bust
ness and capital. SO we ought to ex-
pect combination in the rabor ranks.
AT the present time there is a strug-
gle In our city between the job COM
positors and the employing printers.
| Yesterday was talking with a news
| paper man, and 1 asked MIN it the
| newspapers had granted the eight hour
day to their printers. He replied in the
Eafhrmative and / asked him If they
| were getting good results from the
system-if they were still able to make
! Yes Then I asked him why the job
printer might not enjoy the same priv
| ilege. and he smiled and said I can't
| tell YOU And neither can I.
| 1T has been said that to shorten the
! time of labor means as much more
timo for the workman in the saloon. It
that's true 1t is none Of your business.
Under the constitution Of the United
| States he is free man, and he has a
right to do as he pleases during the
time that is his own. I contend that
eight hours a day is enough work for
any man, and he ought to be able to
| make respectable livelihood for his
fanny on that basis. Now I've had my
| say"