The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-04-28
THE UNITED TYROTHETAE
AND THE EIGHT HOUR DAY
President Ellis States His Pos
ition On the Eight Hour Is
sue To the I. T. u.
Ready To Embrace the Theory
But Not the Practice Of the
Shorter Workday.

In his remarks before the Twen-
tieth Century club at Boston, Febru-.
ary "a, Mr.. George II. Ellis, presi-
dent of the United Typothetae of
America, the associatf ION Fof employing
printers, he clearly stated HI 8 few
words. his position on the eight hour
issue: He said: I'VE, the Typothetae,
would readily agree with Mr.. Sterling
as to the desirability of an eight hour
day, as a theory, but just now a con-
dition confronts us" Mr.. Ellis is
therefore ready to embrace the theory,
but not the practice Of shortening the
workday, says the Progressive print
er.
Now, it is not fair to ask Mr.. Ellis
how much theory he employs in his
business. Does he print for theoretical
dollars or for tangible coin? Workmen
in Mr.. Ellis employ are not giving
him theoretical talks with poor prac-
tical service, and there is no "desir-
ability" with them for eight hours in
theory"
AS to "condition," there never will
be a time when printers could ask
for shorter or more pay, that con-
there is no theory nor exceptional ele-
ment of condition in the proposition,
but it is a plain and practical request
for a concession, and there remains
but one point to be determined, name
ly: Can employers afford to call eight
hours a day or not? Here is where
theory in opposing the grant has done
it's service for the Typothetae leaders.
They have gone into figures Of the in
creased expense this one hour off
would involve and the calculations
starting with Is per cent has been
run all the way up to Mr.. Ellis so
per cent. An accountant is badly
needed to strike an average. Print
ers are poor figurers anyhow.
But the answer to the question
can they afford it. is, that printers are
doing it in nearly 500 cities of the
country, and they are getting profit
without theory out Of it, too. They
are not the theorists, but those who
will not try it, preferring to argue
along sort Of rec silver line, are
dealing with abstract questions to put
away the fact.
The writer has no thought Of being
Unfair, lAOI duy ICdSOu OIh assuming
anything but the attitude toward this
whole question which the absolute
facts justify and this IS what he is
doing in these remarks.
Eight of the largest printing plants
in st. Louis are operating today as
union shops, with an eight hour agree
ment, and are going along peacefully
doing a good business and making
money. If they and the thousands Of
others in nearly 500 cities and towns
fthe country can and are doing this,
who is nursing the theory end Of the
argument? The situation is just this:
There may never be a time when all
the printing firms Of the country will
be running in the eight hour day, but
it will not be long till most Of them
will be doing so, and that will close the
incident. Welcome that day, when
such questions shall be taken into the
national councils of the committees
with all the facts of relevancy and
there determined upon actual merits.
Men Of opposing sides can do this, II
they will, and there gill be q gain of
money and comfort In It.