The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-15

tinction OF working for your city govern
ment? We fear a strike would result
I'm conclusion. the rights OF those men
are no less valuable than the rights or
any other city employees. and II is our hrni
conviction that they are fully warranted
In the request for an eight-hour day
at tho same pay. which we ask that you
take steps 10 have conceded them"
GEORGE II. BRADY.
George II. Brady OF the Central Trades
and Labor Union said:
II speak as the president Of the Central
Trades and Labor Union. representing a
large number who have endorsed the pc
tiuon of the city laborers for an eight
hour day.
IT believe that by granting the petition.
the city would not lose. have seen in
my experience that men working eight
hours have done as much work as when
working longer hours"
JAMES II. DEBELL.
James II. Debell Of the Cigarmakers'
union said:
"It appears by the number OF workers
dence TO secure what they desire. and so
have resorted to other means to secure H.
We say TO you, as matter OF Industrial
justice; that you should give an eight
appeal TO your intelligence TO grant IL. IL
you do not grant H. We will get II.
The laboring men represented here are
Republicans. Democrats. Socialists, Pro-
hibitionists and OF other parties; but they
come here organized not on party lines,
but organized 10 secure an eight-hot,r
day
f. J. SULLIVAN.
Edward j. Sullivan OF the Plumbers
union said:
This is no half hearted attempt on the
part OF the unions. but II will be contin-
Ied II ay we have TO go into to- the elections ms
eight hours, as the city council Is not
elected by the people and can defy the
people; but We intend to obtain that for
which we ask with Justice"
+. G. MDRRIwETHER.
Francis @. Merriwether OF the Painters
union said that economy is not measured
| by the cheapness OF price, but by what
one c,,, geis Is FOR what he pays and that II
eight hours and get more work than is
now done in nine hours.
! He said that II the petition were not
granted the workingmen would get II
later. as they woulc elect men who would
grant the petition.
REV. DIR. McoRD
Rev. DR.. McCord, representing 200
ministers forming the Union Ministers
| association, said:
Il come TO you TO voice their SEN
timents as regards granting the eight
hour day. Though a minister, / sprang
from the loins of working man.
have used the pick and shovel; and by
labor have got where am.
II believe some OF you have worked
and I believe that In your hearts you
are in sympathy with this movement.
We appeal 10 you as TO jury
The question today ls not one OF
political economy but of the average
man man and his ,sood We appeal, there
| an opportunity for him to better him
| self, for on the average man depends
the welfare OF the state and OF the ma
ton.
THE ambition of the laboring man is
to get for his children better op-
portunity for them than he enjoyed
time 'iS" to be e" with them In m sympathy IN
and TO enable them to secure oppor-
tun!tes for themselves.
but TO appeal TO you to do your duty,
and give TO these men their right to
COUNCILMAN EVANS
Councilman Adolphus J. Evans said:
81 feel that these men have been
discriminated against, and an eight
hour law is only that TO which they
are entitled"
WILLIAM ]. DARCY.
william ]. Darcy OF the Tenth ward
taxpayers committee said: 1T is my
| pleasant duty TO convey TO you their
earnest wish that this petition be
granted. The laboring man by large
majority represents the citizens of the
Tenth ward. / know that the reduc-
ton OF the hours of labor has been OF
benefit TO the working 0rIsvPss people s,i OF the
aI trust that the result OF this hear
ing will be the ratfication by our
city council of the eight-hour move
REV. ]. Med. HERvEY.
Rev. John Med. Hervey representing
the union ministers, said ne earnestly
| asked favorable consideration OF the petit
ton. 1--WE have been speaking only OF
the men who labor on our highways and
bvways: but the men all over the state
are Whiting the result OF this hearing
| It's signincance Is OF wide interest II
Ia for the benefit OF the homo. the wives
and the children.
Grant Il in the interest OF generations
| vet 10 come, as the welfare Of future gen.
I erations comes through those who gave
them life. For these and other reasons /
urge you to grant this petition"
p. j. MCCARTHY.
PJ. Mccarthy said: There ls one body
| of city employees who work more than
eight hours and have not heard them
mentioned here this evening. They are
the board Of canvassers and registration.
81 believe that any man. whether paver
or FOUNDER or at work on the sewers or
IN the water department. is entitled to
have an eight-hour day.
There IN a limit TO human endurance;
| and II we measure n mans work by the
profit we can secure by his labor. as II
| he were a machine. we make a mistake.
The only objection have heard is the
cost Assuming that the appropriation
In increased, the city will be getting a
good return for II. The example of %
cities and towns In Massachusetts, II suffi-
cient warrant 20 consider this favoraby."
COUNCILMAN GAYNoR.
Councilman Joseph " Gaynor said: "I
-.
point that the eight-hour law was a good
| thing The question OF economy should