The San Francisco call., 1907-03-01
Mclaughlin Thinks Raise
Provided Is Adequate
Says Eight-Hour Day Is Not Feasible

be conceded to be fair from the point OF view
OF the Hnprejndced employe at least. most
abnormal condition of affairs must unQuestiona-
bly, exist TO Justify such a scale 1t would not
be just to our city to the State to declare
that employment in San Francisco is ordinarily
attended with burdensome or unusual condi-
tions. Such statement would be untrue un-
wise, unjust and extremely injurious to our city.
1t needs no testimony, for ii Is matter Of
worldwide knowledge, that existing condi-
tions here are. temporarily abnormal In every
walk of life since we were smoked with the
quake and fire. up to this date, and in all prob
ability for some months to come, the sharp
edges of discomfort, delay and even suffering
toll, be 1T the mechanic laborer. professional
man or merchant, clerk all and every one
man or woman. working and living in our city.
But during normal conditions the work Of
carman In San Francisco is In no sense arduous
1t is an occupation which, proven by the
very demands Of the union. can be mastered in
coupled with complete shelter. Compare this
with conditions in New York. where. on the 18th
day, over 1000 employees of the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company were laid or suffering with
grippe, colds and influenza.
The creation of this board was necessitated
and its deliberations and judgment called for
during most unusual condition of labor rent,
prices Of commodities. etc. The conditions
fortunately, are but temporary in character To
doubt this would be an insult to the loyalty
energy and determination of our people De,
spite the conditions mentioned l firmly belle re
that IL we have erred In any particular we have
erred in favor Of the carmen; but we sought TO
our heavily stricken city Immunity from even
the remotest threat of another 'stieup'' of the
cars. Residents of and visitors to our city know
what calamity such tieup would mean and
none would suffer more by 1t than the mechanic
or laborer deprived Of cheap transportation to
and from his work.
ADMITS ABNORMAL TRAFFIC
There can be no contradicting the self-evident
fact that during certain morning and evening
hours and to some extent during the noon hour
the conditions OF the present car transporta tfon
are abnormal. The same crush. discomfort and
ever, in all large cities-Chicago and New York
In particuar-at the same hours. In fact Mr.
Albert NJ Johnson. in HIS most able
argument, read into the records de-
scription of the everyday car transportation
conditions in Chicago as paralIeling those tempo-
These dsagreeable conditions have prevailed
do prevail and will preva-l in Chicago New
York and all other densely popula ted centerg
put are a new condition In our city, and solely
fire. The United Railroads arezdoing' all that Is
possible for men and money to acconplish IN
give to San Francisco a transportation system
that embraces all OF the best and most modern
features. repeat, that In the nature of things
the most unusual conditions prevailing here
must disappear with time; any other view wouId
be that Of the pessimist and calamity hoyler
When accepted place the board of arhi-
tration l was lacking in familiarity with the
existing principles OF labor unionism. But tire
problem made necessary by an Investigation of
the evidence introduced and authorities cited
have made me thoroughly acquainted with its
principles and. | hope, true friend of organ
lied labor when 1t stands for justice between
man and man. and not for despotism and license
EIGHT HOURS IMPRACTIcABLE
have concurred in the eight-hour day in all