The Washington herald., 1910-12-16

riously upon the labor cause all over the
country. They say that the government
as the largest employer Of both tech
meal and clerical labor in the United
States, ought not to contemplate a retro
grade movement that will be cited in
justification of excessive demands upon
labor by employers all over the land.
Against LabOr'S Principles.
Organized labor cannot indorse any
step which viii lengthen the hours OF
labor. even in the government depart
ments" That is the opinion of John
II. Torch, president of the Stationary
Engineers Union. Mr.. Torch was for
merly president OF the Central Labor
Union, and is the reputed leader Of the
conservatives in the labor movement in
the District
'Of course. I do not criticise the Presi-
dent, and am glad TO see reasonable
economy exercised in the government
service" he continued but the govern
ment is looked 10 10 set a good example
to other employers of labor. and not a
bad one We have heard much talk Of
the betterment of the conditions as a
result OF the extension Of the civil ser
vice, but certainly this retrOgressiYe
step does not make for betterment.
'Of course. organized labor is not d.
rectly affected. but it is impossible to
lose sight of the fact that an extension
of the working hours by the government
win revive agitation against the eight
hour day. and may tend 10 reopen a
question We bad regarded as settled.
1T is unfortunate that in event of this
frightening Of hours by the government
that clerks in the retail stores OF this
city will be affected by the addition. in
turn. of half an hour 10 their day. II
Is my opinion there should be no change
In government hours. The clerks, men
and women. do a fair days work now
and to add half an hour 10 their service
and then reduce the force a matter OF
30 or 500 right on the heels thereof-wel
It smacks of the sweatskop
Cause for Concern.
This action, in connection with the
declaration that no more battleships will
be built in government yards, because it
costs more to build the vessels under
conditions prevailing in such yards, and
the further fact that there is an indis-
position on the part of private shipyards
10 compete for shipbuilding contracts
because of the operations of the eight
hour law tends TO the awakening of
anxious concern on the part of those who
have been struggling to make operative
real eight-hour day throughout the
country"
when the government wants TO econ
omize. there are. in my opinion. better
ways than 10 discharge a horde of clerks
and make the more or less fortunate ones
who remain work an extra half hour per
day, at whichever end OF the day the
half hour Is added" This IS the opinion
of Frank Manning. president of the local
Retail Clerks Union and delegate to
the Central Labor Union.
business conditions have adjusted
themselves to existing conditions" said
8ir. Manning. "and while I have a strong
Discrimination TO see another half hour
added 10 the labor of the worthy men and
women employed by the government
have a stronger Discrimination to have
another half hour added 10 the time of
the retail clerks of this city-already
working long hours and but poorly paid
why should the government lead the
way in a retrograde movement? We have
worked too long and too hard to secure