The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-03

hours constitutes days work. In
Porto Rico the eight-hour law was en-.
acted in 1904.
How many of our working men
and women now enjoy an eisht-hour
day?"
I'm the building trades Industries
alone there are $4,000: in the glass
and pottery industries. $4,000: In the
metal trades industries. 2a.650: in min
ing. smelling and quarrying indus
tries, $4,000; In the printing, binding.
engraving and paper making indus
tries. l01. 500. and In the miscellaneous
Industries there is a total of $4,000
Taking these figures. together with
the number OF Federal employees and
with others CLEANED from State. coun-
ty and official records in the census.
there Is grand total OF 16S2,065
working people enjoying the eight
hour day 1t must be remembered
however, that there are many indus
tries which are not organized. but
which. as result of the effort Of or
sanized workmen, have adopted the
eight-hour day. Therefore 1t Is a
safe estimate that as a result OF or
sanized efforts there arc employed on
an eight-hour day basis at the pres-
ent time no less than 6,5oo.Go0"
What have bem the chief achieve
ments or organized labor within the
past year,"
The last year has brought two
large contests to a successful close.
The New York garment workers
strike. which began in July and clos
ed early in September of last year.
was the largest strike of q single
trade known In history, The men
and women involved in this contest
had been reduced to such terrible con-
ditions that no others means of es-
cape could be had save the strike. The
seamen's strike. Just closing, has been
uniformly successful wherever the
sailors have engaged in a contest"
l asked. also. the United States
Commissioner OF Labor DR.. Charles
p. Neill. for a Labor Day message to
our wage-earners-a brief statement
explaining what has lately been done
Tor them by the executive branch OF
the government.
For the past FIVE years." said he.
the Bureau of Labor has been follow
ing the policy of conducting It's inves-
legations along lines that would likely
Iehd TO practical results in the way Of
improving labor conditions. 1t has
published two comprehensive volumes
ana number OF special bulletin stud
los on the working of foreign compen-
sation acts. which have attracted wide.
spread attention and have helped large
~ to rouse the interest which is now
being felt in this country In the cues
ton OF improving our employers LA :
bility statutes.
The United States Is the most back.
ward Of any commercial nation In the
matter OF the protection 1t affords
wage-earners against accidents and in
the laws providing for the workman's
remuneration when accidents do occur,
but keen interest has been aroused
In this subject. and a number of States
are rapidly changing their laws to
bring them abreast with the nations
that are most progressive in this re-
gard.
The Bureau OF Labor has also con-
Quoted one OF the most extensive inves-
legations ever made on the subject Of
woman and child labor. and the results
OF this Investigation are now appear
ing in report which will embrace
nineteen volumes. The effect of the
report Ia already apparent and those
who are working for better protective
legislation for woman and child labor
are freely acknowledging the support
given to the movement b. the facts
contained In this report
; = Tor many years the hours and con-
d(tions OF employees in the iron and
steei;industry in the United States have
been shockingly bad The report of
the bureau on the conditions In the
Bethlehem Steel Works. and It's later
report, now appearing in sections.
showing tho conditions In the iron and
steel industry OF the country, have
helped to focus attention on these con-