The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-09-23
BRICKLAYERS AND
 ALLIED WORkMEN
 PRAISE A. F. 0F |.
Bridgeport Local Notes That Federation Has Effected
 Excellent Reforms.

That Bridgeport will be the first city in the United States to be work ing on the eight hour plan is noted in the official souvenir book just is sued by the Brick1ayers', Masons and P1asterers' Union, Local No. of this city.
 Commentator for the work of the American Federation of Labor and appreciation of the progress that has been made is contained in the book. An article entitled ''The Eight Hour Day. follows:
 Though many of the laboring crafts have enjoyed the eight hour day for some years past, thousands of wage earners have had to work 10 hours a day, especially in the manufacturing business. After many years we are about to enjoy the eight hour day and Bridgeport will be one of the first cities to benefit by the change.
 According to a recent report issued by the Bureau of the Census at Wash ington, D. C., giving, the results of an investigation into the earnings of wage earners; out of a total of 123,703 esta blishments employing 3,297,819 wage earners (embraeing every form of industry) ' 5 per cent of this num- Der were working for from $3 to $12 a week And were forced to work from 54 to 60 hours a week There can be no doubt in any persons mind after reading the reports of Congress sional Investigations but that the wage earners are not only under paid but also over worked If it is allowed to continue, we will have a race sini- lar to a certain European country; our men and women will be undersized and our children instead of being in teIligent and bright will inherit that disease that is bordering on imbec1l- ity An underpaid, everworked father or intelligent child The parents own mental and physical conditio9 do not warrant it and the surroundings in which they are forced to live lowing to low wages) do not give the child what it should have after it's birth. If low wages and long hours are to continue, what is to become of our future generation
 The earlier economists taught that the price of labor should afford the worker neither more nor less than a mere subsistence. It is quite evident that this theory is a thing of the past. Tho ough we have one Bridgeport man ufacturer who still believes in that an cient theory.
 The American Federation of Labor organized in Pittsburgh in 1881. has done much for the wage earners. To increase the wages of the workers and redtce the working hours has been the chief object of the Federaton-f It is through the American Federation Of Labor that the capitalists have been forced to realize that capital is pro duct created by labor. Manufacturers and capitalists have been forced to concede the right of the workers, to make collective bargains Our local
 ma ndfacturers have done much to show that they appreciate the right of the workingInen to treat with them through labor organizations. United, T. JzJ@ oI7 oh 7fYa conditions. They could demand and take what is really theirs. The eight hour day with the same pay formerly received for ten hours is big step for the wage earners.
 The eight hour day has an added feature that a great many have not looked at. Just think of the number of wives and mothers who will benefit by the shorteni of the husbands or work. It means that they also will have a, shorter day and pleas anter conditions. Thousands of .wo- men who toll at home an hour or two before and after the wage earners go and come Nfrom work, will find their home conditions much improved by the shorter working day.
 In 1892 Congress passed law that eight hours should constitute a days work on all Government work. Labor unions have persistentnly endeavored to have various states enact this law but to no avail.
 It Is quite probable though. that be- fore many. years Congress will pass a law regulating the number of work ing hours and also. establishing a min imum rate of wages for all wage earn CTS. In this way only can the feel ing of unrest and dissatisfaction the laboring people be over come.
 It is gratifying, to know that Bridge port will be the first city in the Uni ted States to be actually working on the 48 hour plan. It will be a benefit to all. It means efficiency for the employer and a satisfied employee.
 We earnestly hope that it will only be a short time when every wage