The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-12-14
WHAT OTHER PAPERS SAY

On Sept. Is the newspapers pub
1ished an announcement by Judge E.
H. Gary of the United States Steel
corporation saying that the "basic
eight-hour day" had been ordered for
all steel corporation properties. It
was explained by Judge Gary, in re-
Spouse to newspaper questioning; that
this did not mean an eight-hour day
in fact, but an eight-hour day as
basis of figuring wages.
1t was by no mr.,ns unwelcome
news, nor was it totally unexpected.
The American Federation of Labor
and a number of it's affiliated inter-
national unions had under way 4
campaign of organization among the
steel workers to end the industrial
autocracy of the steel corporation. It
was to be expected that some counter
move would be made. The announce
ment of "basic eight-hoir day. was
counter move.
Some two months have passed
since the announcement was made by
Judge Gary. If there was any doubt
then about what the "basic eight
hour day" meant in the steel indus
try, there is none now. It meant and
means basis for figuring wages
and it can be manipulated to suit steel
corporation requirements until the
workers in the steel industry organize
sufficiently to exercise an influence
in the ordering Of their lives.
When labor speaks of the eight
hour day it means a workday' of eight
hours duration. It means an actual
eight-hour day. It is that kind of an
eight-hour day that organized labor
is striving for, not only in the steel
industry: but. in evvry industry in
which it has not already bee secured.
The campaign of organization
among the steel workers will con-
tinue. The movement will go on. No
,nouncements, will stop it. The time
required to organize and free the steel
workers of America may be long, or
it may be short. But. soon or late,
it will be done. All things move
toward freedom today. All men, all
elements, move toward liberty. All
society moves toward greater consid-
Grafton for humanity. The steel mills
must go the way the world goes,
toward: Liberty! :Federak-
zionist. .....~...<
The railroad telegra piers are to be
congratulated. ON the, outcome of their
brave stand for better wages and
working conditions and Mr.. McAdoo
is: to be, felicitated on his attitude
toward the matter. Telephone oper-
atoms and other allied workers are
to share with. keymen in the benefits
granted by Director McAdoo also.
These intelligent. public servants went
through the entire war nliserably
paid and inadequately recognized,
and the fight put up by them for just
consideration was a credit to them
and to the labor movement of which
they are an honored part.
The Journal of Labor hopes to see
soon a complete adjustment of all Ia
Dor controversies between the tele-
graphers of the roads and those. of
the commercial branches as we'll.
Neither branch of the public service
have had a square DEAL and it is not
conceivable that with other, workers,
notably those of the. Big -Four, fully
protected in their rights that these
worthy servants will be satisfied with
anything less,
For many months past labor hardly
above the unskilled standards have
been receiving more pay than were
these highly trained and educated
key-men, and agents. Getting less in
| many instances than common track
laborers, some of whom can not read
and write. the telegraphers felt that
they could not in honor go on. &C
cepting the Standards. of labor ac-
corded. them, and when the time came
for: action came through with, flying
-colors. In this is a lesson. for all
labor. Labor must always have the
courage of conviction and if, fight they
must to secure their rights let every
man stand true. This the telegraph
ers did and in doing so did a service
for the working class everywhere.-
Journal OF. Labor. Atlanta.
Pea ce has its SORROWS IFS anruishos