Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-03-01
GOMPERS APPEALS
FOR SHORTER DAY
President American Fedora.
tion of Labor Heard in
Packer Controversy.
SAYS WILL HELP WIN WAR
Saloons Cited as Reason for
Employees Needing More
Time for Recreation.

CHICAGO. Feb. Samuel
dompers. president of the American
Federation OF Labor, made stir
ring appeal today In favor OF tho
elght-hour day for employees OF the
meat packing industry at the stock
yards wage arbitration, He ap-
peared as "A witness for the en-
ployes and his testimony was eager
ly listened to by Mother" Mary
Jones, an organizer for the United
Mine Workers, and Several hundred
other representatives Of organized
labor from all sections OF the coun-
try,
After tracing the history OF the
fight for shorter working day,
from It's beginning, he read num-
Der OF reports and quoted various
large employers OF labor to sub
stantiate HIS contention that the
eight-hour day In actual operation
had proven profitable 10 the en-
ployer and highly beneficial to the
men.
In defining the attitude OF organ
lied labor toward the war, the wit
ness said:
Labor will make every sacrifice
for the successful prosecution OF the
war. but il will not make any saeri.
flee for private profiteering during
the war"
Adds Economy Claim.
II advocate the eight.hour day
on the ground OF economy. health
and morals" he said. Men should
only be reuired to work overtime In
times of the greatest emergency or
for the protection OF life and prop
erty. That is why we demand time
and half for overtime and double
pay for holidays, We think this
penalty OF added expense prevents
the employer from asking their men
TO work overtime except when 1t is
really necessary"
lie declared that the saloon in the
back OF the yards district was an
argument I'm favor OF the shorter
work day and higher wages. and
that II these demands are granted
by the packers the money spent by
stock wards employees In these drink
ing place. will materially decrease.
ut is the long hours with low
wagee that drive the men to drink
Mr.. Gompers said. This is shown
we'll paid workman who Is not re-
quired TO work more than eight
hours a day finds more pleasure
and comfort at nome or visiting a
theater than he does In going TO the
saloon"
The witness said he had little
technical knowledge OF the details
of the packing industry. but added
he believed IL could be worked out
II there was a real desire on the part
OF the packers 10 do II.
No Such an Animal.
II would not ask you. Mr.. Arbitra-
tor. 20 find for tho eight-hour day In
this dispute IL thought for a mo-
Ineni that II would hamper. hinder
or interfere in any way with the
said Mr. -Gompers. II know n Is
physically impossible to decrease the
production by shortening the hours
Of the basic working day. The
eight shour day will help win the war
by increasing production and mobil-
iZing the good will OF the working
men of America. Heaven knows that
this needs 20 be done. Unwilling
employers. find. never accept the
: isauests OF their men for shorter
hours and higher wages without
raising objections
They have way OF thinking
their own language. They get into
a mental rut from long practice.
They want TO conduct their business
without any suggestion from their
employees aA 20 the number OF hours
TO be worked and the wages 10 be
paid.
There u no such an animal as an
Industry irreyocably built on the
ten-hour day. You may depend
upon IL that when the packers once
find their men rejuvenated and re-
freshed by the adoption Of the eight
hour dRy that they themselves Will
never want TO go back 70 the old
conditions"