The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-11-15
Cornpers for S-Hour
Day Instead of a 49,.
Hour Work Week

WAOAAA1NN VIM Nov 1O.-nak-
ing his first address before the Inter-
national Labor Conference, in which
he sat as an unofficial representative
Of American labor, Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, declared for the
straight eight-hour day as a maxi
mum, compared with the forty-eight
hour week, and incidentally served no,
tice that in the United States even
the eight-hour days work would be
shortened if labor could accomplish
its purpose.
Gompers spoke in reply to a ma
jority report on the part of employ
er delegates favoring the principle of
reducing hours Of work, but stating
that it could not be put in force gen.
orally at this time, owing to the need
for increased production as a result
of the war.
The report, submitted by D. S. Ma
jorbanks of Great Britain, pointed
out the need for special effort ito
make good the shortage Of food sup
plies, the reconstruction of devastat-
ed areas and the replacement of ma
chinery," and declared that the prof.
grcssive increase in the cost of liv4
ing "would lead to disaster unless
the needs of the present situation
were considered in conjunction with
the aims of the labor representa-
tives."
American Workmen Best.
Denying that output could be in
creased over considerable period Of
time by frightening hours of work,
Gompers characterized the American
workman the most productive work
err in the world, and said industrial
history proves the eight-hour day tc
be more productive than a ten OF
twelve hour day.
Late in the conference session
Gompers again took the floor to move
that the entire subject of hours of
work be referred to a commission.
A motion offered by George N. Bar
mes, member of the British War Min
istry and government delegate, and
numer GUS amendments proposed TO-
day has been the subject of discus
sion throughout the session, and
Gompers proposed that the whole mat
ter be sent to committee.
The American labor leaders mo-
tion was lost 80 to 40, with MAORI
ty Of the labor delegates voting "No."
Gompers raised his voice in the af-
frmative, but his vote was not count
ed by the secretary, because Of HE
unofficial status.
Barnes motion provided that the
draft convention on the forty-eight-
hour week prepared by the Organic
ing Committee be made the basis for
but this was opposed by
labor delegates on the ground that
it excluded the eight-hour day from
consid Grafton. A substitute resolu-
ton. providing th:t the convention
relating to the eight-horr day and
the forty light nolr week as maxi
be accepted as the basis for
discussion offered by Iverench, also
was defeated.
Then the original motion, with an
by Arthur Fontaine of
France, striking out the objectiona-
ble words, "forty-eight-hour week."
followed the fate of the other pro-
posals. The conference, with its slate
clean, then adjourned until 8 p. m.
tomorrow. In the opening debate to-
lay, Majoribanks said that realiza-
ion of shorter working hours was
subject to the following conditions:
Guarantee that all industries shall
work to their normal capacity.
Unanimous agreement to maintain
and increase output.
Adoption of provisional measures
which would enable speedy produc-
lion and normal distribution in those
industries the upkeep of which is in
lespensable to the economic life of
he nations of the world.
POstponement of the enforcement
IF the principle for five years in
,ases where it would hinder the res
Grafton of the devastated areas of
Europe. II
J. A. Everade of Holland and E.
Baroni of Italy, both employer dele ,
gates, announced that they dissentedJ |
rom the majority report, while Diet
.ich SCHNEIDER, Swiss employer, gave
notice of his adherence.