Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1919-11-06
WORKING DAY OF
EIGHT HOURS IS
/. j. 6. LABOR CRY
Gompers Declares Shorter
Day Is Ultimate Purpose
Of Federation - Motion
To Refer Matter To Com
mission Defeated
IRepubIIcan A. P. Leased wirel

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.-Making
his first address before the Interna-
tional Labor conference, in which he
sits as an unofficial representative of
American labor, Samuel Gompers.
president of the American Federation
OF Labor, declared today for the
straight eight-hour day as a maximum
as compared with the 4S-hour week
and incidentally served notice that in
the United States even the S-hour day
would be shortened if labor could ac-
complish its purpose.
Mr. GomperS spoke in reply to a
majority report on the part of en-
ployer delegates favoring the principle
of reducing hours, but stating that it
could not now be put in force gem
orally owing to the need for increased
production as a result of the war.
Increased Production Needed
The report, submitted by D. S. Ma
joribanks Of Great Britain, pointed
out the need for special effort, ito
make good the shortage of food sup
plies, the reconstruction of devastated
areas and the replacement of ma
chinery," and declared that the pro-
gressive increase in the cost of living
would lead to disaster unless the needs
| of the present situation were con-
| sidered in conjunction with the aims
Of labor representatives.
Stoutly denying that output could be
increased over period of time by
lengthening hours, Mr.. Gompers char
acterized the American workman the
most productive worker in the world
and said industrial history proved the
eight-hour day to be more productive
than a 10 or 12-hour day.
Mr.. Gompers later took the floor to
move that the entire subject of hours
| Of work be referred to a commission
| A motion offered yesterday by George
N. Barnes, member of the British wal
ministry and government delegate
and numerous amendments proposed
today had been the subject of discus
sion throughout the session and Mr.
Gompers proposed that the whole mat
ter be sent to a committee.
The American labor leaders motion
was lost, 80 to Al, with a majority o.
the labor delegates voting mo-" Mr.
| Gompers raised his hand In the af.
firmative, but his vote was not count
ed by the secretary because of his un
official status.
Mr.. Barnes motion provided that thu
draft convention on the 4S-hour weel
prepared by the organizing commit
tee be made the basis for discussion
but this was opposed by labor dele
gates on the ground that it excludes
the eight hour day from consideration
The original motion with an amend
ment by Arthur Fontaine of France
striking out the Objectionable word
"4S-hour week." followed the fate o
the other proposals. The conference
with it's slate clean then adjourne
until p. m. tomorrow.
In opening the debate today, MI
.. Majoribanks said that realization @
!, shorter working hours was subject t
the following conditions:
Guarantee that all industries sha
work to their normal fullest capacit,
Unanimous agreement to maintai
and increase output.
Adoption of provisional measure
which would enable speedy productio
: and normal distribution in those in
dustries, the upkeep Of which is in
dispeusable to the economic life {
the nations of the world.
! 'ePostponement Of the enforcemer
of the principal for five years in case
where it would hinder the restoratio
| of the devastated areas of Europe"