Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-06
LABOR To DEMAND
SHORTER WORKING
DAY THAN EIGHT
HOURS--GONPER ERS
Organized Workers To Insist
On Further Concessions
From Employers, Declares
American Federation Head,
CAN'T BE PUT IN FORCE
NOW, HOWEVER, HE SAYS
Need for Increased Production
As a Result Of the War Is
Too Great to Adopt Such a
Change At This lime,

tsY MORNING Jousa - SPECIAL LENpgp wlRel
Washington, Nov, 5Malling his
first address before the International
labor conference, in which ne sits as
an unofficial representative of Amer
of the American Federation Of Labor,
declared today for the straight eight
hour day as a maximum as compared
with the forty-eight hour week and in
cidentally served notice that in the
United States even the eight hours
day would be shortened If labor could
accomplish its purpose.
Mr. Gompers spoke in reply to a
majority report on the part of em-
ployer delegates favoring the prin-
ciple of reducing hours but stating
that it could not now be put in force
generally owing to the need for in
creased production as a result of the
war.
The report, submitted by d. S. Ma
joribanks of Great Britain, pointed
out the need for special effort "to
make good the shortage of food sup
plies, the reconstruction of devasta
ted areas and the replacement of ma
chinery," and declared that the pro-
gressive increase in the cost of liv
ing ''would lead to disaster unless the
needs of the present situation were
considered in conjunction with the
aims of the labor representatives"
American Worker Productive.
Stoutly denying that output could
be increased over a considerable pc
riod of time by lengthening hours, Mr.
Gompers characterized the American
workman the most productive worker
in the world and said industrial history
proved the eight hour day to be more
productive than ten or twelve hour
day.
Mr.. Gompers later took the floor to
move that the entire subject of hours
of work be referred to commission,
A motion offered yesterday by George
N. Barnes member of the British war
ministry and government delegate,
and numerous amendments proposed
today had been the subject of dis
cussion throughout the session and
Mr.. Gompers proposed that the whole
matter be sent to committee.
The American labor leaders motion
was lost, 80 to Al, with majority of
the labor delegates voting no" 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.
Conference Quits Until Today.
Mr.. Barnes motion provided that
the draft convention on the forty
eight hour week prepared by the or
ganizing committee be made the basis
for discussion but this was opposed
by labor delegates on the ground that
it excluded the eight hour day from
consideration. The original motion,
with an amendment by Arthur Fon-
taine, of France, striking out the OBJ
jectionable words forty y-eight-hour
week" followed the fate of the other
proposals. The conference, with its
slate clean, then adjourned until 3
p. m. tomorrow.
In opening the debate today, Mr..
Majoribanks said that realization of
shorter working hours was subject to
the following conditions:
Guarantee that air industries shall
work to their normal fullest capac-
ity.
Unanimous agreement to maintain
and increase output.
adoption of provisional measures
which would enable speedy production
and normal distribution in those in
dustries the upkeep of which is indis-
pensable to the economic life Of the
nations of the world.
"Postponement of the enforcement
of the principle for five years in cases
where it would hinder the restoration
of the devastated areas of Europe.