Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-18
The EIoHrlHoUR DAY /.
Ben Franklin Advocated u and
Pig Iron Kelley Was Later Its
acknowledgements
and Ructions
by GEORGE NOx MCCAIN

>,,n," IpoNu,
WllhM ~. \ Tlu 'oN
" KELLEY, Of Philadelphia. was a
member of Congress for twenty eight
years. He was a great protectionist
and friend of labor.
The present universal demand OF labor
unions for an eight hour working DAY
is looked upon as a modern effort OF or
ganized labor to secure shorter work
ing day without proportionate reduction
In pay.
hut 1t isn't modern at all: Inc
proposition is sixty six years old, ana
Pig IRON Kelley, then young Jew
eler's apprentice and member OF a
labor union. was perhaps the second
man in the United States to advocate
the plan.
Ben Franklin declared that the day
Of the workingman should be divided
into three parts Of eight hours each.
eight for work, eight for recreation and
eight for sleep.
,,r,p -, ,.;,o =
NEhb hes pelore me as WIN. u
- letter, dated May ~. lHoo. 10 .ne
operatives in the workshops and inc-
tories OF the Fourth Congressiona, us
trtct of pennsylvania from NeneF'.
congressman from that district; ,,
a delegation OF worksts sI nGe ho % woa
coneressnan Nenty nHhs -, 'Uo
in favor OF the eight hour system, vs. al,;.;nn
repiied IN the anirma,,ve. a5dod a.''"
to the categorical question ne auoeu
1T Is more than thirly -nse a,o sho
since 1 united win Jonrnss'',en a.;no w @
1ewelry ana other trades ,h p'o.noe p.,,a,,1
the recognition OF thc zen nbarors 'mpu, ss', who
There are some OF my colaWr',s Is.. IT, ,1Iu ~
at TINS distant day cah 'ss.n' .n". ,aJ
support or the reform we tntn pr"poiI,w ,io "
l then assertel tnat tne iupo,e ., d;n; 10Y
should De divided INTO 'nreE ~ oi.ht
sions. lnasmucn as ne cou.u ouo,rh uc 70
hours OF nones' ipt iaStr hnnrs p,Uuf for rest and
entitle him TO elght nours I ioi a,mSv resi ' -
eight hours 1or reerea',oh h a"u ,n;ons In
WINE tnere were lapo' III, os tha
existence IN THIS county ypeant;on as ea the
close OF tne war OIL s,, rne ,s''iK ~ K.,,av
attempt OF young Nnia. as tho
TO pring aoout a reGosI,',v a,, ns 1874 10
eishtnnour Ta9 e. as &c ;ts bind in this
country. :. .,,r 70 hc
uatts, rannroI,v un;varsnl-except for
b. 49, 81 ,n,,.sranor mon
"oe'''' anu A'"'p~r-- ".l,-
VIM DO prae''ca' po'''.'" .,"i ,an. 40
w the game long atter 'he! ""'e "'
hnanclai need for II ~, ,o, or tho
Time ana again We utn W. ,',,
point of quitting, sald WlueIy nv. hnu" is
political leader. 'But i Khe" mn u
| did get out | was out ior gooG' on:e
you get down from your high morse III
politics. you're down forever lou re
has-beGn. within three months,
Suppose l did quit after all these
years. what could do? | have enough
TO maintain me comfortably for the rest
Of nv life, but it's no consolation to
be able to sit around in an easy chair
and twiddle your thumbs and look up
atrhc blue sky.
"I'ye been in the game too long.
cant omit now, and I'm not going to
omit untiI the last hell rings"
And tbat, | think, is the ingrained
so,,tin,ont nf every man who has at =
,o;neJ oven transient leadership ip
tho 400 old game of political manipu-
,ntion
-
NAV be said against tho
-, r :. l. ,,r
W unterrined oeiiiHcrnrS .ho or,or ~ in which
talnly CONSISTENT IN 'nr ,,'"In .hon Eoona ~
II starts r"c''oii anu INV"
gong. E.. ..suh.;,o !. out n,
II Is s,sohs ,ort;on ior -
'hr hoor y, .ns t;,n thnm,b l. olwovs
i"ls a'sc, csn,,roo n &c n minority that
.n' ia:. T., H. for a son,J wolloninp.
NnTmn III Ga Erorcisco convention. where
BRYAN made his last grandstand play as