Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1890 — SAMUEL GOMPEES TALKS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SAMUEL GOMPEES TALKS

HIS VIEWS ON THE KIGHT-HOUS QUESTION. A Concerted Movement In AU Depart* me its of Labor to Bring About a Shortei Day—Other Trades Will Follow the Carpenters in Demanding a Shortening o the Hours of Work. Chicago dispatch: “The eight houi day is the sole idea now being consider ed by the labor world,” said Samue Gompers, president of the America! Federation of Labor the other day. ‘ln the history of social and economic movements of the world there hat not been one which received at onct and complete the same sympathy and

support that has boot accorded to the eighthour movement. It has covered Europe, aud on May t the working population of that continent will demand the eight hour day.

“Tho labor organizations of this ;ountry are devoted solely to this one Idea. Wo think we*can do one thing al a time better than a multiplicity ol things. To tho end of obtaining the eight-hour work day wo are concentrating all our energies, all our ability, and all our intelligence. “We want the eight-hour day foi " several reasons. We want it because it will improve tho condition of those employed and afford employment to thousands now idle, and because it will give us time to think. Whilo we are accomplishing this wo can consider what /Improvement it will bo best to nexi effect. Wo are doing it with the least "possible injurious results to business oi commerce. We do not want to stop the wheels of industry. We want to hell them work more smoothly. We want tc removo instead of increase friction. “So we proceed by degrees. We have singlod out the eight-hour day as the first thing to be attained. Then wo have selected only one trade for which at first this improvement must bo secured. We have chosen the carpenters as tho first craft for which to win this benefit. When the carpenters shall have won wo shall demand it for the miners and minelaborers. Then other trades will be taken up and pushed forward. In this way the entire change of tho industrial system to the olglit-hour day shall have been accomplished with tho least effect on the country’s business. “There is no doubt of the success oi the movement, In the American* Federation of Labor, to which by common consent the eight-hour movement is granted, there are *530,000 members. In the movement besides these there are more than enough to bring the force to 1,000.000 men. “The movement for tho eight-hour day is on a different basis now from its status in 1886. Then wo had an army of enthusiastic raw recruits. New we have a force of cool, trained veterans. The movement of 1886 was chaotic, disintegrated. unsystematic. To-day it is methodical, organized, prepared. “We have made great advances since 1886. The best of these is that we have educated the educated. Intelligent men no longer believe that tho adoption ol the eight-hour day means social and economic unskilled laborer has not been forgotten. Every reduction of the hours of labor, every advance of wages secured by the skilled laborer redounds to the benefit of the unskilled class just as much as that oi those for whom these advantages are ostensibly obtained. “We will secure the eight-hour day for the workmen of the world—not if it takes all summer —but if it takes the rest of our lives.”

SAMUEL GOMPERS.