of the labor unions, representing less than 10 per cent of the laboring men of this country, should act as self-arrogated sponsors for the other 90 per cent and demand that the details of labor for all shall be adjusted according to their arbitrary and impracticable ideas seems an incredible and preposterous proposition. The manufacturers of the country and the general community as well are becoming very weary of these constant strifes and bickerings, which are not only detrimental to the peace and good order of the community, but a menace to business organization and transaction. We feel that is would be most unwise to aggravate and complicate the present conditions by enacting legislation in line with the provisions of the bill in question, and we most respectfully and earnestly request your cooperation in preventing a favorable report of the measure from your committee. Yours, truly, Hon. JOHN J. GARDNER, Washington, D. C. THE MCCONWAY & TORLEY CO. CHICAGO, May 14, 1906. DEAR SIR: We learn with regret that renewed efforts are being made to put forward that revolutionary and un-American eight-hour bill, the bill which we believe to be sure if it passes to stunt American commerce and industry at home and abroad; to stunt American manhood by interfering with the right of free contract; to be a backward step in every respect. We hope that you have the same view of it, and will with all your ability oppose even a report on the bill. It should be buried for all time, and, in our opinion, he who votes to bury it votes for American honor, manhood, liberty, and good citizenship. Yours, truly, BARNHART BROS. & SPINDLER. INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MASTER HOUSE PAINTERS Hon. JOHN J. GARDNER, DEAR SIR: On behalf of the above association I desire to enter its protest against a favorable report by your committee on the McComas or any other so-called "eight-hour bill." Our country is too large and conditions too diverse to make in Washington a law for the government of the laboring classes as a whole without seriously handicapping both the workmen and the employer. Hoping you will give this matter your serious attention, I remain, Yours, respectfully, WILLIAM E. WALL, Secretary-Treasurer. SYRACUSE, N. Y., May 14, 1906. Hon. JOHN J. GARDNER. House Labor Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: My attention has been called to the McComas eight-hour bill that is before your committee. Allow me to protest against its being favorably reported. My request is prompted by thirty-five years' experience in the malleable iron foundry industry, and I offer the following arguments against this or any eight-hour-day bill: First. Our industry can not be run on an eight-hour day owing to insufficient time to prepare the molds, melt the iron, and pour off same. Second. The fixed expenses would be the same for eight hours as for a tenhour day. This would add 20 per cent to the cost of our product for such expenses. Third. The present very close competition is such that the enhanced cost, resulting from this shortening of a workday, would close many malleable-iron foundries. Fourth. The moral effect on the molders would be very disastrous to a majority of the men, for the reason that as a class they are very intemperate in their habits. An enforced idleness means to them more dissipation. Fifth. It would encourage the already revolutionary exactions of unionism, which is fast tending to anarchism and destroying individual freedom of action under law, which is the foundation of our Republic. Hoping I have not trespassed too much on your valuable time, I am, Very respectfully, yours, SYRACUSE MALLEABLE IRON WORKS, PHILADELPHIA, May 14, 1906. Hon. JOHN J. GARDNER, House Labor Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We beg to address you in opposition to bill 11651, commonly known as the "eight-hour bill." This measure we feel would be most unjust to the industrial life of the country and would eventually work a hardship against labor and capital alike. The provisions of this measure we take to be dangerous and revolutionary, and we urge you by all means at your command to prevent its favorable consideration. Very truly, yours, Hon. JOHN J. GARDNER, Washington, D. C. WM. H. GRUNDY & Co. EVANSVILLE, IND., May 14, 1906. DEAR SIR: We respectfully call your attention to the McComas eight-hour bill, which is now being pressed, and respectfully ask you to use your efforts to defeat this measure, as we consider such legislation would be discriminatory in time upon all manufacturers not Government contractors; that same is a part of the plan of coercive unionism to force the eight-hour day into all the factories of the country; that it would be a great wrong, especially in the present condition of public unrest, to force such a thing upon the national community, and that the people, sick and tired of restrictions and unionism, as illustrated in their strikes, intimidations, and boycotts, will not stand for any further coercion or attempted coercion by legislative means. We believe that any eight-hour bill is revolutionary and dangerous, and would ask you to vote against this measure. Respectfully, EVANSVILLE FURNITURE Co. Hon. JOHN J. GARDNER, ST. JOSEPH, MICH., May 14, 1906. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We understand that the House Labor Committee are now considering one of the old-time eight-hour bills. As a manufacturer, employing in the neighborhood of 400 people, we feel that in fairness to us you will give this letter some consideration, and we hope that you will do what you can to effectively check any eight-hour movement. Our country as a whole is in the most healthy condition it has ever been in, which is largely due to no other one thing than the manufacturers are all prospering, therefore being able to give steady employment to all laboring men, and the steady growth of the export trade. Shortening the hours of the laboring men would restrict the output of these factories to a point where they would no longer be able to compete for this foreign trade. The manufacturer's profit is gained entirely through the volume of business that his factory is able to do. If the output of his factory is reduced, it is only a question of time when he would be compelled to make more than a corresponding reduction in the wages that he would be able to pay. Furthermore, it is very doubtful if there would be any real benefit to the laboring class if the working hours were shortened, as what they would gain in one way they would lose in others, as it is certainly possible for but few of the manufacturers to pay for eight hours of labor what they are able to pay for ten hours of work. If there were an overproduction in any particular number of lines, there, of course, would be an excuse for reducing the hours, if the workingmen themselves really wanted such, which is most doubtful in our minds, if they understood that the wages would be cut correspondingly. We would be most pleased to have you give this matter careful consideration before deciding which way you will vote. Respectfully, TRUSCOTT BOAT MANUFACTURING COMPANY. NEW YORK, May 14, 1906. Hon. Mr. GARDNER. DEAR SIR: The jewelry trade are as one man against the passage of the McComas eight-hour bill. We think the fact, without any argument, should have weight with you, that so large and intelligent a body of men have arrived at the conclusion that it will work evil. We hope you will see it as we do, and vote against it. DAY, CLARK & Co. Hon. JOHN J. GARDNER, M. C., Washington, D. C. YORK, PA., May 14, 1906. DEAR SIR: We understand that there is again an effort being made to report an eight-hour bill to Congress for consideration. We are sure if the members of your committee fully appreciated the detriment that such a law would be to the manufacturing interests of the country you would not report any such bill favorably. We are not narrow, and do not ask for class legislation in favor of manufacturers, but we have already enough annoyances to keep us busy, and certainly hope that this additional burden will not be forced upon the manufacturing interests of the country. We fully realize that the interest of the manufacurer and of the laborer are largely mutual. Neither one can prosper without the other, and if you realize how much the present prosperity has increased the demand for labor and has raised the price of labor on account of the demand exceeding the supply, you would fully understand that no legislation is required for this purpose. We believe in well-paid labor. It helps our business. What we need is more efficiency in the ranks of labor, more responsibility on the part of the individual laborer, more faithfulness to duty, so that the laborer's results will be increased and will thus make it possible for the manufacturer to pay the increased wages so that the laborer can meet the increased demands in the advanced cost of living. We find in our experience that the more idle hours, the more holidays there are, the more difficult it becomes to handle the average working people. The more responsible of them do not appreciate the efforts of the agitator to reduce their hours and to reduce their chances for individual advancement, and we trust, therefore, that you will not allow the agitators who are ever present with you to have too much influence upon your decision. There is more lawlessness, intimidation, and boycotting than the country should have, and until the agitators encourage their men to be law-abiding and to have proper respect for other people's rights as well as their own, we do not see that they are entitled to much consideration. We hope we have not tired you, but earnestly pray that there may be no eight-hour bill reported to the House for consideration. Yours, very respectfully, WEAVER ORGAN AND PIANO CO. GRAND CROSSING, ILL., May 14, 1906. Hon. JOHN J. GARDNER, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We understand that certain parties are pressing the McComas eight-hour bill, or a bill of like nature, for consideration and a favorable report from your committee. When so many manufacturers are more or less interested in Government work, and as the adoption of such a bill would practically mean the putting of the entire manufacturing interest in this country upon the eight-hour day, because no manufacturer could segregate his Government work from the work that is not Government work, we sincerely request and urge upon you the importance of defeating any such so-called eight-hour legislation." The manufacturing interests of this country do not want an eight-hour day of any kind forced upon them by law, so please defeat all such measures, and oblige. Yours, very truly, GRAND CROSSING TACK COMPANY, Manager and Treasurer. CINCINNATI, OHIO, May 14, 1906. Hon. JOHN J. GARDNER, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We understand that you are a member of the House Labor Committee who have charge of the McComas eight-hour bill, and we wish to call your attention to the fact that this bill would be a great injustice to all the manufacturers of this country, as it would show that your Government is in favor of and is dictated to by the trade unions. This is simply a wedge of the labor unions to force the eight-hour day on all the country. It would mean that those manufacturers who work their shops nine hours a day would not be permitted to bid on Government work, and consequently the few factories who secure most of the business from the Government and who would install the eight-hour day would have little or no competition and the Government would be compelled to pay about 50 per cent more for their purchases than it is compelled to pay to-day, as it would mean that such manufacturers as ours would rather pass up the Government work than to install the eight-hour day in their shops. We do not think it is fair to legislate in favor of the laboring classes against the manufacturers, and the United States Government would be setting a precedent by showing a favoritism for the demands of the labor unions which would be a great hardship to manufacturers all over the country. It is because the manufacturers of this country have been able to compete with the lower prices of foreign labor that the United States has forged to the front as one of the greatest world powers. If the manufacturers of this country are to be legislated against in favor of an element such as was shown in the last Chicago strike it will not be very long until this country will have the hundreds of thousands of idle labor walking the streets as they are to-day in London. If the foreign trade is taken away from us by legislating against us it will throw hundreds of thousands of men out of employment in this country, as 33 per cent of our product and the product of other machinery manufacturers of this country is sold to foreign countries, and if the price of labor is forced up by the lawmakers of the United States it will prevent us from competing with foreign countries and will throw thousands of men out of work. We can not believe that the lawmakers of the United States will permit themselves to be dictated to by labor lobbyists. The manufacurers have no time to organize and to send lobbyists to Washington, and we depend upon our representatives to protect us, and we hope that you will use your influence to defeat this bill, which is indeed an injustice to the manufacturers of the United States. With kind regards, we beg to remain, Yours, very truly, THE JOHN STEPTOE SHAPER CO. DETROIT, MICH., May 14, 1906. Hon. JOHN J. GARDNER, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We desire to enlist your help in preventing any favorable report by your committee on the McComas eight-hour bill. It is a shrewd move by the labor unions to establish the hour for the whole country, not for Government contractors alone. We do not see how many manufacturers with diversified interests could undertake to supply Government work should the law be passed. We do not think it is in the province of the Government to say how long a man shall work, and it would be a grave menace to the business supremacy of this country. Shorter hours means increased cost, increased cost means business lost, and that would mean even shorter hours and still less pay to the workingman, and they would find that they had been monkeying with the buzz saw. Yours, very truly, MICHIGAN BOLT AND NUT WORKS. CHICAGO, May 14, 1906. Hon. JOHN J. GARDNER, House Labor Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: As a manufacturing concern we are opposed to the McComas eighthour bill before your committee, or any other bill of this nature. We believe that such a coercive act would be a great wrong, not only to the manufacturing interests of the nation, but to the working classes as well. We consider such a bill revolutionary and dangerous, and we believe that the labor leaders are making a great mistake in urging it. Yours, very truly, MARSHALL-JACKSON COMPANY. HAMILTON, OHIO, May 14, 1906. Hon. JOHN J. GARDNER, M. C., Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We understand that the McComas eight-hour bill is going to come up for disposition this week. We sincerely hope that this bill will not become a law; if it did, and was enforced, it would put our industry in very bad shape indeed. Seasons in the vehicle business are very short, running practically only about seven months of the year, the remainder of the time we have to make stock and other preparations for the busy season, but during the time the season is on we have to strain every nerve and make every effort in order to work our factory to its utmost capacity, which could not be done in an eight-hour working day. We are not opposed to any law that will better the condition of the laboring classes, and are pleased to say that if a vote was taken on this bill in our factory to-day we are satisfied that very few, if any, of our employees would cast a vote in favor of the eight-hour law. We hope, therefore, that your honor will do his best to prevent the passage of this mischievous bill. Very, truly yours, THE COLUMBIA CARRIAGE COMPANY. Per J. E. WRIGHT. PEABODY, MASS., May 15, 1906. Hon. JOHN J. GARDNER, House Labor Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: As one of the manufacturing concerns of this country, we desire to go on record against favorable action by your committee on any eight-hour bill. You can not help but be fully advised on all sides of the subject, and we trust you fully realize that the proposed bill is only the opening wedge to force all the manufacturers of the country to adopt an eight-hour day. We know that the majority of manufacturers can not exist at present on an eight-hour working-day basis, and we believe that the majority of the American public is not in sympathy with the movement. We ask you, therefore, in the interests of public welfare, to oppose favorable report on any eight-hour bill whatever. Yours, very truly, Hon. JOHN J. GARDNER. CORWIN MANUFACTURING CO., TOLEDO, OHIO, May 15, 1906. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We have been watching with great interest the efforts of the labor leaders to compel Congress to pass a national eight-hour bill. I presume it is the old McComas eight-hour bill, practically, which is now before the House |