“At present,” said Mr. Gompers, “one of our chief slogans is,—‘An
Eight-Hour Workday!’ There is more in this than one might think at a
first glance. With a little leisure, the workingman has an opportunity
to read and cultivate his mind and devote himself to his home and
family. It makes him expand intellectually and think more, and with
this new life come new desires. He wants to have his home more
comfortable than it has been. He wants a few books, a few pictures, a
little recreation for himself and family, and for these things he makes
outlays of money which are very modest in individual cases, but which,
in the aggregate, amount to vast sums and have a stimulating effect on
all trades. This makes an increased demand for labor. It has a tendency
to raise wages and diminish the number of the unemployed. These
important benefits to be derived from shorter hours of labor constitute
the reason why I am making an issue of the eight-hour workday. We have
already done much and expect to do more. Yet you have no idea how hard
it sometimes is to procure the passage of a measure. When the uniform
car-coupling bill was before the senate, the senators would run into
the coat-room to avoid voting, and I stood at the door in a half
frantic condition, sending my card to this senator and that senator,
and telling each that he simply must support the measure. It was hard
work, but we carried it through.”