ITS 
 
 ' OBJECTS AND WORK. 
 
 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT, 
 
 I 
 
 CONTAINING THE 
 
 PLAN AND ESTIMATES 
 
 OF A 
 
 Free Hall far f erlmpea ei f orUipoinei 
 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE BOSTON EIGHT HOUR LEAGUE. 
 
 1872. 
 
At the Second Subscription Anniversary of the Boston 
 Eight Hour League, Jan. 17, the following Report was 
 presented by the President. At a subsequent meeting 
 
 t 
 
 five hundred copies were ordered to be printed. 
 
 Letters containing contributions to the Free Hall, or 
 Printing Fund, should be addressed to the President, Geo. 
 E. McNeill, Bureau of Labor, State House, Boston, Mass. 
 
 The following pamphlets will be forwarded free of post- 
 age, upon receipt of fifteen cents. 
 
 “ Meaning of the Eight Hour Movement.” — Ira Steward. 
 
 ^‘The Just demand of Labor, a more equal distribution 
 of Wealth.” — F. A. Hinckley. 
 
 ‘‘The Relations of Christianity to Labor and Capital.” 
 
 E. H. Rogers. 
 
 > 
 
 “The Voice of Labor, a Poem.” — E. R. Place. 
 Address, 
 
 Mary B. Steward, Secretary, 
 
 99 River St., Cambridgeport, Mass. 
 
j ^ \ \ O ( 
 
 TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BOSTON 
 EIGHT HOUR LEAGUE. 
 
 ♦ 
 
 No. 14 Bromfield Street, ^ 
 Boston, January 17, 1872. ) 
 
 •X 
 
 ' In presenting the Report of the work' of the 
 League for the past year, I have thought it 
 desirable to recall to your minds the history of 
 our organization, to the end that we may be 
 encouraged and stimulated to further exertion. 
 
 The first preliminary meeting was held at the 
 house of a friend, on May 19th, 1869. The most 
 prominent reasons assigned for the formation of 
 the League, were that there was no organization 
 in the interest of labor, specially adapted for the 
 advocacy of radical labor truth ; that organiza- 
 tions having general and not definite aims, lose 
 power ; that to create thought,, the brains of the 
 country must first be arrested, and that to do 
 this the persistent adhesion to a single point is 
 absolutely essential. In the minds of those 
 present, the Eight Hour Idea seemed to contain 
 the single issue, because its theory led directly 
 
2 
 
 to the root of the evil, Poverty, and because it 
 was the first step towards its extinction. 
 
 At the second meeting, the company voted to 
 organize ; meetings were then held at the houses 
 of the members. On the 26th of July a tem- 
 porary organization was elfected, and on the 
 evening of August 4th, the same officers were 
 permanently elected. On the 2d of September 
 we met for the first time in this room and adopt- 
 ed the Constitution, of which the following is 
 the 
 
 PREAMBLE. 
 
 That Wealth may be more equally distributed, as well as 
 more rapidly produced, Poverty abolished. Human Life 
 lengthened, getting a living made easy, and Co-operative 
 labor become the general rule in the production of wealth ; 
 that profits upon labor^ the Wages system, the wages and 
 employing classes and interest on money may finally cease 
 to exist ; together with Idleness, Speculation, Class Legis- 
 lation, Financial Convulsions, Intemperance, Prostitution 
 and War, through the gradual operation of the natural and 
 moral causes which more leisure for the mass of laborers is 
 sure to set in motion, are among the more prominent con- 
 siderations in the argument for the Eight-Hour System.”^/ 
 
 Our first public effort was the printing and 
 circulating of Petitions for an Eight Hour Law, 
 followed by hearings before the joint Special 
 Committee on Labor of the Legislature. These 
 
3 
 
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 ii 
 
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 hearings were conducted by a Committee of the 
 League, and addressed by the members. 
 
 In January of the next year, 1870, the League 
 called a public meeting of the friends of the Ten 
 Hour Bill, at No. 3 Tremont Row. As a result 
 of that effort, a public meeting was held at the 
 Meionaon, presided over by the Rev. Gilbert Ha- 
 ven', and addressed by Rev. J. B. Dunn, Charles 
 Cowley, Esq., and others. 
 
 In February, a Convention was held at Natick, 
 many of the members of the League attending 
 and conducting the meeting. This was a finan- 
 cial failure, owing largely to local causes. 
 
 At the regular meetings of the League discus- 
 sions upon Poverty, the cause and cure of In- 
 temperance, Wages, Co-operation, Woman’s 
 Work, Suffrage, Finance, etc., followed each 
 other, interspersed by essays and poems by the 
 members. 
 
 In May, an Eight Hour Convention was held 
 in Horticultural Hall. The morning and even- 
 ing meetings were interesting and well attended. 
 In the evening the hall was packed, hundreds 
 having no standing room. The papers gave fair 
 reports and printed the Resolutions, which were 
 prepared and presented by Wendell Phillips. 
 
 X\ 
 
4 
 
 The history of the League during the remain- 
 der of the year, would amount to a relation of 
 discussions and essays, worthy of a place in this 
 report but necessarily omitted for want of time 
 and space. 
 
 Early in January, 1871, the League again 
 circulated petitions, and memorialized the Leglis- 
 lature, conducting the hearings before the Legis- 
 lative Committee, and brought the attention of the 
 public to the consideration of our demand. Some 
 of the papers printed our memorial in full and 
 commented very candidly upon the claims em- 
 braced therein. 
 
 In May, a Mass Labor Convention was held, 
 under our auspices, in Horticultural Hall. The 
 meetings were not so fully attended as before, 
 but, financially, the Convention was a success. 
 
 In September, the League sent an Address, by 
 delegates, to the great Eight Hour Convention 
 and Procession of the workingmen in New York. 
 
 The Address was forwarded to one hundred 
 and fifty different papers, and was printed, in 
 full, by some of them, and afterwards translated 
 into seven different languages and published by 
 the reform papers of Germany, Italy, Switzer- 
 land, France and Spain. 
 
Following this the League, has, through its 
 members, addressed religious reformatory, and 
 social science societies, upon the Labor Ques- 
 tion, as well as assisted in the publication and 
 circulation of essays and addresses. 
 
 We have also addressed, by circular, each mem- 
 ber of the present Senate and House of Repre- 
 sentatives, setting forth our claim for Legisla- 
 tion, — forwarded a protest to our delegation in 
 Congress against the repeal of the Eight Hour 
 Law, sent out petitions to interested parties for 
 circulation, appealed to trade unions and work- 
 ing-men, and have in other ways sought to com- 
 pel public attention to a careful hearing of our 
 theory of the subject. 
 
 Having long felt the need of a place where 
 the Labor Problem could be discussed with free- 
 dom, a committee was appointed for the purpose 
 of procuring 
 
 A FREE HALL FOR WORKING MEN AND 
 
 WOMEN. 
 
 A circular, of which the following is an 
 abstract, was addressed to some one hundred 
 persons, nineteen of whom have responded to our 
 request for funds : 
 
6 
 
 “ The Labor Question has assumed such proportions as 
 to demand the most thorough and impartial examination 
 and consideration. The unusual awakening of the Working 
 
 o o 
 
 Classes is everywhere apparent. The wealthy and edu- 
 cated classes, looking on from their position of evident 
 comfort and security, are amazed at the combinations of 
 laborers, and the apparent despotism of their methods of 
 protection and relief. The Working-men themselves, igno- 
 rant of the causes operating to their disadvantage, combine 
 in Trades’ Unions, and other organizations, and by crude 
 and sometimes unintelligent methods, attempt to check the 
 tendency to make men cheaper. 
 
 However ill-advised their attempts may be, the Trade 
 Union is, in most cases, the only school where the work- 
 ing man learns what he knows of Social Science or Po- 
 litical Econom3^ The discussion of Wages, Hours of 
 Labor, Laws of Trade and Commerce, etc., must and 
 does have an educating influence. It is because of the 
 long and deeply felt need of larger and freer opportunities 
 for discussion, not associated with the narrow spirit of 
 special trade or calling, and not accompanied with the 
 prejudice against Trade Societies, so general among the 
 Employing Classes, that a Committee was appointed to 
 raise funds for the purpose of opening a hall free to all 
 who will fairly discuss these important questions. 
 
 The hall will be under the management of the Boston 
 Eight Hour League, an association having no party 
 purposes, as an organization. 
 
 It is also desirable to print tracts and essays of the 
 workingmen, so that the world may know of what labor 
 complains, and what is proposed as a remedy. 
 
 To accomplish these results, it is necessary to raise the 
 
7 
 
 sum of five thousand dollars, a sum insignificant compared 
 with the importance of the work. 
 
 Our object is to secure a hearing, and on this account 
 we appeal to candid fellow-citizens, who may not now 
 sympathize with our cause. The help they give, need 
 imply nothing beyond a willingness to promote this im- 
 portant inquiry, and to give the workmen, who have not 
 the advantage of wealth, ‘fair play’ in stating their case. 
 
 An Annual Report, containing a full account of receipts 
 and expenditures, will be sent to each subscriber.” 
 
 The following named gentlemen endorsed the 
 plan, and permitted the use of their names as 
 reference : 
 
 His Excellency WILLIAM CLAFLIN, 
 Hon. CHARLES SUMNER, 
 
 Hon. william GASTON. 
 
 The following plan and estimates were sent 
 with the above : 
 
 “ A hall centrally located, with two ante-rooms, capable 
 of accommodating three hundred persons, the ante-rooms 
 so arranged as to be thrown into one, and suitable for 
 reading-rooms and committee meetings, — the rent not to 
 exceed two thousand dollars ; fitting and furnishing the 
 whole, one thousand five hundred ; one thousand as a fund 
 for printing tracts, essays, and reports of meetings ; five 
 hundred deposited for contingencies. 
 
 It is believed that after the first year, the collections and 
 contributions at the hall will pay the current expenses. 
 
I 
 
 8 
 
 No societies of a partisan or sectarian nature admitted to 
 its use. 
 
 Rules such as govern all well regulated halls. 
 
 1st. The hall to be advertised as “to be let” at cost of 
 heating and lighting and keeping in order for three evenings 
 in the week, to societies of Working-men and Working- 
 women. 
 
 2d. A free public discussion upon Labor Questions, in- 
 cluding that of Woman’s Work and Wages, one evening in 
 each week. 
 
 3d. A free public Temperance meeting one evening in 
 each week. 
 
 4th. Sunday evening lectures by clergymen and others 
 upon any reform subject. 
 
 5th. The hall to be kept open certain hours of the day 
 as a reading room. 
 
 6th. The reading room to be furnished by contributions, 
 and free meetings to be supported by collections. 
 
 The several meetings shall be under charge of special 
 committees, consisting of men, or women, or men and 
 women, as the case may be ; the temperance meeting, by 
 known temperance men ; Sunday evening and other lectures, 
 under the control of the hall committee. Any evening, for 
 which the hall is not engaged, will be filled by such lectures 
 as the committee may be able to obtain.” 
 
 The sum of money subscribed at this time 
 amounts to six hundred and ten dollars, — three 
 hundred and ten of which is paid in and depos- 
 ited. 
 
 The need of such a hall is more than ever 
 manifest. The Church and the Lyceum Plat- 
 
9 
 
 form are closed to us, and will be until our ques- 
 tion becomes as popular as Suffrage or Temper- 
 ance. An appeal has been made to some of the 
 churches in this city, the most liberal and the 
 most orthodox, but without success. Anna Dick- 
 inson may speak of “Demagogues and Working- 
 men,” but no working man can be allowed to re- 
 ply, — and this in a pulpit that had been refused 
 us after a promise that, should our references 
 prove good, the clergyman would feel indebted 
 for the opportunity. The references are ac- 
 knowledged good, but the cause awaits a 
 hearing. 
 
 Thanks to the Free Congregational Church 
 of Lynn, the radical truth had a. hearing from 
 their pulpit, and the Rev. Warren H. Cud worth, 
 of East Boston, gave the use of his pulpit to one 
 of bur number, who read therefrom his excellent 
 essay on Labor. 
 
 Having failed to procure the requisite sum 
 by circular appeals, the committee contemplate 
 engaging a suitable person to canvass for the 
 required amount. A demand for so small a 
 sum as five thousand dollars, for an object so 
 worthy and essential as that of a Free Hall, 
 where, without prejudice or party feeling, the 
 
10 
 
 great problem of labor can be fairly discussed 
 and considered, should meet with a prompt and 
 ready response. 
 
 All to whom we have appealed have confessed 
 the plan excellent, and many have expressed a 
 wish that the world may hear of labor’s complaint 
 from labor men and women who have made the 
 problem their study and thought for years. The 
 apathy of the benevolent wealthy towards a 
 movement that looks to causes rather than 
 effects, may be explained by the unpopularity of 
 such movements; while any request for funds 
 from a society engaged in a merely remedial 
 work, meets with a ready response. 
 
 Marked exceptions are those gentlemen, who, 
 declaring that they did not agree with us in 
 our theory or claims, were yet willing that our 
 cause should have a fair hearing. 
 
 First among these is Ex-Governor William 
 Claflin, who, whenever appealed to in the name 
 of free discussion, always gave us his contribu- 
 tion of money as well as his valuable sugges- 
 tions, and use of his name. Our plan was first 
 submitted to him, and then to the Hon. Charles 
 Sumner, who granted the use of his honored 
 name as a reference, and subscribed to the 
 
11 
 
 fund. His Honor, the Mayor, Wm. Gaston, as 
 readily complied with both requirements. The 
 following is the list of subcribers : 
 
 WM. CLAFLIN . 
 
 • • • 
 
 $50.00. 
 
 CHARLES SUMNER 
 
 • • • 
 
 50.00. 
 
 WM. GASTON 
 
 • • • 
 
 50.00. 
 
 SAMUEL HOOPER 
 
 • • • 
 
 50.00. 
 
 GEO. F. HOAR . 
 
 • • • 
 
 50.00. 
 
 HORACE BINNEY SARGENT . 
 
 50.00. 
 
 RICHARD H. DANA, 
 
 
 50.00. 
 
 E. S. TOBEY 
 
 • • • 
 
 50.00. 
 
 WRIGHT & POTTER 
 
 • • • 
 
 50.00. 
 
 WM. B. SPOONER 
 
 • • • 
 
 50.00. 
 
 WM. B. WADMAN 
 
 • • • 
 
 50.00. 
 
 WM. ENDICOTT . 
 
 • • • 
 
 25.00. 
 
 GEO. B. LORING 
 
 • • • 
 
 25.00. 
 
 The following have also contributed to the 
 fund : 
 
 H. D. CUSHING. 
 
 NEWTON TALBOT. 
 
 Mrs. OLIVIA FLYNT. 
 
 H. II. COOLIOGE. 
 
 THOS. WENTWORTH HIGGINSON. 
 
 MOODY MERRILL. 
 
 Others have signified their intention of 
 giving, but have delayed until spring. It is 
 hoped to increase the amount to fifteen hundred 
 doUars in a few months, so that by next fall w^e 
 
12 
 
 shall he enabled to commence the experiment 
 according to the plan. 
 
 In addition to these contributions to the fund, 
 I have the pleasure of recording the names of 
 the following gentlemen, who have in the past 
 contributed towards our Conventions. Foremost 
 among them is the name of one who, to his con- 
 tributions of money, has lent the greater contri- 
 bution of his voice — Wendell Phillips. Next in 
 order, comes the contribution of one hundred 
 dollars from Hon. B. F. Butler, a sum, as he said, 
 to make up any deficiency that might occur from 
 our Convention, or to aid in another. Other 
 small sums, to the amount of about one hundred 
 dollars, have been contributed during the year, 
 and have been expended in the agitation of 
 the question, as set forth in the early part of 
 this report. 
 
 The great good done by the circulation of 
 essays and tracts cannot be over-estimated, and 
 thanks are due to members for their voluntary 
 contributions of pamphlets. The work so well 
 begun in this direction, should be followed by the 
 publication of other documents, and in stereo- 
 typing such as may warrant the outlay. To do 
 this the League needs , 
 
13 
 
 A FEINTING FUND. 
 
 The only present source of revenue for this 
 purpose, is in the increase of honorary members 
 at ten cents each. From this source and the con- 
 tributions of members, the fund has now reached 
 the sum of |43.65, an amount so utterly inade- 
 quate for the purposes of the League, that I would 
 earnestly call your attention to the importance 
 of increasing it, so as to enable the committee on 
 printing to receive essays and tracts for publica- 
 tion. 
 
 Such has been the work of the League. Let 
 us, in remembering what has been done, not 
 forget what there is yet to do. The marked ig- 
 norance upon our question, evinced in the pul- 
 pit, on the platform, in the halls of legislation, in 
 the public press, and in the general public mind, 
 should urge us forward to the performance of our 
 duty. Continuing, as heretofore, faithful to the 
 idea that a reduction of the hours of labor 
 increases wages without increasing cost, and so 
 diminishes profits upon labor, thus giving a bet- 
 ter distribution of wealth and culture, without 
 disturbing or discussing the wealth already accu- 
 mulated ; that poverty and extreme wealth are 
 
14 
 
 causes, not results, of intemperance, prostitution 
 and crime ; and, that to abolish poverty, we must 
 first operate upon the present means by which 
 wealth is distributed, so that the laborer shall 
 have a larger, and capital a smaller share of the 
 products, until profits upon labor shall be so 
 small, that co-operation in industry shall be as 
 simple and easy, as corporation of wealth. 
 
 This is the work before us. No northern 
 passage by a frozen pole is the object of our 
 search ; but to seek out a way for the masses 
 through the desert of Poverty, to fields of green 
 and springs of running water, where want shall 
 no more incite appetite and passion to deeds 
 of violence and wrong, and where extreme 
 wealth shall melt away and pampered luxury 
 no more debauch, debase and corrupt the people. 
 
 Keeping in view the haven of our rest where 
 poverty and extreme wealth are not known, let 
 us not lose sight of the humble method, of the 
 first important, yet apparently insignificant step, 
 toward that result. 
 
 Girander names may crown our sister reforms ; 
 wealth and talent may pour their willing contri- 
 butions into the laps of their advocates. 
 
 Poverty of wealth, of talent, of culture, of. 
 
15 
 
 time, may be ours ; but yet, as of old, “ The re- 
 jected stone shall become the chief stone of, the 
 corner,” and the Eight Hour movement be hailed 
 as the salvation of co-operative government, the 
 creator of co-operative industry, and the har- 
 binger of Co-operative Christianity. 
 
 GEORGE E. McNEILL. 
 
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The .undersigDed are prepared to deliver Lectures upon 
 the following subjects. 
 
 Poverty — A Cause. 
 
 Intemperance — A Result. 
 
 Eight Hours — The Method. 
 Co-operative Christianity — The Aim. 
 
 
 3 
 
 G. E. McNeill, 
 State House, 
 Boston, Mass. 
 
 Eight Hours a Day’s Work, 
 The Relations of Christianity to 
 Labor and Capital, 
 
 1 
 
 E. H. Rogers, 
 
 Chelsea, Mass. 
 
 J 
 
 Educators in a Republic, — F. A. Hinckley, Dorchester, 
 Mass. 
 
 A Reduction of Hours an Increase of ~) Ira Steward, 
 
 Wages, 
 
 > Cambridgeport, 
 
 Extreme Poverty and Extreme Wealth, j 
 
 Mass.