EIGHT-HOUR DAY. The tight-hour day as the ideal working day was proposed in Eng land as early as 18:33. A trade-union congress at Birmingham demanded in 1869 that the eight hour day should be adopted throughout the United Kingdom. With the growth of the Social Democratic Federation in the early eighties, the eight-hour agitation became general. The socialists sought to secure the desired results through legislation. the trade unions through combined action against individual employers. The trade unions, however, have gradually come to look with more favor upon legislation looking toward the general establishment of an eight hour day. Nothing has been accomplished in this way except that in some municipalities an i-ight-hour day for public employees has been adopted. In 1866 the National Labor Union of the United States demanded it. Eight-hour leagues were formed during the strikes of 1872 ;3. The first law affecting National Government employees was passed in 1869 and put into effect in the navy yards. The eight-hour day is now in force for all Government work. The fol lowing States have laws affecting either public works. State, county, or municipal employees: California. Colorado. Idaho. Kansas, Massachu setts. New York. Utah. Washington. and West, Virginia. A few trades have gained an eight hour day. for several it is required by law, but for the great mass of laborers of the United 'states and England it is still an unsatisfied de mand.
On the Continent of Europe a widespread agi tation in favor of an eight-hour day developed in the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
Since ISSO the demand for an eight-hour day has formed a part of the programme of the powerful labor parties of France and of the Social Demo cratic Party in Germany. Throughout the Con tinent, labor organizations and socialist parties favor the enactment of laws reducing the work ing day to eight hours. Through the support of the present German Emperor, the movement has attained some positive results in Germany. The eigbt-hour day has been established in some of the industrial enterprises of the Government, and in a few trades.
In Australia the movement has made greater headway than in any other country. Public sentiment is strongly in favor of a legal eight hour day. As early as 1856 the stronger trades in Melbourne were able to enforce an eight-hour day: and the movement rapidly spread to the smaller cities of Victoria and to the other col onies. In the colony of Victoria the hours of women working in factories were in 1874 limited to eight; in 18S5 the same restriction was ex tended to all employments of women and boys. The eight-hour day was in 1877 prescribed by law for all men working underground; and it has been extended to men employed on many public and quasi-public works. See Linea, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF: LABOR PROBLEMS TRADE UNIONS. Consult : Rae, Eight Hours for Work (New York, 1'041 Webb and Cox. The Eight flours Day.