THE TIM BUNKER PAPERS. 299 



in particular, I send you some notes I took on the Eight 

 Hour Convention. It was got up by Cicero Smith, and a 

 few of the fellows that work with him, when they do any 

 thing, which is not often. 



Big posters were stuck up on all the sign posts in town, 

 calling upon mechanics and working people in general, to 

 meet in the town hall, and assert their rights, just as if 

 somebody had been trying to take away their rights. 

 There was a full house. Shadtown was well represented 

 by the fishermen, and the White Oaks turned out strong. 

 Kier Frink and the coal men came down in their carts, 

 and Hookertown street has not seen such a collection of 

 broken down wagons, and gaunt, raw-boned horses, in 

 many a day. It reminded one of the early days of the 

 war, when they were holding big meetings to drum up re 

 cruits. 



Judge Loring was appointed chairman, and Cicero 

 Smith introduced a long string of resolutions, recommend 

 ing eight hours as a legal day s work, and pledging the 

 meeting for no man that was not in favor of an eight hour 

 law. He said the time had come for the heavy burdens 

 of labor to be lifted from the working classes ; that they 

 now did all the work, got poor pay, and had to live in 

 humble abodes, on scant fare, and endure all the ills of 

 poverty. They were ground down by capital to the low 

 est depths, and had no time for the cultivation of their 

 minds, and for social enjoyments. He hoped to see the 

 day when the men who did the work should have the 

 money, and the fine houses, and the fast horses, and enjoy 

 life like human beings. He was in favor of paying the 

 laborer as much for his eight hours as he now received 

 for ten, and if that was not enough, he would go as far as 

 the fartherest in relieving his wants, and meeting his 

 wishes. The only true foundation for a State was to 

 glorify labor. 



Seth Twiggs said he should like the latter part of the 



