The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-01-15
CLASS LEGISLATION.

CLASS LEGISLATION.
Notwithstanding the loud and oft
repeated profession Of its boundless-
ness, the love of the democratic party
of Montana for the laboring man
seems to be unable to embrace more
than two classes Of toile1s within it's
sheltering folds without becoming ex-
hausted. Evidence of it's very limited
capacity for love to be bestowed upon
those whom fortune compels to toll
for their living is furnished by the
two bills introduced in the legislature J
by democrats for the benefit Of the
workingman. One Of the bills is by
Mr.. Killgallon and presumably is in
conformity with the pledges Of the
party's platform to enact all eight
hour law, if successful at the polls.
The bill provides for a law constitut-
ing eight hours a days work in mine
or smelter. The title of the bill is
ian act for the protection of the
health, etc." of the persons working
in mines or smelters. No mention is
made Of the men engaged in the nu-
merous other occupations in the state,
employment at which involves hard
and exacting labor. The inference to
be drawn from the bill is that any
sort of an old day is good enough for
them and if they consider the hours
of service required Of them too long
they are at liberty to quit and seek
employment in a mine or reduction
works, where the law specifies the
number of hours men may work.
Still the fusion press Of the state
without exception laud the bill and
call attention to it as proof of the
party's honesty in carrying out it's
ante-election promises and it's solicit
Gus consideration concerning the well
fare of those compelled to work in
order to gain a livelihood.
According to the democratic idea
the only men who should have the
benefit Of legislation to protect their
health and guard them against the
dangers attendant upon a days work
of over eight hours are those who
shovel in a drift or wheel Stag in a
smelter. All other occupations are
merely physical execrise calculated to
benefit those following them. The
republican party, not possessed of the
power to draw so fine a distinction,
!, foolishly recommended in it's platform
"that the hours of labor be reduced to
eight hours a day" The gentlemen
responsible for that declaration appear
to have been unable to differentiate be-
tween the kind of labor where the Law
9 must step in and throw it's protection
: around those engaged in it and just
: ordinary work of the old-fashioned.
8 hard kind, no matter what it's nature
f They foolishly thought work wal
work and that if legislation was re-
Q quired TO regulate the length of time
each day those providing it might OK
b act in it's performance from those tt
whom it was given that no distinction
should be made.
o The only reason that can be ad
e vanced why the democratic part.
g should favor class legislation of 81
pronounced a nature as that proposed
is that as a rule the largest demo
cratic vote is cast in the counties hav
d ing the greatest number of mines an
smelters. When the "cow counties
begin to return democratic instead Q
republican majorities legislation ma.
be enacted reducing the hours of Ia
Dor that a sheep herder may be re
quired to render each day or fixing
j. maximum time that a ''p%unoher'' ma
10 be compelled to ride.
Aluavs IN the alert for an ODpOl