Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-22
EIGHT HOURS IN PERIL.

If the laborins men of this state are
really in favor of an eight hour law and
e> pect the fusion majority in the legisla-
turc will carry out its party pledges on
that issue in good faith. the Judgment of
thu Inter Mountain is that the utmost
Vigilance is now needed on the part of
the sons of toll. The eight hour law now
under consideration bears suspicious evil
dence of belonging to that class of spec
i;1 legislation which is forbidden by the
constitution. The courts might be
holly unable To uphold law which
gives to one class OF labor eight hours
AMI leaves the hours of all other classes
without restriction. 1t is conceivable
that a dishonest legislative majority,
knowing the courts would be compelled
to decide against such law, would rush
it through the legislative hopper and adj
journ. claiming to have done its duty by
the people and throwing all further re-
s'NA>A'
n contingency there is an easy remedy.
Let the labor organization take Il copy of
the pending bill to the best legal author
ity of the state for an opinion as to it's
constitutionality. If the opinion is ia
vcrable let the measure be Endorsed and,
With the governors approval. enacted
into law.
Let there be a square deal at the be-
ginning Let there b. no Juggling with
Organized Labor. Ii has right to eN-
pect perfectly candid treatment. 1t ac-
cepted the assurances of the fusion
party on the eight hour proposition.
That party hasa working majority in
The Legislature and is surely responsible
for all legislation. 1t cannot escape that
responsibility by any division of it's
votes. 1t can caucus on the eight hour
bill as well as it caucussed on the sena-
tnnial election, 1t has 81 votes in the
legislature and majority in each house.
and less than d majority of democrats
might combine and defeat an eight hour
doubtful constitutionality, and the cry
could be set up. when too late. that the
republicans We're responsible for the de-
ception, that the majority of them helped
along the scheme, While majority of
the fusionists We're true to their party
pledges and only a minority betrayed the
cause of labor, etc, etc. But let no man
be- deceived by that sort of tWaddle. The
republicans by themselves can neither
enact nor defeat any measure of legis-
lation. The fusionists can do either as
they wish. They have absolute control.
The people gave it to them. They COM
missioned them to enact this eight hour
law. They will hold them responsible
for the CONSEQUENCES. They will not hold
| the republicans responsible, nor will they
| divide the responsibility if the two par
! ties so divide as TO ueieat eight hours.
! They look to the fusion majority alone
No subsequent explanations about the
re lative percentage of republican and
! fusion votes against eight hours will re-
| move the curse. The employers of labor
! the corporations. the capitalists--they
will not be open to criticism to the
slightest degree. The fusion party which
first introduced eight hours, first prom
ised eight hours. first abused all who did
rot immediately accord eight hours-the
! fusion party alone will be held RESPONSE
| BILE for the failure or success of eight
hour legislation. Every intelligent
| Workingman knows that.