The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-17

was in %electing %workingmen to Parliament.
They ut once began their campaign. adopt
ing the rule that every candidate OF the
workingnan's party must be a workingman.
They then argued tho question of their
rights in the shops. on the streets and on
the stump, and as a result soon had
enough members in Parliament to hold the
balance of power. The people outside the
laboring classes became interested in the
struggle. Public sentiment changed. The
people saw there were two sides to the
question, and we now have a number of
workingmen members Of Parliament"
But do your workingmen Representatives
stick to their class after they are elected?"
I asked.
I'm most cases they do" replied Mr. Tre-
gear, but in some rot. In tho latter In
stances the workingman starts In enthusi-
astically. He is all for labor and nothing
for capital. He is soon corrupted. however,,
by his association with the rich. The din
ners and attentions of his weather. parlia-
mentary fellows turn his head. BY the end
of the first session he has risen above his
class and changes his working suit for a |
tweed suit. At the end of the next session |
you find him In black broadcioth with u
tall hat, and thereafter he probably votes
with the capitalists. AS a whole. however,
our workingmen make fairly good Repre-
sentatives.'
l asked as to the feeling between labor
and capital. Mr.. Tregear replied: |
II think it is very good. AS l told you. I
we have not had a strike for seven years, |
and there are no indications that we shall
have any in the future. The Government
has enacted certain factory laws and our
arbitration and Cancellation acts remove the
possibilities of strikes"
Fuctory Laws.
'Give me some idea of our factory laws,
Mr.. Tregear." said I.
These laws regulate the building end
management Of the factories. They require
that the buildings be well ventilated. and
the machinery be SO protected as to
preserve the life and health Of the em-
cloyes. Every factory must have certain
sanitary arrangements. 1t must be kept
clean and must furnish fresh drinking
LAS to the management Of the factories"
the secretary for labor went on, I'VE have
laws to protect the workingmen, and
the unions. The factory law Is
such that it includes nearly every working
man In the country. A factory is defined as
a place in which two or more persons are
for hire at any trade or landi-
craft: any such place comes under the fac
tory act and is subject to Government In
.-.- .t
How New. zealanh Guards the Work
~irof.azatah cad in&Haan. Et.
'And are all factories Inspector I asked.
EVERY ono Of them" replied Mr.. Tre-
GEAR. I'VE. have a chief inspector and 1S3
ocal inspectors; The country is divided up
nto districts n each Is under the charge
II one- Of these inspectors. BY law the fac
cries must be- open to such, inspection at
ny time OF the day or night. and their
managers must give all Information desired
IS to the workmen or workwomen. Every
actor keeps a record Of the age. sex, char
.cter Of the work. hours Of work and wages
4 each of his employees. andfff this Is not
n accordance with tho laws the inspector
will notify him Of the fact and prosecute
Ina. =, g-io1,e mods 5as 7r.
As to Wemen. and Children. ,= :
I'VE, have very stringent laws for the :
of women and children in the /.
Mr.. Tfegear; 8 continued. 1--WE
ave women inspectors who 60 from fac F.,
DRY to factory to investigate the condition /,
( the women. According to law no woman
boy can be employed for more than F,
orty-eight hours a week in a factory. No {
10Y under IA or girl under 10 can work in a
lass factory. nor can any girl under 16
e employed in a brick or tile works or any {
lace where any dry grinding in the metal I
rade or the dipping Of lucifer; matches is I
ding on This is to protect the health Of
he GIRL" ~ {
up to what age do you keep your chill y
rem out Of the factories? r. I asked.
I'VE do not allow any to be employed j..
nder IA and all under 1s must have passed .
hrough the fourth grade Of the public Z,
chools. No woman, and no boy or girl I'M =
er IS. can be employed for. more than four F..
ours and a half without an interval for !.
heals. We provide that all tho meals shall =
. taken outside the workrooma This is 4
D prevent any work being done during =
zeal hourD." 4J
No Store ORDER. y
'How about wages, Mr.. Tregear? Arc any b
{ your people paid In orders on storesr' d