Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-02-17
LABOR
Looking Out For
Its Interests.
Women Have Been For
gotten,
D,,I TL,, Iu;II Have Chapop;on
But They Will Have a Champion,
Yet.
Especial Correspondence.)

Especial COTreSpOHueuce.D
Columbus. o., Feb. 1.-THE Ohio
Federation of Labor is losing little
time or opportunity in seeing that the
present General Assembly passes
big share of labor laws. Since the
beginning of the session regular
lobby has been present in both houses,
and Judging from the efforts made to
procure the introduction of bills favor
able to the object of the Federation
the Legislative committee is doing
scme good work.
Probably the most important bill
which has been drafted at the request
of the Federation is that applying to
the abolishment of contract prison
labor. This for many years, or since
the organization of the Federation.
has been the prime object of its Or
ganization, together with the establish
ment by legislative enactment of an
eight hour law. The free school book
bill also comes in for some attention,
and If it does not pass the House, all
signs in existence at present are in
correct.
The eight hour bill is one of the
hardest problems the Legislative COM
mittee has to solve, as for a number
of years it has been fought over in
various assemblies with little definite
results. The last time the bill was
presented was in 1896 when after a
long squabble it was referred back to
the judiciary committee and promptly
killed by that body on the alleged
grounds of its unconstitutionality. 1t
is probable though, that before this
session ends q bill to meet all neces-
sary technicalities will be introduced
and passed. \ large majority of the
members were elected on labor or
semi-labor platforms, but one regreta-
bic fact remains, however, that in the
entire assemblage, with the exception
| of Senator Dunham and Representa-
tives Demuth and Jones, of Lucas, and
Kinney, of Cuyahoga, labor has little
actual representation as far us a
champion goes. or course many Of
the members are willing to introduce
bills Of the kind that the Federation
wants, but when it comes to show
down fight with the exceptions noted,
champions are shy.
The Federation would also like to
have uniform school age establish
ed so as to conform with the factory
age, and such n bill may go through
before the close of this session. One
great and regretable fact which
has been overlooked by the Fedora
tons representatives in the Assembly
is that thus far no provisions have
been made to abolish what has been
safely styled the greatest injustice
to the future mothers of the country
the department store evil which COM
pels girls to work in lily ventilated
and heated stores at Starvation
wages"
In reference to this matter it may
be said that while every provision is
being made for the male worker by
the Federation it has unwittingly
overlooked the interests of the weaker
sex and has made no provisions what
ever for the protection of the working
women. If, however, the intention of
one member of the House, who at pres
ent, does not care to have his name
mentioned in connection with the mat
ter, Is carried out, law will be placed
upon the statute books of the State
which will look toward a compulsory
regulation of the hours of work and
surroundings of shop girls.
*. j. MURDOCH.