The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-06

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stands at the head of the list of all the
states in the labor legislation AS early
as 1869 an act was passed cxempting
sewing machines belonging to seam
stresses in this commonwealth from
levy and sale and execution or distress
for rent And, in the same year, an act
for the better regulation and ventila-
ton of mines and for the protection of
the lives of the miners in Schuyliill
county was enacted. Many subsequent
acts were likewise enacted providing
for the safety and health of persons
employed in coal mines, for the preser-
vation of the records of the inspection
of Mines for the regulation and venti-
lation of mines and for similar pur-
poses.
"Then we have legislation to secure
laborers a lien for their labor, and leg
islation in general for the better pro-
lection of the wages of mechanics,
miners, laborers, and others. In order
that legisation in the future might be
based upon adequate information, the
Legislature provided for the establish
ment of bureau of statistics for the
subject of labor and for other purposes.
Liberal provisions have also been made
for the erection and maintenance of
hospitals particularly in the anthracite
region, the special purpose of which in
stitutions is to provide for the persons
engaged in the dangerous occupation
connected with mining. In fact, the
many acts for the protection OF women
health safety and welfare Of persons
employed in and about the bituminous
and anthracite coal mines of the state,
are too numerous to mention here.
Labor organizations are protected
by legislation in the adoption of trade
marks, labels, or symbols, and the
badge or button of any labor or frater-
nal organization is recognized and pro-
tected from use of these symbols by
unauthorized persons. The State Bureau
of Factory Inspection is accomplishing
an excellent result along similar lines.
"There is no better way of judging
the merits of a political party than by
the laws which are passed for the bene-
tit of the great mass of our citizenship,
which includes the ranks of labor. The
Republican party in Pennsylvania in
this respect can point to high achieve
ments. Nearly all protected labor leg
islation in the United States was first
adopted by way of imitation by the
Democratic states.
Labor is best protected and is as
sured higher legal privileges in the
leading features of labor legislation,
such as the eght-hour day, the prohi-
bition of the employment of children
under IL years of age in factories and
in mines, the regulation of woman
labor, the regulation of sweatshops, and
the prohibition of the truck system in
Pennsylvania, Illinois and Massachu-
setts, than in the Democratic states such
as Alabama, Arkansas Georgia, Miss
issippi and Missouri. In fact, some of
our industries in Republican states are
already threatened by the competition
of cheap, unprotected and degraded
labor in some of the southern Demo-
cratic states where child labor is per-
mitted, where no limitation is placed
upon the hours of labor and where the
standard of living permitted to the
laboring classes is low,
Look at the record OF congress in
respect to some of the great events
which have been made in the elevation
of American labor, The great revolu-
tion by which labor was exalted and
the country freed from the curse of
slavery was accomplished by the Re-
publican party against the fiercest op-
position composed of the combined
forces of the Democrats and their allies.
The coole trade was prohibited. Peon-
age was abolished under Republican
presidents.
"Under Republican rule labor In
Pennsylvania exhibits an extraordinary
degree of prosperity and great rapid
ity of advancement. Much reQains to
be done in the way of legislation before