Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-10-24
CRUSADE ON AGE LIMIT.
Chicago League to Seek Pro-
 lection by Legislation.
NO pAv0Rs, BUT FAIR PLAY ASKED

1 Membership Consists of War vetA
 erans and Others Who Claim They 1 Are Excluded From Profitable Em- l Dloyment Because They Are over Forty-hve-To Appeal to Congress. With the object of removing the ban
 upon wageworkers by the "cruel and unnatural age limit and assisting them in securing employment, an Anti
 age Limit league has been organized
 in Chicago. Efforts will be made to re- move age barriers by congressional en- actment, says the Chicago Tribune.
 The league has opened offices, and it ,, is described as an association of vet
 erans of the civil and Spanish-Ameri- ! can wars and other citizens who have reached the prescribed age limit of forty-fve years. Temporary head
 quarters have been opened in the Pal mer house clubroom.
 James F. Downey is president of the league and Benjamin Giroux, who was
 captain of sharpshooters during the
 civil war and member of the Old
 Chicago Light guard, is the secretary and treasurer
 A circular describing the objects of the league says:
 "Of all the obstructions to mans right to earn living the ban put upon labor by the forty-five year age limit is the cruelest, most obnoxious and most absurd. The main purpose of this league will be the removal and per manent banishment of that ban by such means as will be found most effective and permanent.
 '"The doors of the league are open to all honest and industrious and reput- able men, especially those who have passed the prescribed age limit of forty-five years. It will lead the fight against age ostracism by congressional enactment, and seek the creation of wholesome sentiment among such em- ployers who have not altogether for gotten that true happiness is found most surely in honest labor"
 ''The forty-fve year age limit" said Secretary Gireux recently, Ifs result of the army and navy placing limit on the age of enlistment. This has been extended to civil departments of the national and state governments and more recently adopted by private ~ fo 1e essary to overcome 8 condition that is spreading with alarming rapidity.
 "We already have been promised the moral support and influence of men of national repute to extend the move ment to other great commercial and industrial centers."
 The league announces that 1t does not intend to antagonize the employ ment of women within the sphere of her sex or actual necessities, but holds that man possesses the inherent right to be considered first as the head and breadwinner of the family.
 Tbe league will place particularly be- fore the government "the persistent ostracism of veterans of the civil war and the Spanish war, in that they are refused the pursuit of their inalienable right to labor in all the departments of the national government in accordance with their mental and physical equip ment irrespective of age"
 A meeting of the league will soon be called.
 "We intend to appoint committees" said President Downey, who will can vass the department stores, the big houses and the railroad of- Aces and ask them to reconsider their attitude against men of middle age.
 We intend to make a dignifed, manly plea. God knows that the situ- [ Rtion with many a man is tragic enough, but we want no favors, merely lair play. When you realize that this prejudice is matter of but ten years pr so it seems reasonable to hope that we can change it."