New-York tribune., 1906-11-03
LABOR'S REAL FRIENDS.
Measures to did and Protect WOrh-
ingmen Passed bg Republicans.

meeting at Despatch, a railroad anu iIi!uS-
trial community Rochester. Wednesday
evening treated at length the Republican party's
record legislation to aid and protect working
men After recalling to the audience the fact that
many labor measures could not have become laws
without the support of Republican legislators Mr..
Barhite said. in part:
AS far back as 1870 the Republican party ia
vored the short working day, ana in that year the
IN 1894 the Republican Legislature passed another
eight hour measure requiring thc employment on
public works of none but citiAtns at the prevailing
In 1887 the Republican Assembly and Senate
enacted the Saturday half f-holi1ay law and slso ip
street and steam surface railroads
ing peopIe OF the state the Republican Legislature
in 1856 created the factory inspection bureau and
IN 1870 the Repubcan majority in 2Gih branches
passed act providing for the nspecii9n OF IN 4es hes
act OF 1851; passed 10y the Republican lesisiaJure
by the Republican Legislature so as 10 SECURE the
payment Of wages Of working women in New York
In SS7 the Republican, Legislature designated the
Monday in September Labor Day.
In 1889 laws were passed legalizing trade union
In 1883 laws were passed providing for cash pay
In 1889 the RenuhIicln Iseeisiaturc passed an act
which allows employees to vote at general elections
In 1894 it was provided by the act of the Repub-
lcar LCgisiaure that stone for IN public works
should be dressed and carved within the boundaries
previous to 1895 the records sh9w that
the Republican legislatures enat tel tnlrtN-OnC stat
utes for the benefit of the Industrial worker
RECORD SINCE 1S95
During the last eleven years the Republican lesis-
lators have passed and Republican Governors have
tended to benefit the industrial worker of the state
Let us begin previous 10 1889 and reyiew the WORK o
venton passed two measures whose beneht 10 tie
the workingman who is chiefly affected by their
one of these provides that in case of injury
which is received account of the negligence OF
death. the amount which may be recovered shall
not be limited by law, but may be fixed at any
proper, .And, further than that the .Legislature
is forbidden to take away the right of action for
Gus 10 the adoption Of the c9nsttutional amend an
m deaths the ed TO be If n lost m h
arm or his leg or his hand or his foot he could re
but if the husband the father was killed, the
family dependent upon him for support could re-
this injustice
A2G5hsr p @ m Of & benefit to to the e M
state prisons and reformatories was let out to ia
came into competition with the products of work
ingmen throughout tie state. The state furnished
nished the food, and received for the labor of con-
victs about 90 cents day. How could the outside
machinery. pay living wages TO his workmen, and
c0inPctf & win {n@ pToducts ot PRISON 5apoF ;d sa
evidence Of manufacturer after manufacturer that
had been obliged to close his doors and discharge
his workmen because of the prison contract sys-
TEN.
The constitutional convention did away with
these evils. and the majority that elected Levi P.
Morton Governor OF this state made the provisions
which righted these wrongs part OF the organic
Since 1885 the measures which have been passed
~ Republican legislatures and signed by Repub-
lican governors are too numerous to mention. L
cannot call your attention to them all We may
Empowering tie chief factory inspector TO en-
the appointment of special deputy mine inspector.
Authorizing the incorporation of labor organza-
Authorizing labor organizations to acquire: con-
Providing for the safety OF worl;ingmcn in mines.
Making domestic servants and other employees
preferred creditors where receiver has been ap-
pointed Of q copartnership interest
EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN
y very important measure passed in 1896
regulating the employment OF women and children
IN mercantile establishments; 1t provides for the
l2ssPectIIon Of mercantile estab hnentf by boards
required or permitted to work more than sixty
hours week 1t provides that children under the
age of fourteen years shall not be employed. Pro-
other toilet facilities, and to furnish female en-
not less than forty-dve minutes Shall be granted
for the noonday meal. and that no women shall
aard sic is 2btanfd @ by fne Tc the
ciently lighted and ventilated.
The Ranes Law, prohibits the employment OF bar
maids for the sale of liquor.
In 1889 the Legislature passed what is commonly
known as the Franchise Tax law, ard which has
added millions of dollars to the assessable prop-
erty OF the state. and has practically abolished the
direct tax.
The Legislatures have made subsequent amend
monts to the labor law to carry out the ideas and
purposes of the leaders of the lahoring
In 1890 Governor Roosevelt sent to tho LcoIs-
latnre MESSAGE certifying to the necessity oF
measure regulating tie salaries OF New York Cry
public school teachers. and prCviirc for the
nual increase Of such salaries. Tne ill passed
ana became one of the laws OF tie state.
In 1901 came the Tenement House law. which
provides for adequate light air. sanitary COZ
vcnences freDroof protection. etc. 70" the dwell
same an amendment made to tSo Penal
Code to require Z . closing OF meat markets
Sunday. thus shortening the hours OF The butchers
and meat cutters
EIGHT HOUR LAW IN EFFECT.
Our friend Hearst tells the wortingmen that If
he Is elected Governor we shall have an eight hour
law for the WOrkngman Why. gentlemen. that
statute IS on the books already ana has been or
the books for number of years past the law as
1T originally stood having been hold to be uncon-
lcan Legislature in 1902 9nl ~ adopted concur
rent resolution 20 amend the constitution so that
a law as required by the workineman could be
passed This proposed amendment voted upon
by the people in 1895. ana in 1906 the Teg!sla Of
the state re-enacted eight hour and rrerai!in,
rate of wages law, and II Is now upon the statute
an amendment To the railroad law TO include
railroad employees in The employers liability act
This law has hcc0 approved by moro than twenty
five Thousand railroad employees I'm this state. The
legislature OF 1906 also amended the law which
regulates labor in mines and quarries in such a
nature Of 1905 f!rth"r passed & law by which
tractors or Suh-CoGtractCrs public works are
required to pay cIsh wages. and prohibits them
from conducting ronpanv stores. And so on We
might go through the list and call attention to the
countless measures which have been passed l-- Re
puhlican legislatures and signed by Republican
governors
RICHMOND TsENR FOP EUGTEs