The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-10-14
LABOR LEGISLATION
i
Republican States Have Been Lib.
eral in Legislation for
Labor.
Democratic States Have Done Littls
to Make Labor Conditions Better
Within Their Bounds.

1t is fact that every important step
for the benefit of American labor has
been taken either by Republican
Congress and administration or by the
Legislature of a Republican State, of
course with the consent. and sometimes
by the advice. of the State executive.
Democratic Congresses have been no.
tably negligent in this respect, and
Democratic States have either done
nothing to make labor conditions bet
ter within their bounds. or have slowly
and reluctantly followed at distance
in the trail of Republican reforms.
State Legislntion.
The States have control of labor leg
islation within their respective bounds.
federal authority being confined, so far
as labor is concerned, to the District
Of Columbia and the territories, federal
reservations and federal public works.
The story of labor legislation shows
that nearly all labor reforms originated
| in Republican States, and at the pres
ent day the Republicans are far ahead
of the Democrats in the enactment and
| enforcement of laws for the welfare
| of men and women and children who
work for living. Twenty-siX out OF
thirty Republican States have labor
| bureaus, and only seven out of sixteen
! Democratic States have similar bu-
i loh law
| aften dead letters. Twenty three Re
publican States have factory inspectors
to see to the enforcement of the factory
| laws. Only six Democratic States have
factory inspection services. Fifteen
States-thirteen Republican and two
Democratic-have free employment
agencies Eighteen States have laws
on their statute books prohibiting labor
OF government works or public con-
tracts for more than eight hours a day.
OF these States sixteen are Republican,
and two Democratic. Four Republican
States and one Democratic State have
laws declaring eight hours to be legal
working day in the absence of Il con-
tract. Twenty-seven States prohibit
the employment of children under four
teen years of age In factories. OF these
twenty three are Republican and four
are Democratic States. Laws limiting
the hours of the employment of chill
dren in factories or stores have been en-
acted in twenty-four Republican and
thirteen Democratic States. Eighteen
Republican and ten Democratic States
prohibit night work by children. Twelve
Republican and three Democratic
States prohibit the employment Of chill
dren in operating dangerous machinery
or cleaning machinery in motion. Eff
teen Republican and six Democratic
States limit the hours of labor of wom-
eli. 1t should Ike noted that twelve of
the Republican States which limit
women's hours of labor have factory
inspectors to see that the law is obeyed
while only three of the Democratic
States make such provision. In twenty
States employers are required by law
10 provide seats for female workers.
Twelve states have enacted legisla-
ton intended 10 effect the extinction of
the sweatshop system. with lis dpgrad-
Ing and revolving accessories. OF these
twelve States ten are Republican and
two Democratic. Seventeen Republican
and five Democratic States have laws
requiring the payment OF WAGES weekly
: or forniehtly, or in some instances,
prohibiting 4 longer period than one
{ month between pay days