The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-02-25
Ten HOUR Law
!: FOR WOMEN
/, VALID
U. S. SUPREME COURT UP.
HOLDS OREGON ACT ON
GROUNDS THAT WEAKER
SEX is ENTITLED TO PRO.
LECTION FROM GREED.

The Spokane lobby that worked
overtime last session of the state
legislature to defeat law limiting
employment of women to 10 hours
per day will have a decision of
the U. S. supreme court to fight
the next time they attempt to pre-
vent passage of such an act.
In the Oregon test case, brought
by Portland laundryman, the SUI
preme court yesterday upheld the
right of the state to pass and en-
force such a law. The laundry
mans case was carried through the
Oregon courts, all of which upheld
it, and the final decision of the
highest federal court clears the
way for similar, or better, laws in
all the states. There is no further
appeal
The law was attacked on the
grounds that it attempted to limit
the power of private contract.
which is another way of saying
that a woman must have a right"
to work as long as an employer re-
quires on condition of giving her a
job. In substance the supreme
court holds that the limit placed
on woman's right of agreement as
to the number of hours she shall
work is justified by the fact that
woman occupies a position where
legislation for her protection may
be sustained although similar en-
actment is unnecessary for the pro-
lection of men. For numerous rea.
sons the court held that she is en-.
titled to greater protection thar
men, among them being that she is
always more or less dependent
upon the stronger sex for protec-
ton, and not merely her own
health. but the we'll being of the
race, justify legislation to protect
her from the greed as we'll as the
passions of man. The court points
out that the sexes differ in struc-
ture of body, In the functions to be
performed by each, in the amount
of physical strength, in the ca
pacity Of long continued labor, par
when done standing, the
influence of vigorous health upon
the future we'll being of the race,
the self reliance which enables
one to assert full rights and In the
to maintain the struggle
for subsistence. This difference is
held to justify a difference in legis-
lation, and upholds that which is
designed to compensate her for
some of the burdens that rest
upon her.
This decision is one of the most
important that has been handed
down on the subject of labor regu-
lation. Fundamentally it is wrong
that any woman has to work for
living, but since she has to, the fact
that she is deserving of most care
full protection needs to be clearly
established.
If the legislature of Washington
and other states do not pass such
laws at the first opportunity 1t will
be because the legislators line up
in open opposition to principle
that the highest court in the land
declares to be just and necessary.
Here is the chance to build a
first class issue in the coming
state campaign. Spokane is only
one of several cities in Washing
ton where girls and women are
compelled to work in certain
branches until their employers con-
descend to allow them to drag
YEARLY home.
The right of contract, which en-
ployers insist on so periodically, IS
so called right only for the rea-
son that a woman who has to work
has no other choice than to accede
to what terms the employer pro
poses. Otherwise she can't work.
There is no more right of contract
on her part than is exercised by a
horse in many cases, This is espe-