Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1908-10-07
LABOR LEGISLATION
Republican States Have Been Lih-
eraI in Legislation for
Labor.
Democratic States Have Done Little
to Make Labor Conditions Better
Within Their Bounds.

III Is 4 TACT that every important step
for the benefit of American labor has
been taken either by Republican
Congress and administration or by the
Legislature of Republican State. of
course with the consent, and sometimes
| by the advice. of the State executive.
Democratic Congresses have been no.
tally 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 Liquidation.
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
enforcement of laws for the welfare
Iof 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-
reaus, without which labor laws are
often 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
ON government works or public con-
tracts for more than eight hours 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 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
lren 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. Fiji
teen Republican and six Democratic
States limit the hours of labor of WON
en- 1t should be 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
three Republican and ten Democratic
States employers are required by Law
TO provide seats for female workers.
Twelve States have enacted legisla
- ton intended to effect the extinction Of
the sweatshop system, with its degrad
~ ing and revolving accessories OF thest
e. twelve States ten are Republican ant
ne two Democratic. Seventeen Republican
n and five Democratic States have law
It's requiring the payment of wages week..
he or fortnightly, or, in some instances
We prohibiting longer period than on
hntuoou nov dava
n Trade Union Labels.
Fourteen Republican States and onl,
laws in force prohibiting employer
Els from discharging persons on account o
membership in labor organizations, o
from compelling persons to agree nc
~ to become members of labor organizs
az lions as condition Of securing employ
en ment or continuing in their emplo,
om Forty States have passed laws allowin
nd trade unions to adopt labels or trade
an marks to be used to designate product
es, Of the labor of their members, and PR
of hibiting the counterfeiting of the us
for of such labels or trademarks by III
-he authorized persons or these State
- twenty EIGHT are Republican and twel,
are Democratic.
:" The foregoing presents for consider
Gu ton by intelligent, patriotic labor SUI
10 stantial facts and figures taken fro
the statute books of the several State
No platitude can upset them. Tit
prove the records of the Republics
Mt party and Of the Democracy on the
- Dor issue, and they must convince e
ent cry reasonable reader that the Repub
rel can party has not only brought Amel
non can labor up to its present honorat
80 standard, but that labor can look on
~ to the Republican party for assuran
IN =. of protection and prosperity in t
wiz future.
ent
npo WOuId Restrain UnIavvful Trusts