The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-08
women SPEAK ON
LABOR MEASURES
Earnest Protest Made Against
Proposed Changes in
~ Laws.

One OF the llyest public hearing. OF
tho present session OF the Legislature
was that on the female labor laws last
night before the House Committee on
General Laws. Everybody who could
get inside the courtroom Of the state
Corporation Commission was on hand
INC women were out I'm force
number OF those Interested in various
pnlIahthropic societies argued for the
preservation OF the present law. IT he
came evident that when equal suffrage
comes In Virginia. plenty OF women
VIII have developed the faculty OF pub
nc spcaklng necessary to meet male
opponent in joint debate and to crush
him utterly
Two bills were considered Mr..
west, OF Bedford. would allow the
sixty hours week to be arranged so
RS 70 give lalf-holiday on Saturday.
Mr.. Stebbins proposes the same thing.
with the addition that the colorcl wo-
men who work In tobacco prizerics
may labor seventy-two hours n week
In the busy season
Noted Speakers.
Tho orators were II. +. Rohaes mrv
minor, Miss Tsaacson Mrs. Mcrorl1e
Miss Maudc Talley. or Danyille. mr..
Alien w Freeman. Mrs. r. y Munford
~. ~ z. Levy. Mrs. Norman Randolph
Mrs Valentine. Miss Wexford Mise
mccormick. James 3. Doicrty. DIR
James buchanan. Miss Mary johnson
iohn Royall. Mr. Marchant. OF Char
lottesviile. Mr. Stebbins. captain West
ana Eusehe Withers, OF Danvllle OF
81 sl,is array only the four last named
cared TO raise their voices for tho
bills. '''s
Captain West didn't know anvtbi,c
hpout the conditions but had present
Cd the bill upon the petition OF the
operatives of a bill at BEDFORD civ
he wanted light from the others lie
received it.
Arguments for Bills.
Mr.. Stcbbins stood by his guns. He
was extremely pleasant with his fair
opponents. but he thought II was bur |
Just TO allow the rearrangcment OF |
hours He had no desire TO abropate
the child labor feature. only to give
ahose women workers who wanted a |
SATURDAY half holiday chance 10 yorl,
.of IL by laboring, say, half hour
IN ADDITION every day. AS TO the |
sooacco workers. he explained the |
e"isehcies OF the trade in the busy |
season and said that upon their earn |
= .nsS ut mat time they lived for the |
soseh months of the year. It
was proposed to work them three
hours overtime three days in the week
Mr.. Marchant described conaitio,,s
III his mill. lie was interruptnd . l.
great many times by the rcprosenta
ltives Of labor unions who were present
out lie maintained his suavlty.
!, Commission Challenged,
But Mr.. Withers didn't seem 10 AL
y 1yether like it. He began by saving
u litt 1t seemed to be the disposition to
III 'pasn inc motives of everybody who
q pearcd on his side OF the question. |
HI challenged the Commissioner OF I
La bor that IL he or any labor union ar
an, organization of women or anybody
ella would come TO Danyiile and CON-
virs &c the employees of the knitting mills |
thai II was better for them to work |
ten hours every day than to work /
osa time five days 70 get off earlier
on Saturday he would for his part
with draw the bill IF the gentleman.
he e I'D. who styles himself revolu-
tona ry Socialist will appear bef5re
the [ 'anville grand jury and make his
chars es against the SchooIfield mills
that le has made here he can get ac-
ton them.
In .rguins that Virginia Is not as
had II zen said. behind in child labcr
laws, he read statements as to condi-
tions il other States. He said ne rep
resentesi not tho operatives but the
mill Oh orators, who preferred to work
ten hoo rs every day, but who are not
hurt by the dissatisfaction of the en- :
p!oyes. II
Women and Labor.
To Of fset this argument those on |
the 9th. r side of the question said
that the Sc working woman did not
know VIII Mt was best fer them. 1t was
said that women are so constructed ;
that they are injured by | ,,
longer hours Of labor than ten. The
phvsicians testified to this fact. 1t /.
was argue Il that to amend the labor /.
laws OF t. he State as was proposed :
would be 4 step backward in the
march of n rogress.
AS for he women. every address
made by the m was a model OF oratory. I
sen sc and practicality. Nor is
my newspa per reporter going to say r
Who made tn best speech. Suffice 1t to
lay chat the mere men who ventured D
@ appear on the opposite side OF the p
question wen completely anG properly ;
rushed
They said they were not there to p
.onsider any individual case. no mat p
er how mer torious it might be. but b
lad to consil err the good of the whole o
working worl d, and especially Of the s
romen and CHI ildren. They We're work d
zig for future generations. o
It was nen fly midnight when the
ommittee rose After 4 rev moments G
f. executive Sc ssion it was determined Il