Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-22
8-HOUR LAW NEXT
Decision of Supreme Court Up
holding Shorter Day for
Women Paves Way.
WITHIN POLICE POWER
Ruling Declares 1t Duty of State to
Protect Health of Weaker
Sex.

The supreme court of Illinois yes
terday handed down a decision up
holding the ten-hour law prohibiting
the employment of women in me-
chanical establishments, factories
and laundries for a longer period
than ten hours in a single day and
thus reversed the decision of Judge
TutbiIl of the Cook county circuit
court, in which he restrained the
states attorney from prosecuting VIC
Iators of this law. The decision is
considered a big step toward better
ing the working conditions of female
labor throughout the country, and
b. tb social reformers and labor lead
erS predict that it is but the forerun-
nc of the enactment of an eight hour
law.
Within Police Power
The supreme court holds that the
regulation of employment of per-
sons is entirely within the police
power of the state and that the class
ification of employment of women is
clearly valid. In its opinion it says
that it is of the greatest Importance,
considering that women bear chill
dren, that the state should take such
measures as will protect them from
the consequences induced by long
continued manual labor in those oc-
equations which tend to break them
down physically The decision was
rendered in the case of w. c. Richie
& Co against States Attorney Way
man and Chief Factory Inspector Ed
gar T. Davies, carried before the SUI
preme court on an appeal from the
action of Judge Tuthill of the Cook
county circuit court, who enjoined
Attorney Wayman and Inspector Da-
vies from enforcing the law against
the Richie company.
Judges Must Take Heed.
TT is known of all men," said the
court, and of what we know as men
we. cannot profess to be ignorant as
judges:
That woman's physical structure
and the performance of maternal
functions place her at a great disad-
vantage in the battle of life.
That while a man can work for
more than 10 hours a day without in
jury to himself, a woman. especially
when the burdens of motherhood are
upon her, cannot.
THAT while man can work stand
ing upon his feet for more than 10
hours day, day after day, without in
jury 10 himself, a woman cannot.
That 10 require a woman to stand
upon her feet for more than 10 hours
in any one day, and to perform severe
manual labor while thus standing, has
the effect OF impairing her health.
Aims to Protect Children.
And, as weakly and sickly women
cannot be the mothers of vigorous chill
dTen, it is of the greatest importance
10 the public that the state take such
measures as may be necessary to pro-
tect is women from the consequences
produced by long continued manual la
Dor in those occupations which tend
10 break them down physically.
1T would seem obvious. therefore.
that legislation which limits the mum
Der Of hours which women shall be per
mitted to work to 10 hours in a single
day in such employments as are car
Tied on in mechanical establishments.
factories and laundries would tend to
preserve the health of women and as
sure the production of vigorous off
spring by them and would conduce di-
rectly to the health, morals and gen
eral welfare of the public. and that
such legislation would fall clearly with .
in the police powers of the state"