Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-10-20
FIGHT TO AMEND
The 1O-HOUR Law
Illinois Federation Concurs in
Resolution Presented by
Women.
CLOSER ALLIANCE is URGED
Mrs Raymond Robins of Chicago
Presides at Morning Session and
Delivers Stirring Address.

his tmorninS session OF the Hi
nois State Federation of Labor con-
Vention at Industrial hall was devoted
entirely to the work of the women in
labor circles throughout the state.
Addresses were given by a number of
workers and members of the Trades
Union Women's League of Illinois,
Mrs. Raymond Robins of Chicago, who
is. president of the league, was chair
man OF the meeting and Miss Eliza
beth Maloney acted as secretary.
In opening the meeting Mrs. Robins
made a few remarks apropos of the
situation in Illinois at the present
time. She said: There is just one
way at the present time to do away
with underbidders or low wage earn
ers, and that is through organization
This is the important question of the
hour in the Industrial world, and we
must work together to remedy 1t. The
industrial movement will not be right
ed unless men and women work to-
gether. The present industrial laws
react with greater force upon women
than upon men, for they are the I'M
derbtdders in the market. The under
bidder or low wage Garner should be
done away with Mrs. Robins is an
interesting and forceful speaker, and
her brief address was well received
Campaign for 1O-HOur Law.
Miss Elizabeth Maloney was the
hext speaker. She read a telegram
from Miss Mary Mcdowell, who is at
Elg1n, and who was unable to attend
the meeting because of illness. A tel
Mcdowell upon motion of one of the
federation delegates. Miss Maloney's
address included an explanation of the
compaign which has been inaugurated
to bring about amendments to the
present 10-hour law at the next regu-
lar session of the legislature. She
told OF the work which had already
been accomplished to further the cam
paign. She stated that it was the de-
sire to include all the women workers
everywhere in this amendment, and
that in order to secure such legisla-
ton there would necessarily be a bit
ter fight with the employers. The roll
call of the vote of the legislature two
years ago, when such legislation was
up for consideration, will be publish |
ed in pamphlet form and will be cir
culated among the voters Of the state. |
Other speakers were Miss Marion |
McShea. business agent of the Straw |
and Felt Hat Workers. Chicago; Miss
Mary Haney, delegate to the conven- /
ton from the United Garment Work
ers' union, Chicago; Miss Anna Will |
lard, delegate from the Mattresses !
union, Chicago; Mrs. Mary Anderson,
Chicago, and Miss Agnes Nestor. sec
retary Of the International Glove |
Workers union. Miss Nestor told of |
the shirt waist workers strike in /
Philadelphia, which she termed the
conservative city, and how the aid Of
leading people was offered TO win in |
the strike.
Resolution is COncurred In.
As the meeting of this morning was
conducted by the Women's league and |
had to do with the amendment to the |
10-hour-law, a resolution which was
handed by the representatives of the
league to the Federation of Labor
resolutions committee was acted upon.
1t is as follows:
Whereas. The increasing volume
and pressure of work upon women
wage earners and the increasing def
mite knowledge of the disastrous eff
fects of overstrain and long hours
upon women's health and motherhood,
show the urgent necessity for limit
ing the hours of women's work; and,
Whereas, The 10-hour law, enacted
by the legislature of the state of Hi
nois applying to women employed in
laundries. factories and mechanical es-
Establishments has been held constitu-
tional by the supreme court Of the
state; and,
Whereas, There still remain in the
state thousands of women in other
occupations unaffected by this law. but
who are equally in need of such pro-
lection; and,
Whereas, We believe that organized
men and women who have power be-
cause of organization to contract col
lectively for their labors and that the
standing for social bet
terment are bound to secure protec-
ton for their weaker sisters and to
demand that the state secure for all
women that which will safeguard the
health of workers and welfare of fu-
ture generations; and,
Whereas, We, the Trades Union Wo-
men of Illinois, in convention assem-
bled at Federation hall, 175 La Sale
street, Chicago, on Sept II, 1910, vot-
ed to work for an amendment to pre- ,
Sent 1O-hour-law to provide, that no
female shall be employed in any man.