The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-02-25
C,EluSURE BLEASE |
Organized Labor charges That He De-:
priives Wacbers of Their
RIGHTS UNDER / !, 1.-THE l 4! Law

4aiUaaIV sS,tfpASsst.als5sa y ss aE tA ~
Child Labor Conference Between I'm
Ion Men and GOV. Blease Causes q
Serious eh-Hs Tells Them to
let Women Seek Other Employ
ment II Horurs, j ,'s AZ are Too Long 81:
Whereas. the governor Of Of this
State has, by the exercise Of his veto
power, vetoed the appropriation, for
the purpose Of employing factory In
spectors, thereby practically nullify-
ing the law and depriving the work
sers Of the protection previously af-
.forded them; s;s
Therefore be it resolved, That
this body put. itself on record as be-
ing opposed to this policy OF the gov
ernor, and coldemning any action
tending to deprive the workers OF
their rights and the protection Of
just and necessary laws"
This resolution condemning the
action of Gov. Blease in vetoing the
appropriation for the factory inspec-
tors, was adopted by the Columbia
City Federation Of Trades and will
be sent to Gov. Blease. + !.
H. j. Hardy, secretary of the City
Federation Of Trades, went to see
Gov. Blease several days ago con
corning the factory. inspection law.
Gov. Blease, according to Mr.. Hardy
ard Senator Weston. got mad and
slapped organized labor in the face.
That is the statement made.
GOV. Blease said Thursday that he
knew more about the condition Of
the factory people and their neels
than any representative Of a labor
Organization. Mr.. Hardy said that
Gov. Blease got hot under the coll
lar
r. H. Weston, senator from Rich
land county, accompanied Mr.. Hardy
on his visit to Gov Blease for the
purpose of introducing him. Senator
Weston desired to confer with. Gov.
5BIease to see II some provision could
not be made for the enforcement OF
the factory inspection law. tx
Senator Weston and tMr: Hardy
said that Gov. Blease stated that he
would veto any measure tending to
regulate the hours Of the laboring
man. When Gov BleasB was asked
-as.t to the law: regulating the hours OF
women in stores he is reported to
have stated to Senator Weston and
Mr.. Hardy that the women might get
Sout and hunt other employment.
H. J. Hardy. secretary Of the City
Federation OF Trades, made the fol-
lowing statement in which he severe
" attacks Gov. Blease:
On Monday I, In company with
Senator Weston, visited the governor
to ascertain his reasons for the wip-
ing out Of the factory inspection fea-
.ture of the law. The governor stated
that his reason, for so doing was that
he considered the factory inspectors
absolutely worthless and waste of
the States money. He further
added that be would attend to that
feature of the law himself and in his
own way. He further stated that he
would veto any and all labor legis-
alation that mieht come before him
where such legislation sought to i'm
prove or alleviate the conditions Of
any man or woman over the age of
21 vesrc
''He said that every man and wo--
man who had attained the age Of 21
was a free moral agent and could
Z look out for him or herself. Any man
%or woman who was not satisfied with
their condition or the safeguards
placed around their employment or
their hours of labor could quit their
position, but they need not look to
the law to help them as long as he
was in the governors chair.
asked as to how this might work
when applied to the working women
and girls who might be subjected to
hardships which they might be pow
erless to avoid, the governor stated
that they did not have to work under
those conditions as there was plenty
Of other work they could go to,
though when pressed for the. source
of this work did not answer. He
further gave me to understand that
neither nor any other outsider need
come to him with any complaint, that
the man or woman affected must
come to him personally or no action
would be taken.
''This matter. was referred to the
federation on Wednesday night and
the resolution was passed and or
dered sent to the governor. To my
mind this action Of the chief execu-
tive in assuming the duties OF others
where the law does not provide for
such assumption is merely In keep
ing with his announced policy of in
terpreting the statutes to his own
liking regardless of law or justice.
This action of the governors will be
bitterly contested by organized labor
and will only serve to bind us closer
together in our next election and the
next man will have to prove that he
l. -,.l ~, 1,orl-ore in more than