United labor bulletin., 1911-03-16

by the greedy manufacturers, and have
been declared, in every case, constitu-
tional.
Only about few months ago in Ore
gon and Illinois the ten-hour law for
women workers has been tested by the
manufacturing associations of these
states and have been declared constitu-
tional.
Honorable Louis D. Brandeis. as coun-
sci for the state of Oregon, has pre-
pared one of the most remarkable briefs
on Women in Industry relating to pro-
tective legislation in shortening the
working hours of women wage workers,
and it would be well for all those inter
ested in this important subject to study
same.
Mr.. Williams complained in his ad-
dress that a Socialist supported the
measure. This seems to be crime
There are very few people, except the
Socialists, who can fully comprehend the
import of such legislation as the one
under consideration.
Mr.. j. w. Calhoun of Chicago, recently
appointed minister TO China. appearing
before the supreme court of Illinois at
the hearing on the constitutionality of
the Illinois act said. in part: L am not
a radical, nor Socialist, nor an anarch-
list, and l do not belong to the so-called
'uplift' movement of which We have
heard so much recently. But l do take
sufficient notice of some of the unfortu-
nate abuses which exist in the highly
and artiheially developed civilization of
ours, and which call aloud for correc-
dom of contract there is more of fiction
are dependent upon their daily wages,
when they are face to face with poverty
ali the time, when the loss of a days
work and a days wages means not
enough money to pay rent or not enough
to buy food. it is not fair, it is not com
mon sense, that they they enjoy any
freedom to contract for the sale Of their
labor"
In its opinion in declaring the act con-
the Illinois supreme court
said: "As weakly and sickly women can
not be mothers of vigorous children, it
is of the greatest Importance to the
public that the state take such measures
as may be necessary to protect its
women from the consequences produced
by long-continued manual labor in those
occupations which tend to break them
physically. 1t would seem obvious. there
fore that legislation which limits the
number of hours which women shall be
permitted to work to ten hours in a
single day in such employments as are
carried on in mechanical establishments.
factories and laundries would tend to
preserve the health of women and as
sure the production of a vigorous on
spring by them and would conduce d.
rectly to the health, morals and general
welfare of the public, and that such leg
islation would fall clearly within the po-
lice powers of the state
Besides the aforementioned facts the
following are the more important rea-
sons why the proposed eight-hour law
for women workers should pass:
The dangers OF long hours for women
arise from their special physical organ
ization taken in connection with the
strain incident to factory and similar
work. Long hours OF labor are danger
Gus for women primarily because of their
special physical organization. In struc-
ture and function women are differenti-
ated from men: besides these anatomi-
cal and physiological differences, physi-
clans are agreed that women are funda-
mentally weaker than man in all that
makes for endurance; in muscular
strength, in nervous energy, in the
powers of persistent attention and applf-
cation. Overwork. therefore. which
strains endurance TO the utmost, is more
disastrous TO the health of women than
of men, and entails upon them more last
ing injury.
The fatigue which follows long hours
of labor becomes chronic and results In
general deterioration of health; often
ignored, since II does not result in I'm
mediate disease, the weakness. and ane-
anna undermines the whole system; It
destroys the nervous energy most neces-
sary for steady work. and effectually
predisposes to other illness. The long
hours of standing which are required In
most of the industries. are universally
denounced by physicians as the cause OF
pelvic disorders.
The evil effect OF oyerwork before as
well as after marriage upon childbirth
is marked and disastrous.
Accidents to working women occur
most frequently at the close of the day.
or after long period OF uninterrupted
work. The coincidence OF casualties and
fatigue due TO long hours Is thus made
manifest.
The effect OF overwork on morals II
closely related to the injury OF health.
Laxity of moral hber follows physical
debility when the working day ls long
that not time whatever Is left for a min
imum OF leisure. OF home life. relief
from the strain OF work is sought In al
eoholic stimulnrts and other excuses.
The experience OF manufacturing
countries has Illustrated the evil effect
OF overwork upon the general welfare.
Deterioration OF any large portion of the
population inevitably lowers the entire
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