Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1911-06-22
I9HOUR LAW FOR
WOMEN WENT INTO
EFFECT MONDAY.

Monday the nine-hour law fc
women went into effect. Now, n
female may be employed in an
manufacturing or mercantile estal
lishment for more than nine hour
In any one day. nor more than s
hours week
Tho business men of Mexico, wh,
employe women say they expect t
comply with the law. The manager
OF the stores say the law will no
inconvenience them five days of the
week, but every one finds It hard Il
arrange for Saturday nights. Tn,
Crown Laundry and the Friedman
Shelby Shoe Factory. however, coul
rot SO easily adjust the working
schedule.
The merchants viii arrange the
hours of their female help so a part
OF the clerks will be required to re-
port for work later in the morning
and remain until closing time in the
evening.
With the exception Of Saturday,
the stores Of Mexico close at $3.50 in
the evening.
One merchant remarked to a Led
ger representative that he had no OBJ
lection to the law. and, If the public
will do its share towards simplify
ing matters by becoming accustomed
to do the shopping during the
morning hours instead of waiting un-
til the last thing in the afternoon,
he believed no trouble will be ex-
perienced. As to Saturday nights,
he said he was in favor of the mer-
chants getting together and closing
earlier.
Another merchant stamped the
law a farce and said it would be
hard on the women who are en-
ployed by manufacturing establish
ments where piecework is done.
The Crown Laundry and the
Friedman-Shelby Shoe Factory have
solved the problem by hiring more
help and paying the girls by the
hour. The trouble experienced by
these establishments is getting the
help, it is said.
The mercantile establishments will
also follow this method of fixing wag-
ss.
The law, in brief, provides that
10 female may be employed in any
manufacturing or mercantile establish
nent for more than nine hours in any
me day, nor more than "a hours a
week; that no female may be en-
ployed before 5 o'clock in the morn
ng nor after 10 o'clock at night, ex-
ept that they may be employed in
estaurants after 10 O'Clock at night,
nut, shall not work more than nine
lours day.
Following are interviews from To- |
al business men, telling Of the meth
IDS they employee:
Joseph wilkins, of Fredendall &
Wilkins department store, when
sked what arrangements he had
lade said: 81 expect to divide my
elp SO part of the girls can re-
ort for duty later in the morning
nd this will enable them to re-
lain till closing time in the even
lg.
THE same arrangements will be
lade for Saturday nights, I find
o serious fault with the law. If the
ublic will do their part by shop
ing more during the earlier part of {
le day instead Of waiting till so
to in the afternoon, 1t would great !
simplify matters" {
:. M. Ragsdale of Ragdale's Cash /
lore, who employees a number of {
rls, said; Il will divide my force {
I'd require part Of my help to I
port later in the morning."
w. w Williams, proprietor of the t
own Laundry Company, said: v
We began to observe this law last '
sek. Under the new system about a
per cent more help is required. e
g pay the girls by the hour, and, il
the required amount of help can a
gotten, the system will work very D
cely." "
The Mexico Telephone Company is t
t affected by the nine-hour law. il
one of the girls there work over r
ne hours and some are said to wor a
Is number of hours,