The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-05-19
MERCHANT
is PEEVISH
DOESN'T LIKE EIGHT-HoUR LAW
FOR WoMEN-OBJECToR ACCUSES
SENTIMENTAL CLUB WOMEN"
OF NESPoNSIBILITY FOR ITS PAS
SAGE.
Ellensburg, Wash, April 25, 1911

Dear Sir suppose that Won had
charge of the eight hour bill for women
during the session of the legislature that
enacted the bill into law. l take it for
granted that you worked hard to secure
Its passage and feel like being congratu-
lated. | have no doubt but that vou
We're sincere in your belief that it
was measure to accomplish some
good. But | am also sure that YOU will
lind it not only working to the great
disadvantage of women and girls who
have to earn living, but also in direct
conflict with, and trespasser on human
rights
You have certainly helped to legislate
a lot of women and girls out of lob
and made it much harder for them to
earn living.
Take the mercantile business for in
stance, which has employed great many
women and girls. As a rule their work
has not been hard and in a majority of
cases they have worked about nine hours
day-neither long nor hard days
work. These people have not asked for
an eight hour day, neither have the ma
jority of the women and girls who work
for wages wanted it, as they knew it
must cut down their income The great
bulk of the signers of your big petitions
We're sentimental club women or women
who did not understand the conditions.
and who do not work for wages. |
know for fact that working girls
were largely opposed to the measure.
Ihls law forces merchants to let many
of their female help go, as under present
business conditions they cannot afford
to hire two shifts of girls for one short
days work-and those they keep at
work will be engaged for afternoons
only, and get pay for half a days work
You can see how this will affect their
income. have always employed GER
tain number of girls-they always had
short, easy day-hardly nine hours
except ON Saturdays-and then not
working late.
Now l have let all girls go except
such as | engage for afternoons only.
Again, I don't believe that you or any
number of legislators have a right to
say to women and girls who want to
work you shall only work eight hours
In a day, and no more" | believe that
every man and woman has right to
labor as many hours in a day as they
see fit. and can get pay for; and under
the constitution of the United States
this is human right guaranteed to
them. You might with equal right say
to them, you can sleep only eight hours
or five hours and no more" or "you
shall eat only fifteen minutes and no
more" You have Just as much right
to say how long they shall eat, sleep or
play, as to say how long they shall
work, and one would be just as reason
able as the other.
The fact is that this is piece of freak
legislation that oppresses any business
interest that employs labor 1t is pure
buncombe. 1t not only works a hard
ship on the employer but directly in
iures the employee by cutting down in
comes from labor and You will be sure
to see such a result.
Very respectfully,
H. L. STOWELL,
The above letter was received by Mr..
Campbell on letter paper bearing the
imprint OF drygoods and notions store
in Ellensburg of which Mr.. Stowell is
apparently the owner or manager. We
, do not print it because of any new line
of argument it contains, because there
isn't a line that has not been worn
threadbare. Every single objection was
, raised by employers of labor when the
workday for women was cut from II to
/ 10 hours, yet the world moves right
along. just as many women are employed
| in industry and at quite as high wages
as under the twelve hour system.
The letter is interesting in that it
epitomizes the whole attitude of em-
ployers OF labor toward legislation on
this or any other subject that tends to
| tighten toll
The gentleman's kind treatment of his
own employees may be all that he saws
t it is, but he must bear in mind that leg
islation is enacted for the benefit of the
E mass who need it rather than for the
few who do not. He should know that
the relation of industry to women as a
class in this country is brutal He
should know that no intelligent investi-
e cation of the social evil in recent years
T. but has imseparaby linked it with low
:, wages, long hours and onerous conditions
o imposed upon the women in industry.
Y He does know il if he knows anything
e at all about economics.
His generous attitude toward his
U employees does not square very well with
I his statement "now | have let all girls
e go except such as | engage for after
4 Moons only" He implies that he LET
It them 60 because of the eight hour law
and his letter was write TWO
o NdONTTHS BEFORE THE LAW GOES
d INTO EFFECT. He sympathizes se
3 much with the working girls, why were
Continued ON Page Four.l