Evening journal., 1912-12-18
KEEPING UP
FIGHT FOR THE
TEN HOUR LAW
Continued From FIRST Page

Continued From First Page
the case OF oregon VS.. Muller, reported
in POS L. s. Reports, 4l2 Justice
Brewer, in delivering the opinion.
said
THAT woman's physical structure
and thai the performance Of the ma
ternal functions place her at disad-
vantage i'm the struggle for subsis-
tance, is obvious This is especially
true when the burdens Of maternity
are upon her. Even when they arc
not, by abundant testimony Of the
medical fraternity, continuance for a
long time on her feet at work, repeat
ing this from day to day, tends to in
furious effects upon her body. and as
healthy mothers are essential to Wig
orous offspring. the physical we'll
being of women becomes am object OF
public interest and care in order to
preserve the strength and vigor Of the
race"
II is our duty as citizens, and your
duty as legislators, to preserve the
strength and vieor Of the race Of
Delaware citizens. and we need not
argue that proposition with men Of
your character and ability
England. during the Boer war, was
awakened TO the fact that the men Of
the textile districts of England were
shorter in stature and weaker ply
sically, than the men of the agricul-
turai districts, and unable to measure
up to the requirements for British
soldiers, and upon investigation, It
was found that the fact that the
mothers of these men had been fore
ed for generations TO work long hours
In the factories and mills OF England,
was the cause contributing 10 their
inability to defend England In time
of war England. therefore, In 1901.
az the close OF the war, realizing that
without soldiers she could not live
as a nation. placed a law on her stat
ute books. limiting the working hours
OF women.
Tho statesmen Of all the leading
nations Of Europe have recognized
the absolute necessity to their nations
existence. of laws limiting the hours
OF working women. since in the last
y
largely employed In the factories OF
the world. In addition to Great Bri-
tain. France Switzerland, Austria,
Holland. Italy and Germany have
passed laws preventing women from
being ovcrworked.
Thirty-two (32l states Of this Union
have awakened also 10 the need Of
laws limiting the hours for working
women. and the following states have
passed such legislation In some form;
Massachusetts. Rhode Island. Louis
Jana. Connecticut. Maine New Hamp-
shire. Maryland Pennsylvania. New
York. New Jersey. Nebraska Wash
ington. Colorado Oklahoma, North
Dakota. South Dakota. Wisconsin,
South Carolina. Arizona, California,
Missouri Montana. Utah Michigan,
Ohio Minnesota. Georgia, Kentucky,
Oregon. Virginia. Illinois and Ten
ucssee
You men. as legislators. are en-
trusted with the destiny of Delaware
women and with the future Of the
citizenship Of this state. We feel sure
that the care for the future OF the
race which is moving all the great
statesmen Of the Union and Of the
world. viii move YOU, 10 prevent our
Industries from overwOrking our
women Delaware must keep abreast
of the other states OF the Union i'm
the protection of humanity
Delaware has always furnished her
fun share of the fighting men in every
war but oyerworkcd mothers Will
never bear. 10 the State. fighting
men. AS legislators and statesmen,
your first care Is for the defense of
the state and the Nation without
men OF fun stature and strong ply
siQue and lighting ability. the nation
will be come the prey Of every foe.
A stalwart manhood is the Nations
surest defense A stalwart manhood
cannot be reared from an overworked
womanhood In the name Of the Ma
tons cxistcncc-in the name OF hum
anity-in the name of overworked
wOmanhood Of the State Of Delaware,
we respectfully ask your attention TO
the need for a measure limiting the
hours OF labor for women 10 not more
than ten hours per day.
Tho Ten Hour Law Committee of
the Consumers League OF Delaware.