The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06

of what we hope for in the future,
there should be at once established
| in the nation and it's several states
minimum standards for the wages of
women, taking the present Massachu-
sets law as a basis from which to
start and on which to improve. We
pledge the federal government to an
4 investigation of industries along the
lines pursued by the bureau of mines
with the view to establishing stand
ards of sanitation and safety; we call
| for the Standardization of mine and
factory inspection by interstate agree
| ment or the esta blishment of a fed
eraI standard. We stand for the pas
! sage of legislation in the nation and
in all states providing standards of
compensation for industrial accidents
and death, and for diseases clearly due
to the nature of conditions of indus
| try, and we stand for the adoption
sation for casualties resulting fatally
which shall clearly fix the minimum
compensation in all cases.
In the third place, certain industrial
conditions fall clearly below the levels
which the public today sanction.
We stand for a living wage. Wages
are subnormal if they fail to provide
living for those who devote their
time and energy to industrial occu-
patlons. The monetary equivalent of
cal conditions, but must include
enough to secure the elements of a
normal standard of HVing-a stand
ard high enough to make morality
possible, to provide for education and
recreation, to care for immature mem
bers of the family, to maintain the
family during periods of sickness, and
to permit of reasonable saving for old
age.
Hours are excessive if they fail &c
afford the worker sufficient time to re-
cuperate and return to his work thor
oughly refreshed. We hold that the
night abor of women and children is
abnormal and should be prohibited;
we hold that the employment of wo-
men over 4S hours per week is abnor-
mai and should be prohibited. We mold
that the seven-day working week is
abnormal, and we hold that one day
of rest in seven should be provided by
law. We hold that the continuous
industries, operating "A hours out of "a
are abnormal, and where because of
public necessity or of technical reasons
(such as molten metaD, the "A hours
must be divided into two shifts of 10
hours or three shifts of eight, they
should by law be divided into three OF
eight.
Safety conditions are Abnormal when,
through unguardsd machinery, poisons
electrical voltage, or otherwise, the
workers are subjected to unnecessary
hazards of life and limb; and all such
occupations should come under gov
ernmental regulation and control
Home life is abnormal when tene-
ment manufacture is carried on in the
household. 1t is a serious menace to
health, education, and childhood and
should therefore be entirely prohibited
Temporary construction camps are
abnormal homes and should be sub
jected to governmental sanitary regu-
alton.
The premature employment of chill
dren is abnormal and should be pro-
hibited; so also the employment of
women in manufacturing, commerce,
or other trades where work compeIs
constantly; and also any en-
ployment of women in such trades fol
a period of at least eight weeks ct
time of childbirth
Our aim should be to secure cond;
tions which will tend everywhere tow
ards regular industry, and will do away
with the necessity for rush periods fol-
lowed by out-of-work seasons which
put so severe a strain on wage work
erS-
1t is abnormal for any industry +
throw back upon the community the
human wreckage due to it's wear and
tear, and the hazards of sickness, ac-
cident, invalidism, involuntary unen-
ployment, and old age should be pro-
vided for through insurance. Iris
should be made a charge in whole or
in part upon the industries the en-
ployer, the employee, and perhaps the
people at large, to contribute severaIly
in some degree. Wherever such stand
ards are not met by given establish.
ments, by given industries, are unpro-
v1ded for by legislature, or are baIk-