Evening journal., 1913-02-21

: moral question, and ! am proud to
be here in such a cause.
Il know it has been said that it is
impractical. But one Of the foremost
retail merchants of Wilmington has
told me and authorizes me to say that
the bill if enacted would be prac-
ticable and could be worked out
II appeal to your manhood. Though
not here so many years as some Of
you, yield to none of you in loyalty.
and as a loyal Delawarean / join in
the cry for simple Justice
Inasmuch as the advocates of the
bill had consumed an hour. Senator
Furniss moved that fifty minutes be
given to the Chamber of Commerce to
be heard. Colonel Sparks said he
wouldn't need that long, and Presi-
dent Marshall said that all would be
treated fairly.
Miss Cary had requested permis-
sion to defer her speech until after
the amendments proposed had been
outlined. President Marshall, how
ever, ruled that one side should
finish, and then the other side would
be given its chance.
Colonel Sparks Asks for Amendments.
Colonel Sparks, for the Chamber
OF Commerce was given the privilege
of the floor.
Gentlemen, / want to say to you
that the Chamber of Commerce or no
man or set of men could induce me
to appear here against the cause of
humanity and particularly against
women said Colonel Sparks.
We believe in ten-hour bill. gem
tlemen. We may be little old-fash-
Toned and have not reached the point
( where we think ten hours work is
! harmful for a man or woman"
Colonel Sparks expressed surprise
that such a letter should have been
received from Charles Warner, Jr.,
as had been read, as he understood
! from Mr.. Warner himself a few days
ago that he was satisfied with the
amendments proposed.
There is1 no man on earth who
! should cause a woman to work from
{ morning until late hours at night. and
any man who does should be penaliz-
ed for doing 1t, said Colonel Sparks.
Nothing on earth gives me more
pleasure than to stand here and ad-
vocate a ten hour bill for women, but
when you pass It consider the manu-
rfacturers' interest, and the shopkeep-
ers' interest and the merchants in
terest.
If the manufacturers, as is charged,
have been hiding or skulking behind
body to oppose this bill. they are
not in our body and we have not dis
covered them"
MrA Sparks outlined the amend
ments proposed. which would extend
the hours a woman could work. to
sixty a week, fifty-fve hours being
the limit in the bill II also would
remove the ten-hour limit for work a
day and would allow three hours
work beyond that in any one day, or
thirteen hours a day. 1t also would
permit the cutting down of the lunch
period to a half-hour daily; would
permit retail stores to work, six adj
ditional hours a week for the two
weeks preceding Easter and preceding
Christmas. It also would designate
the Governor instead of the Chan
cellor to name the factory inspector.
Mr.. Sparks also read q recommends
ton OF the Chamber of Commerce that
operation of the law be removed.
Doesn't the bill provide for thir
teen hours work in any one day,
asked Representative Mooney.
Yes" replied Mr.. Sparks.
Then the amendment would make
II a thirteen-hour BILL" asked Mr.
Mooney.
NO said Mr. Sparks" thirteer
hours in any one day but limited t,
sixty hours a week.
But. would it be possible for a wo
man 10 be compelled to work thir.
teen hours a day for four days ant
eight hours on the fifth, to give ,
holiday on Saturday." asked Mr.
Mooney.
Yes, but you don't suppose ther,
is an employer in Wilmington VIII,
would do that, do YOU replied Mr.
Sparks.
DR.. 7 II. Buckler. Of the Marylan,
4