Evening journal., 1913-01-31
BoNAPARrr AND THE rrN-mouR nay.

legod circumstances in connection with enforce
ment and evasion of the Eght-lIour Day Law In
Colorado Assertion is made that many Of the women
workers there want such protection. and that
they resent the fact that is mandatory and does
not permit women employees 20 work more than eight
hours day. when they are dcsirous Of doing
the purpose of profit or OF accommodating their
employees in emergencies" One It is added, is
that TO evade the law, workers in Colorado buy
small holdings stock in the companies by which they
are employed Thus they become employers as well |
employees, and, employers, may work as they
please in their own interest
We venture the suggestion that in five hun
dred Of the Colorado and girls protectes by
that Eight-Hour Day Law resorts TO the evasive eN-
pedient Of buying stock and qualifying an employer
in order that she may place herself outside its pro-
tectiye scope. Nor does such evasion, if it exist
show the folly OF enactng laws for the protection Of
those who do desire the protection that is pro-
posed for them II the opium eater could have his
way he would wipe from the statute books every law
that been written therein for his protection; and
that applies with equal force the morphine hend
The drunkard looks upon the excise law as an un-
warranted restriction Of his personal Liberties There
who hold to the theory that mans life is his
own, to destroy. he wishes He views
with Indignation any law for the punishment of any
man who attempts TO destroy his own earthly existence
and who fails to accomplish his purpose There are
thousands Of children of schoolgoing age who would
like TO quit school and TO work and there are thou
sands of parents who arc eager that they shall do
so They look upon the restrictive and protective
! provisions Of compulsory education and child labor
laws with disfayor and If they could do SO, would
have all Of them repealed There are laws for the
protection Of the morals OF and girls who do
not desire to be protected and who resent socetys
friendly interest in their welfare We might cite in
stances without number in which laws have been
enacted for the protection Of men, women and chill
drcn who did not want them but for whom society
demanded and obtained protection. There is not an
instances in which such laws have not been sub
iected TO violation and evasion. That fact has not
led 90 the repeal of such laws, but rather to the
strengthening Of them that violation and evasion may
be more difficult and dangerous.
But the Ten Hour Law movement in Delaware pre-
such condition II the question could be put
q vote of the and girl employees, free
from the mcnacing eyes OF their employers the poll
would show practical unanimity OF sentiment in
of a ten-hour day for that matter of eight
hour day that is not being suggested Polls of women
and girl employees which Influenced by the fear
Of summary discharge do represent true sonti-
mont should they be accepted by the Legislature
indicative OF sentiment
Charles j. Bonaparte Of Baltimore formerly At
torney General of the United States is Of the most
ardent aud influential advocates of tho Ton-Hour Work
Day for lie is in perfect accord with the law
sought to be obtained in Delaware by the Ten-1our
Law Committee. He played an important part in get
ting through the Maryland Legislature the rcn-Hour
Law in force in that State and has stood stead
fasuy behind those who have enforced it. That
law has worked fairly well IN Maryland and its adj
minstraton has been taken out OF politics In letter
the Ton-Hour Law Committee OF this State this dis
tngushed lawyer and publicst says:
"The for such law is strong always i'm the
interest OF the public and public morals and as
matter OF Justice and humanity, that repetition of
the arguments its favor seems to me clearly super
nuous venture, however, mention Just mat
ter namely, the necessity. in many OF taking
care OF the women to be protected by such law
against their own apparent wishes. The committee
having law in charge received many assurances
in the course of the agitation conducted i'm its favor
that their success was ardenty desired by many wo-
men who We're compelled to show themselves appar-
emily Indifferent and hostile to the movement
because they feared they might lose their jobs. More
over in many instances the laborers affected arc
young ignorant and pressed by want that the rhna
additional compensation which may be earned by over
work outwcghs for them that permanent and ire
mcdiabe injury to their health and future happiness
and usefulness to society"
d Another earnest advocate Of the Ten-Hour Law
. movement is Dr. Samuel C. Bumford, OF this city H
has written the following letter which every membe
It OF the Legislature should read carefully for his en-
f. lghtenment as we'll for his guidance i'm voting o
+ tho Ton-Hour bill
e ITO the Ten-Hour Law Committee: Its with peasur
y that am answering the enclosed questions and hop
Is YOU may be successful in securing the passage O
" the law Being especially interested the disease
% OF women have occasion to many Of them. an
T. there is doubt that young girl who spends man
houiS eaVn uaA WORKING IN factory or stan0ing IN
m store Is more apt TO suffer from arrangements of he
e. organs and Is less fitted bear healthy Chi
I'd dron. than IL she lead more normal life. The ms
ority Of these girls leave their woEk marry wthot
being able to take time to set themselves to prop,
he physical condition for their future life and It n,
~ surprising that there is such mortality among the
children. These working girls. as a rule are poorl
NJ developed and anacmic and from sickness
NJ form less rapidly than their more fortunate s
TT ters who spend several hours day i'm the fires
D air. and do not have the drudgery getting wor
Mt o'clock after hastily eating breakfast OF the poo
is est quality"
DR.. Henry J. stuhbs is another Wilmington phys
81 clan Of prominence who eyinces acute interest q
D. bill designed to obtain tcn-hour working day f
in women in Delaware. He has sent to the committee
ly letter which shows that the oyerworking Of WI
men not only has bad effect upon them but a
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