United labor bulletin., 1913-01-23

alter this failure on the part OF a Dem
ocratic legislature TO enact Legislation
for the protection OF women, the Coio-
RADIO State Federation of Labor 1nitiateu
the measure in almost the exact IAN
guage presented to the eighteenth gem
eral assembly by Garman. Sufhcient Sig
natures were gotten. and IL was put TO
vote OF the people at the November cleo
ton. receiving 10s.sS2 favorable votes,
while 32032 votes were cast against H.
II carried by a larger majority than any
of the thirtytwo measures voted upon.
Monday the woman's eight-hour law
went into effect in the mercantile manu-
featuring and mechanical establishments
OF Denver and the state. II Is with pieas
ure that we announce that the business
men OF Denver have willingly and cheer
fully made arrangements to carry out the
law to the letter. AT meeting composed
OF the members OF the Retail Association
of Denver to which the most important
smercantiie establishments belong. II was
decided to open the stores OF Denver AT
$3.50 a. IN. and close at $50 p- m. CIV
ing an hour for lunch.
Various and sundry propositions nave
been put up to the great department
stores OF Denver. showing loopholes py
which the stores could be kept open ana
operated as long as the proprietors
should desire All of these subteriuges
were tabled by the Denver departIn sht
stores, and they are just as anxious TO
carry out the letter of the law as are the
instlgators of the law to see tnat II Is
obeyed.
A few examples OF the proposals made
TO defeat the law will go TO show thst tne
law is not Ironclad. and could be put on
the shelf II Is argued, II the marchahts
30 desired One OF the proposals mao !
was that each woman employe be iorceu
TO buy a small portion of stock III 'he
establishment in which she Is emp eu'
with the guarantee that she coulu eahn
her stock in at any time that she uesiFeu
10 sever her connections with the estAo-
lishmcnt Under this arrangement WON
on ana girls might be employed unlimited
hours. as It could be shown that II Wa
necessary Tor her 10 remain, II is iurlher
argued by attorneys. 10 protect her own
holdings OF course this would Simply
be an evasion Of the law
one OF the effects that the law has
had. so we understand, and which we
daprecate greatly. Is that some OF the
smaller merchants have removed their
,women employees and have placed men
and boys In their places This is . great
Injustice to the girl or woman VINO was
not able to find employment In the larger
establishments.
II was no, Intended by the law that a
NllGH~ oman Haitihk ch a. NA"scHNs
muslin counter should drop her scissors
and quit her customer just as soon as the
bell for quitting time had been sounded
nor that the cashier should not hnish
counting her cash. or the waitress had
finished serving her customer, or nun
tred and one other things winch m'sn.
mean the delay OF few moments. IL
was intended for those women VINO nave
to slave for concerns which heretofore
knew little about hours OF work, and hau
little mercy for their employees, be thes
men or women.
While we are on the subject oil depart
ment stores. We wish to add that Denver
department stores pay better wages 70
their women employees than that paid py
department stores in any other city IN
the United States. There ts vast an
ference between a saleslady and WON
an or a girl who can only take your order
for those things which you know tha'
YOU want. Some stores employ inexpert
enced salcswomen. II is only necessary
10. observe the help in the various
Morcs to realize to whom the better sal
aries are being paid.
The Denver merchants have SHOWN
themselves to be broadminded set oil
men. and should have the hearty supper.
of fair.minded men and women OF Colo
RADIO.