Evening journal., 1913-03-08
WORKING MEN AND LEGISLATORS.

WORKING MEN AND LEGISLATORS.
ID REPRESENTATIVES, MOONEY. Arthurs, Cook and
IN Poole Of the House Committee oa labor are
to be congratulated that they have reported the Ten
Hour bill fayorably and without amendment II speaks
well for their appreciation of the strength Of public
sentiment in behalf Of Delaware women and girls who
arc compelled to work. II certainly is not to the
credit Of Representative Smiley King Of the Third dis
trict this city. another member OF the Committee
Labor. that he has reared himself in opposition to a
bill that would be OF such benefit to the working sis
ters and daughters Of hundreds Of his constituents
He knows that he owes his election TO the votes OF
the working the Third district, and also TO the
friendly interest support the fathers and broth
ers Of the working and girls in the district
We do not think that any unsolfsh person will doubt
that he has made mistake in permitting persons with
to grind line him up in opposition to legisla-
ton that is demanded mperatiyely by the work
ing men, anG girls in his district With
spect 70 Representative Hirsch OF Milford member
OF the committee who refused to vote, think he
should go record for against this legislation in
behalf Of the wageearnng sisters and daughters Of the
working and voters not only Of his district but Of
all other districts in the state
Unquestionably there ais thousands of Deawar-
who think that in view Of the report of the
mtee and the state Of public opinion with respect to
this important bill that the Chamber Of Commerce
committee should keep hands Off and make no fur
ther attempts weaken its beneficial provisions There
many members Of that Chamber who heartily
IN iaNOr OF the Dill, T. Alien flles, Alfred d. warner
Charles Warner and others equally prominen' being
among them When effort is being made by hui
persons to obtain beneficial legislation for
worked and in too many instances underpaid
and girls, it is scarcely becoming for big CONNER
cal organization to permit its influence to be used to
defeat cripple such commendable campaign.
More than 5000 persons living in and Will
mngton have pettoned the Delaware Legislature
10 pass this Ten Hour Work-Day law for women
and girls Il is safe to assume that, If the time and
treasury Of the Ten-iour Law Committee would have
permitted Of a more thorough canvass and if work
Ing women and girls had not been afraid they would
lose their positions if they signed tho petition would
have contained from $4,000 to $4,000 signatures instead
Of 5000. Public sentiment is Overwhelmingly in IA
vor OF such legislation In the face of such petit
tion, representing the unselhsh and humane sentiment
OF the community the Legislature should not hesitate
to disregard the protests Of selfish interests which
seek to emascuate the bill that they may continue
coin money at the expense of the health happiness
and lives Of and girls who are compelled to
leave home and work for a living
We believe il was Lincoln who said that God must
love poor folk because he made so many OF them That
is something the members Of the Legislature should
bear in mind when passing upon this legislation in
favor Of the working and girls in Delaware.
vast majority Of the in State have sisters
daughters who do sort Of work II must not
be thought that those think less OF their working
sisters and daughters than do the wealthy whose
There is not a who has sister a daughter who
Is oyerworked and underpad who does not resent IL
and in his heart hold It grievance against those
who subject her to such unfair treatment
BY the same token IL may be said that most Of the
members Of the Delaware Legislature their cleo
ton 20 the votes Of the fathers and brothers of
working and girls aud not to the of, the
fathers and brothers Of and girls who are not
compelled to he wage-earners. That members Of the
Legislature will ignore the urgent request OF the
fathers and brothers Of the working and girls
for fair treatment for their kinswomen is scarcely
likely Nor ia it likely that they will permit employ
like Bancrofts who endeavorng to emascuate
defeat the Ten-Hour law to work their will upon
that either directly through the interven
ton Of organizations which do not represent hui
name public sentiment, but private interest
ten-hour day is regarded long enough for a man.
BY process OF sound reasoning may II be held that
II is not long enough for a girl Tor should
the Legislature give serious heed to those who would
work them longer than that We doubt that there is
any member OF the Legislature who will to go
record being the foe of the best interests of
the sisters and daughters Of the working men Of the
State. II would be unforgivabe oense against wo-
manhood grlhood and honest labor.