Norwich bulletin., 1913-04-03
Bitter Feeling Manifest at Hearing Before the La
 bor Committee at Hartford
WOULD WORK INJURY TO WOMEN, SAYS WOMAN
Mrs. Dyson of Glastonbury Declares Would Make It More Difficult For Women to Compete With Men-Retort by Another Woman Creates Excitement-General keeney's Vigorous Denunciaton of the Measure Evokes Kisses

Hartford, Conn. April 2-The live- Hest hearing so far this session of the general assembly was that before the labor committee this afternoon on the bill providing for 54 hour week for women and minors in Inanufactur- ing and mercantile estab blishrnents-
 MT. Holdsworth, representing the textile workers of eastern Connect speaking of the need that Connecticut should keep up with other states in looking after women and children in it's industries.
 followed by 8 number of others repre- senting unions and various branches of textile work, including representa- tives of women who are organized. chants or small manufacturers who believed that 54 hours a week was long enough for women in industry.
 No Such Law in Woman Suffrage
 State.
 Albert Hubbard of Fall River, secre- tary of the National Textile Workers of America. told of the labor legisla- tion in Massachusetts along this line. He said he believed 1t to be the states duty to conserve the working women and minors of the state
 Some difference of opinion began to arise as to the effect of the bill dur ing which Professor Fisher made ref erence to laws in other states to which 1edAPA Os w S11op representing lnS SLdE6 manufacturers associations, said that there was no eight hour law for wo- men in Colorado. which was a wo- mans suffrage state. Professor Fish CT took issue, saying that Mir. Wells ought to prove or retract his state- ment.
 Mr. Wells said he had a letter from the secretary of state of that state who said there was no minimum wage labor or any limitation law on the hours of labor for women in liee with this bill
 Prof. Fisher Disputes Statement.
 Professor Fisher had in his hand a book which gave a review of labor laws and he said that it showed that Colorado had a limitation law. Mr Wells still insisted that he preferred to take the letter as a guide and will submit 1t to MT. Fisher
 Mr. Wells claimed that women were not in favor of this limitation of 54 hours because it meant their elinlina- tien from industry in competition with men. MT. Hol6sworth retorted that there were three women present who were protected by an organization. He added that women would have come in force but they did not dare to as they would lose their employment.
 The three women delegates however wefe protected by an organization.
 Woman Makes Suffrage Speech.
 Jasper McLevy of Bridgeport sug- gested that the committee sit nights in the industrial centers if it wished to ascertain the sentiment of women on this bill. MT. Wells was agreeable.
 Professor Fisher asked the commit tee to- request the women present to rise if they favored the bill. Six on the floor and many in the gallery rose.
 Suddenly a woman who had been seated near the platform rose and said she represented 5000 women workers in industry who wished to repudiate the act of men who would discriminate against women in the bill. She gave her name-Mrs. Marion hIarsden Dy- son of G1astonbury-and addressing the audience made what for 9 few mo- Inenfs everybody thought was a, suf- frage speech. Bill Would Work injury to Women.
 She finally said that the 54 hour bill would eliminate women from industry because employers would rather have men who would work longer hours. 1 She produced a. petition on which she said were 5000 signatures which ask ed the committee to reject the 54 hour bill. Mrs. Dyson said that men had no right to represent the women. The latter are obliged to earn their living and if 54 hour bill went through it l meant that thousands of women would lose what little employment they now l have. She said that it was hard for | women to compete against men now, l and the woman gets thrown down ev- ary time.
 Another Woman Riied-
 Mir HoIdsworth asked Mrs. Dyson i whom she represented, and Mrs. Dyson | said that she stood for herself. and had l given the committee the names of B. ! 900 women who felt as she did. Pro ! lessor Fisher asked questions and a | dozen men were on their feet wit ques- tions and Senator Neebe had to de- 1 clare that the woman had the floor and 1 ought to be given the chance to speak 1 Mrs. Dyson pleaded against the bill.
 Then 9 woman 66loVatR in the l asked if Mrs. Dyson had to stand 1 10 1-2 hours a day on her feet Mrs. | Dyson said she used to, but was not | working at present. The woman dele | gate who did not give her name then exclaimed with scorn; Its all right | for people to come here and oppose the 54 hour bill and then say They don't 1 have to work now. i
 Exciting Scene on Floor. [
 The scene on the floor was exciting | for a few minutes, and Mir. Wells ap- 1 peaIed for protection for Mrs. Dyson, l as she should not have questions d1- l rected at her which contained insinu- ations. Senator Neebe agreed that it | was only fair that when questions were put that they be proper ones and one 1 at time. Mrs. Dyson answered some ] questions, and as time was getting short MT. Neebe had to let in the op- ponents of the bill for short time. MT Wells said that the bill was op- posed and any bill In which the hours ] were dropped to below 55 a week would | be opposed.
 The Manufacturers association after | q canvass had found that women op- posed this bill. In many industries 1t means elimination of women and min ors. In textile industries the work is | seasonal or must be done within linn ited tinle For instance. in a laundry everybody wants their clothes washed early in the week, so they can have them by Saturday,. This means a rush during few days. In factories orders | must be filled or the orders go else where.
 intent Is to Eliminate Women.
 A radical change ir hours means that women either lose their work