The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-20
BILLS In HOPPER
That One Setting Wages for
Women Is Important.
The Democrats Will Hold a
Harmony Meeting Tonight.

provide a minimum women'S wage in
Kansas of from Sc to SO a week and
will be backed by one of the strongest
women's organizations that ever asked
favor of Kansas legislature.
! Possibly the bill will undergo some
slight operations when it is sent to the
senate and house committees and it
may be subject to some additional al
terations in the legislative halls But
that a women's minimum wage bill is
to be enacted this winter, is the gen.
/ eral opinion of party leaders in both
houses
Based on a social survey, the Good
Government club and a half dozen
auxiliary organizations, have urged
passage of bill which will insure
living wage scale for women in Kansas
stores, offices. factories and shops.
And while thousands of Kansas women
stand ready to urge the passage of
measure similar to the one already out
lined, there is every indication that the
passage of such a measure will meet
with some stubborn opposition by the
heads of firms which employ cheap
women labor.
If the bill In it's original form be-
comes law, it means a material in
crease in the wage scale in scores of
offices, stores and shops in Kansas. In
department stores, 1aunderies, shops
and offices where women have for
years been employed on a system of
long hours and cheap wages, the pas
sage of the measure means a serious
shake-up.
Not only will the new bill provide
minimum wage, but it will probably
prescribe a maximum seven-hour day
for women-which is another jolt to the
employer of cheap female labor.
While the measure is not yet ready
for introduction, it will probably be
formally prepared and presented to
both houses of the Legislature some
time this week. Behind the movement
are half dozen of the strongest Wom-
ems clubs in Kansas. Their member
ship totals into the thousands and they
are thoroughly organized for the fight
Not one of the 165 members of the two
houses will be overlooked by these
women and they propose to conduct q
campaign for this law that will even
eclipse the strong lobby maintained IN
the 1911 session when they demanded
and secured the submission t. the
voters of the equal suffrage amend
ment. -,
democratic members of the house will
hold harmony" meeting In repre-
sentative hall tonight. The meeting
which was called by administration
house leaders at the suggestion OF
Sneaker w. L. Oronjaw) Brown, Is TO
perfect Democratic team work peIore
the real fight for the passage OF ad-
ministration bills.
WbfIo there has been much said con-
corning Democratic harmony in the
Kansas legislature this winter there
IS still an evident friction resuilihs
from fractional differences in the recehl
campaign and the more recent trouotes
in organizing the two houses. Even Ille
C,lark-WiIson differences in kansas
Democratic circles have not been for-
gotten. There is the ever present III
feeling concerning the Unlteo states
senatorship, the natural dlsappolntc
rnents concerning the distribution OF
regarding the organization of the ieg1s-
latl1re and the division Of committee
assignments So the Democrats VIII
meet tonight and bury the hatcnet'
They will preach one to another the
homes of another victory in 1914 and
thew urge the members to forget the
disappointing details of the recent con-
flict.
The Democratic leaders realize that
they confront worthy enemy In the
well organized minority and its shreWd,
cunning leaders. If they are to win
their fights in an open conflict with
such men as Stone, Brewster and
Keene they must have team work ana
no one knows this better than do the
Democratic leaders. Among them is a
spirit which urges the individual mem
bers to forgive and to forget and to
fight for the redemption of the 1912
pledges But no chances will be taken
Even with a constitutional majority OF
nine in the house, the Democrats are
anxious to go into the battle well or
ganized and with no loop holes that
will permit of possible defeat
Legislation to break what they term
ga Kansas butter trust" will be start
ed in a few days from the Democratic
side of the house. Among the majori-
ty followerh there is an aggrieved feel
ing concerning the ruling of the state
dairy commissioner. who has Gaclar-
ed that the price of cream in Kansas =
shall be regulated by the daily card |
quotations from the large creameries |
and that nc more and no less shall be |
paid by the local cream dealers. This |
complaint comes largely from the west
ern portion of the state. But as good
many law makers come from that /
same district also, 1t is quite probable |
that something may happen to the |
dairy commissioner law in Kansas.
1t is contended by some Of the west !
ern representatives that when the
creameries quote cream at so cents.
that the merchant is prohibited from
paying 81 cents for cream even though
he wants to do SO. Some merchants
tried the plan it is claimed, of offer
ing one cent more for cream when ex-
changed for merchandise than when
sold for cash. That practice had gov
erned the sale of Kansas eggs for
years, but the dairy commissioner put
q ban on the method when applied to
merchandising IN credIH- AS result
the farmer took cash for his cream and
often sent the money to the mail order
houses for his merchandise ]
Representatives Shuey of Decatur and
Stone of Sherman were talking it over l..
in the Throop hotel Sunday.
It's abominable practice said
Shuey, land is unjust"
It's a legalized trust said Stone,
land we ought to cut it OUT
And the two members-both Demo-
era s-agreed that they would "cut it
OUT by offering a bill changing the