The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-03-27
WOMEN SEEK PASSAGE OF LAW
Many Organizations Among Women T
the State Seek to Have Better Pro
lection for the Women Who Earn
Living Working in Stores and Shops.

during the past week on the minimum
wage bill, but it is now probable this
subject will not be taken up for sew
eral days to come and when commit
tee hearing is held on the subject it
will probably be arranged so that it
shall practically be a public legislative
| hearing which can be attended by all
of the members Of the legislature.
This subject of minimum wage is at
| tracing a great deal of attention in
Wisconsin, as is shown by the amount
of public discussion which is going on
in the public press in regard to the
measure. One Of the facts which has
| been of peculiar interest in regard to
| the question is the attitude Of some of
the union labor leaders, there having
been union labor leaders who nave re-
! fused to indorse the bill and One of
them in particular having made the re-
mark that he was opposed to the meas
ure for the reason that he feared the
minimum wage if adopted might also
become the maximum wage for wom-
en- in industrial pursuits
The debate on the question is being
followed with interest by members Of
the legislature, and it can be safely
said that there will be mo question
before the legislature at this session
upon which the public discussion of
the question before the committee will
have more effect on the votes of mem
bers than this minimum wage ques-
tion. The members of the Legislature
frankly admit that they do not know
whether the minimum wage will be a
wise movement or not, and that they
want to do what is for the best In
terests Of women workers on the sub
ject and that for this reason they de-
sire that the question shall be given
ample discussion before the legislature,
In way the sentiment of the leg
islature is favorable to a minimum
wage measure, and unless the tenor
of the debate is such as to indicate a
possibility that minimum wage law
might be real injury instead of a
benefit to the women of the state the
Wisconsin legislature would be in
clined to pass bill on the subject
In the first place minimum wage is
pledged in the platform Of the repub-
lican party and the legislature wants
to carry out the platform pledges. In
the next place there is a strong feel
ing among the members of the legis-
lature that the wages that women
receive in industrial pursuits are too
small and that higher standard of
wages should be in some way obtained
On the other hand, there is no desire
to place on the statute books a law
which not only will not accomplish this
result but which might prove burden.
some legislation in obtaining the very
end which the legislature desires to
accomplish.
The strongest supporters of mini
mum wage law are the members of
the Consumer League. Mrs. Florence
Kelly, the president of that league
has been in Madison and has made a
very forcible address in favor of a
minimum wage law. Prominent mem
bers of the league, such as Mrs. B. G.
| Gudden of Oshkosh and a number OF
Milwaukee women who have taken an
interest in the minimum wage ques-
tion, have also been in Madison and
discussed the subject or have written
letters to the members who are taking
an interest in the bill in its favor. Ii
is also expected these women will ap
pear at the committee hearing in sup.
port of the bill. Well known philan
thropists and students of economics
will also support the measure, and the
discussion over the bill will at al
times be of interest.
1t is more than probable that the
first hearings on the measure will be
| before joint committees and will be
held evenings so as to give ample OPP
portunity for a discussion of the en-
tire subject. Who will lead in the
support of the measure among the
legislators cannot yet be said outside
Of the fact that it is understood that
Thomas Mahon will be prominent il
the debates over the subject. The bill
that is now before the legislature OF
the subject of minimum wage is ad
mitted to be more or less of tenta
tive measure, and it is not intended
that it shall by any means be ths
final law on the subject if law il
finally passed.
The members of the Wisconsin leg
islature have been following with
great deal Of interest the Illinois in
vestigations on the subject of a mini
mum wage and the reports of tina
investigation will be obtained an,
used in the aid of the Wisconsin dis
lcussion. Reports will also be oh