South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-18
PLOYE.RS STAND
FOR A WORKABLE
SHORT HOUR LAW
Hearing On Working Conditions
of Girls Given Mostly to EN-
pIoyerS While Employees Stay
Away or Listen.

Denying that there was any intim-
idation on their part Of the girls in
their employ, and insisting that they
are IN favor OF a workable maximum
hour' and even perhaps minimum
wage law, employers OF girls in South
BEND who were conspicuous at the
girls hearing before the Indiana
working wOmen's commission last
night, protested today against the in
situation OF Commissioner ConrOy,
and labor leaders who attended, that
coercion had been used 10 keep the
feminine employees from telling their
side Of the story.
The meeting last night was by no
means a tame affair following one
quite as lively during the afternoon.
the sessions being held in the Cham
Der OF Commerce auditorium.
During the afternoon the cOncensus
OF opinion appeared 10 favor an in
dustrial commission empowered TO diff
ferentiate between trades, localities
and industries maximum hours and
minimum wages TO meet particular
conditions. The employers were
heard in the afternoon and the en-
plOyes at night. The commission is
one appointed by Gov. Ralston fol-
lowing the last session Of the legis-
latuTe to investigate the condition Of
working women Of Indiana and rec
assembly as may be deemed advisable
Composition OF Committee
The commission consists of Melville
W. Mix. chairman, MishaWaka: Mae
Romig Miller, secretary, South Bend.
and Lee ROdman, Cannellton: H. J.
Conroy, Lafayette. and Frederick Van
Mugs. Anderson. All save Mr.. Van
Mugs were present
The laundries, shirt and apron
makers, and retail stores were the
most conspicuous ar the hearing OF
the employers. To lead Chairman Mix
explained that the commission is out
seeking for light: that during the last
legislature a bill was introduced to
shorten the hours of labor for wo-
men. and increase their minimum
wage. and that there was so much
dispute about the feasibility of the
measure that IL was decided to make
an Investigation and postpone the
legislation for two years. Only $4,000
were appropriated TO defray the eX-
pense. The commission has had the
assistance of the federal bureau Of
labor statistics, representing which
Marie l. OberaUer, Washington, ID.
G., was present and explained the
work she was doing.
Local Employers Heard.
J. r. HoughtOn, manager of the
Wilson Bros. shirt factory, started the
ball rolling. Our factory" he said.
has a "a hour week-nine hours a
day for men. and eight for women at
present itting at noon Saturday"
He didn scuss the matter of wages
He said all his people would ask
would be "a law which would leave
them able TO compete with factories
in other states.
w. w. Ridenour OF the Ridenour
Apron Co. Thomas w. Slick, repre-
senting Sticks laundry. and Quimby
y. Taggart OF the White Swan laun-
dry. were others to take particular
part in the discussion, while the 9TH
ers sat as listeners.
An effort 70 fuss the commission by
n universal demand that the matter
OF hours and minimum wage be made
10 apply 70 dOmestics as we'll as to
girls and women employed otherwise
caused some merriment and consid-
cradle debate, but the suggestion of
Commissioner ROdman that possibly a
labor commission would be empow-
cred TO settle that qlIe stiOn, devel-
oDed a new face. Under such a plan
which seems to meet with the favor
OF the employers present, there might
be one schedule OF hours and wages
for one industry, and another for an
other, the same as maintained by the
labor unions with respect to the diff
ferent crafts-but there was no assur-
ance Forthcoming that it would be
the plan recommended
Argue Sociological Question.
The most OF the afternoon was
given to a three-cornered discussion
between Messrs. RidenOur and Slick
and Mrs. Miller. involving the sOcio-
logical ,,hases Of the issue, going into
the moral, physical and intellectual
welfare OF the girls. and their Op
portunities for development. The ar
gument became quite warm in spots,
hut finally subsidized with all of them
in better hUmor. and the floor was
turned over 20 Commissioner Conroy,
who dealt with the question from the
union standpoint