New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-15
archaic" Farmers in the State Legislature Al
Responsible for the 72-Hour Cannery Bill,
CHARGES Consumers League Secretary.
Miss Swart, Places Country Legislators as Fifty
Years Behind an Intelligent Community, and
Describes "Disgracefu" Way in Which the
ewley-7hompson Bill Slipped Through.

are at least fifty years behind the mem
bers of an enlightened community. And
these are the men who are TO decide the
fate Of working women and children.
The Beautiful. Sunshine.
They get up in the Senate and make
speeches about how hard they had %
work when they were boys and how
good it was for them, and then they
rant along about the women working
out in Gods air, and the beautiful sun
shine and all that. As a matter of fact
the women working in the canneries are
working under worse conditions than
| obtain in other factories, because the
| season lasts but five months and the
buildings are never kept in repair or
in any semblance of sanitary order"
The farmers favor the bill, Miss
Swartz discovered, because it means
added profit for them. "The canneries
lease certain number of acres from
the farmers in the vicinity. If they can
get women to work longer hours they
can lease more acreage, and thus the
farmer receives larger income. These
farmer friends Of the Gamers helped
pull the bill through. They see only
the standpoint of the Gamer. and cam
not appreciate the fact that the unborn
children Of the women and young girls
employed such long hours in that sort
of work are going to pay the penalty"
Resent New York Interference.
They resent, too, any interference on
the part Of persons living in New York
City, Miss Swartz stated. In their
speeches in behalf Of the measure they
referred scornfully TO the "city fellers
who didn't know anything about can
ming" and argued that New York City
was trying to run the states affairs.
"In one of his speeches Senator Hin
man referred to me as paid official
being sent up from New York to oppose
the bill" smiled Miss Swartz. Il didn't
mind it at all. 1t was good advertising
for the Consumers League
II was Senator lIinman, the majority
leader. who made the bill a party
measure by introducing it Ind speaking
in favor Of Il. Miss Swartz asserted.
Because of this many Republicans felt
obliged to vote for It, even though
they were personally against it. The
proceedings attending the passing Of
the bill Miss Swartz characterized as
the most disgraceful sight she had ever
witnessed.
"Yote Proceedings Disgraceful.'
"The names Of rs legislators we're
required to pass the bill" she ex-
planned. 81 held the rolcall in my
hand and marked down the way each
man voted At the end of the rollcall
we found that only 70 men had voted
for the measure and that It had been
lost by four votes. Just then Mr.. Bew-
ley hurried over 20 the clerk and told
him to wait while he scurried around
and got the votes Of those who were
absent. He got two more votes in this
way. Then some one declared that
another legislator who was absent was
in favor Of the bill, and Mr.. Bewley
rushed up to a man who said he would
change his vote. And this was the way
this atrocious piece Of legislation was
carried"
To members Of the Consumers
League and other organizations and
individuals who are working for legis-
lation in behalf Of toiling women and
children the passing Of this bill would
mean a great setback to their efforts.