The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-10-06

many progressive ideals. Its most
notable achievements on behalf of the
workers are set forth in a pamphlet,
entitled "Wilson and Labor" issued by
the Democratic National Committee.
All classes of labor are affected by the
legislation enacted since the Demo
cratic party has been in control Of Con-
gress. Organized and unorganized,
men, women and children, citizens and
even non-citzens are benefited by
these laws.
The workingman in the Clayton An
thrust Law has secured the right of
voluntary association for his protec-
tion and welfare. His rights have been
protected against unwarranted issu-
ance of writs of injunction wherever
the Federal Courts have jurisdiction,
and he has been guaranteed the right
of trial by jury in cases of alleged
contempt committed outside of court.
This act, recognizing and enforcing the
equality, before the law, of working
men with other citizens, declaring that
| labor is not a commodity or article of
commerce, is considered the biggest
single step that has been taken since
serfdom and slavery were abolished"
| The Seamen's Bill has been called
the Emancipation Proclamation for
seafaring men. 1t deals mainly with
two important phrases: (1) freedom,
human liberty for the men employed
on board ship, not only on passenger
boats, but on freighters;, and ~ safe
ty at sea. 1t abolishes involuntary ser
vitude and isures humane treatment of
sailors.
The Seamen's Act says to the Amer
ican ship owner that American sea-
men shall be free to leave their vessel
when the vessel is in a safe port in
this or any other country, and it says
to the foreign shipowner, when your
seamen come into American ports, the
very fact that they are in our waters,
and under our jurisdiction makes them
free men,"
For fifteen years Andrew Furuseth
had haunted Congress in the effort to
secure legislation that would put an
end to this slavery and degradation
Not until Woodrow Wilson came into
Office did Furuseth meet with Presi-
dent of sufficient courage to put hui
manity above shipowner's profits.
AS to the eight-hour day ito which
the whole economic movement of the
time seems to point" the federal gov
ernment has enacted laws applying in
the following cases:
/. To men employed in dredging
work in rivers and harbors.
Q. To female employees in the Dis
trict of Columbia, over whom Congress
has jurisdiction.
3. To all women and child workers
in the District of Columbia.
I 4. To civilians engaged in the man
ufacture of ordnance and powder for
the government
5. To Post Office clerks and car
riers.
6. To the mining of all coal used
for the navy.
Z. To employees engaged in opera
tions under the Alaskan Coal Land
Act.
8. To work done for the govern
ment as we'll as work done by the gov
ernment.
"The problem OF Child Labor" says
the Labor Pamphlet, "is of vital inter
est to the whole community, includ.
ing labor. But 1t is of special interest
to labor because the children involved
are their children; not only does the
employment of children affect the chill.
dren directly, in retarding their men,
tai and physical development, but 1t
is menace to labor in that children
constitute a class of labor exploited by
employers and are used to displace
adult labor which commands higher
wages.
1T no longer can be held that only
the States individually have a right to
prohibit child labor and to impose a
penalty upon the manufacturer who
employs child labor The Federal Gov,
ernment has a right to keep the pro
ducts of child labor from interstate
commerce, and the Wilson administers
tion has exercised that right.
THE Keating-Owen Child Labor Bill
as passed, provides that it is unlaw'
full to ship from one state to another;
l. The product of any quarry or
mine employing children under 1G
years of age.
2. The products of any mill, can
merry, workshop or factory employing
children under IA years or age or chill
dren from IA to 16 years Of age who
work more than hours per day, more
than six days per week, or later than
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