The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-15
For President WOODROW WILSON For Vice President THOMAS R. MARSHALL
THE EIGHT HOUR DAY LAW

IN THE DISCUSSION by which President Wilson laid the
 foundation to avoid disastrous railroad strike he said that the eight hour day the socially approved work day
 Scarcely anybody will dispute the assertion. Long since most of the of the United States made statutes quiring eight hours the legal day for public employees
 It long the legal day such employees Bridge port and in Connecticut is the legal day for Federal poyes The letter carriers who work for the naton and the policemen, who for the city, work eight hours.
 Most of the crafts in American cities have the eight hour ay, such carpenters plumbers and other skilled men. They have it in. Bridgeport. ~
 Recently substantially all the crafts made demand eight hour day, which readily granted by the employers n matter of force necessity but because of the belief the eight hour day be made about productive f day. the knowedgewas general among employers Bridgeport if it should maintain unfavorable additions, would it's best wormen drifting rapidly to other communities. 1E
 The system it's advantages and disadvantages
 Among it's disadvantages has been the difficulty of acquir unity laws Nowhere has this difficulty been press x ing than in the labor field. qs4s
 The real argument against eight those who it placed themselves in degree the risk of placing themselves dsadVantageously with respect to < employing for ten more hours
 federal eight hour law lying level all occupations the classes be covered would De advantageous in fairness in competition 34 .lN I
 But the state of public opinion has seemed Congress perhaps would to the court sufficient
 amendment to the constitution, by legislation, by judicial fia covering all occupations -t
 The railroad field is different The principal of govern power of regulation, down to almost detail is we'll recognized in the law and by the construction or amendment which the court has given to the constitution
 The right to regulate hours and at least certain right fix rates and prescribe service Service be prescribed though yield profit subject of to right of the corporation to abandon its franchise
 Indeed the railroads themselves have the difficulty that existed actually prescribed rates and N service but not hours and wages.
 There been injustice in the regulation of railroad The rates have been prescbed for groups of railroads instead for specific properties with the result that in roads have received too much and others too e
 Now that government has taken the task of dsring the whole situation difficulties will be fewer railroad under eight hour conditions cannot pay fair return on the property used for the public it should and
 receive rates necessary to the proper and just return
 The public has rights in the matter other than this
 The public will object to meeting the cost of eight public employees of railroads than it ects meeting the conditions with respect to who are employed by the public direct yqtI
 forgotten that very c-nnovc-s-,,e-- ce tharc in Brdgeport-beeve in eight hour day. principal It is unnecessary views of such employees Henry A. Edison on and who each had notified their intention vote for Woodrow Wilson.
 The employing class specialists, and very busy They have not always had opportunity acquire the for broad industry and of its with other mena hatred of innovation to take unreasoned view of the railroad eight Upon study these will conclude that the legislation as sound it necessary and they will live to give their hearty con1mendaton. e