New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-04
"The Greatest Friend of Labor"

leaders to make IL appear luaI -"i' AA"e
is antagonistic to labor in general, and
reactionary in respect of human rights, be-
cause he has dared to tell the truth about
the misnanred "eight-hour" law. Nothing
could be further from the fact. These busy
campaigners could easily convince them
selves that their effort is bound 10 De
wasted if they devoted a little time to
s+udvinq the record of Governor Hughes
on labor questions.
The fact is that no Governor OF New
York has ever taken a more progressive
attitude on labor questions" coming be-
fore him officially than did Mr.. hughes.
No Governor of New York has received
hicher praise from labor spokesman for his
course In no Governors term have more
important statutes for the protection OF
workers and the advancement of their con-
dition been placed on the books than when
Mr.. Hughes was at Albany And II must
no remembered that New York has always
been regarded as a pioneer in the enact
ment of this class of legislation.
At the same time no Governor has more
unhesitatingly vetoed legislation backed by
labor unions when it embodied proposals
which he deemed unwise or unjustihaDle,
His was a friendship for labor sincere and
honest enough to understand that the prin-
c;Dle Of unionism was hurt by an arbitrary
c,action like the full crew bill, penalizing
eocietv in general for the benefit OF
favored class. and he would have no part
in making it law. The man who vetoed
that bill could not fail to assail pay
raising measure incorporating as an eight
hour law.
When Governor Hughes resigned to go
20 the Supreme Court, "The Legislative
labor News" the organ Of the State FED
GRAFTON of Labor, had this 70 say OF him:
Now that Governor Hughes has
r.tired from politics and assembled to
Mace on the highest judicial tribunal
.o the world, the fact can be acknowi-
cIeed without hurting anybody's po-
ltical corns that he was the greatest
friend of labor laws that ever occupied
the Governors chair at Albany. Dur
ing his two terms he has signed hfty-
six labor laws, including among them
the hest labor laws ever enacted in this
,,-o +her state With such
record of approval and suggestion OF
progressive legislation in the interest
of humanity to his credit, 1t is easy TO
believe that human rights will nave
steadfast and sympathetic upholder IN
the new Justice of the Supreme Court
Of the United States"
II was Governor Hughes who recon-
nrended the legislative investigation OF
compensation for industrial accidents
which resulted in the enactment OF the
first compulsory compensation law for
workmen ever put on states statute
books. AS early as 1907, just after ne
first took Office, he publicly recognized the
Justice of society's obligation TO the work
ers in this respect. "The interests OF labor
are the interests Of all the people" he de-
clared, land the protection of the wage
Garner in the security of his life and health
by every practicable means is one Of the
most sacred trusts of society"
Accordingly, in 1910, he signed the COM
pulsory compensation bill which the Legis-
lature had enacted, in spite of declarations
that il conf1icted with the constitution as it
then stood. II believe" he said, that the
questions thus raised should be left to the
determination of the courts. In this way
only can there be an authoritative deter
mination with respect 10 the measures that
are within the limits of legislative power
The Court of Appeals decided that the
law was unconstitutional. But there was
no possibility, after the Governors work
of backward step. The constitution was
amended, thus making it possible for an
other Governor, Of another faith, TO sign a
bill of similar import which is now the law
of the state. II is interesting to note that
other states having less rigid constitutions
than this states Immediately took the
Hughes law as model and themselves
enacted compulsory compensation laws
along the line mapped out by this pioneer
statute.
In his first message 10 the Legislature
Governor Hughes recommended reorgan'
ization Of the State Labor Department, and
dressed for it with such good results that
tbe Cornnnigsioner-a labor union man
said: at was the most intelligent and
generous treatment the department has re-
eeiyed from the Legislature for many
years" In that same message the Gov
ernor recommended specific legislation for
the protection Of children. Two measures
became law, one reducing 70 eight the daily
working hours Of a child, the other extend
ing protective provisions over factory
workers and giving additional protection 70
female workers over sixteen years Of age.
In his second term still more advanced
legislation Of this character was obtained,