Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-23
textile WORKERS
APPEAL TO VOTERS

The United Textile Workers Of Lew
iston, Brunswick, Waterville and Mad
ison. Tuesday sent out an appeal to the
voters Of Maine to favor the so-called
81 hour bill at the polls at the Septem-
Der election when it comes up to the
electorate in the form Of referendum.
The bill limiting the hours Of labor for
women and children in mills, work.
shops and factories to "a hours in one
week, was passed at the last session
Of tho legislature but the operation Of
the law was suspended through the me-
dunn Of tho referendum.
The appeal, which is addressed to the
MEN Of Maine" says in part:
I'VE, the overworked and under-paid
women and children employed in the
textile industry in the State Of Maine,
appeal to you to vote yes" in the re-
ferendum on the 54-hour bill at the
State election on September II.
III ever an act Of the Legislature
deserved to be ratified by the people,
the 54-hour law is that act.
There are many strong and urgent
reasons why the law should be given
full life, and not a single legitimate
reason why 1t should be allowed to die.
1.-THE law was drawn up by the Maine
Federation Of Labor, the true repre-
sentative of all sons and daughters of
toll In this State.
1.-The object of the 54-hour law Is to
tighten the burdens of the women and
children wage-earners of our State.
No man who reveres his mother, hon
ors his wife and loves his children can
be opposed to so worthy an object.
Maine the Only 5a-Hour State.
I'm their arguments before the Legts-
lature, the Maine Federation Of Labor
brought out with telling force the brut-
al fact that Maine is the only state In
the northern part Of the United States
where women and children wage-earn-
ers are compelled to work IS hours a
week.
This disgraceful fact brought no
blush of shame to the cheeks OF the
hired Hessians who fought the 54-hour
bill.
Money is their god and they care not
whether it comes from the ifeless
backs and bloodless lungs Of weakened
and weary women, or from the twitch-
ing eyes and benumbed fingers OF
stunted and starved children.
Every hook and crook, every argu-
ment, fair and unfair, was employed
by the paid agents Of the enemies OF
labor in desperate attempts to defeat
the 54-hour bill before it was passed by
the Legislature.
Their corrupt methods were all In
vain. After weighing every straight
and crooked argument against the bill,
both houses of the State Legislature
passed the measure with but few dis
senting votes.
1.-THE decision Of the Legislature was
rendered after exhaustive hearings.
prolonged debates and Que deliberation,
vet the enemies of the helpless women
and hopeless children refused to ac-
cept the verdict.
without heart, without shame. with
out mercy, they were quick to make 1T
known that they intended to continue
to climb to wealth and power on
ladder of down-trodden women and
downcast children.
Bill Signed by the Governor.
1.-THE bill was signed by Governor
Curtis and would have become an eff
fective law 80 days after the adjourn
ment Of the Legislature had not the
popular will been chloroformed and
choked. Working with dark lanterns
and rubber soles, the shylocks who OPP
posed the bill circulated petition and
contrived to collect signatures for
referendum On the 54-hour law.
Every dishonorable practice known
to the pirates of politics was employed
in padding out the petition to the re-
auired number of signatures.
Every lifelong enemy of labor glad
ly signed the referendum petition
That was to be expected, for blue blood
is the foe of red blood. In this group
are the men who have always OPP
pressed labor in private life and who
have always fought labor's political
remedies. Hereditary influences made
them what they are, and the same in
iuences will continue to make them
bite the hands that feed them.
"Other men. some of neutral mind,
were manipulated into signing the Pc
tition without fully realizing what they
were doing. Had these men heard Ia
boris side before they acted, their sig
natures would be absent from the pc
tition. Still others, and among them
laboring men were forced to sign the
petition or lose their jobs.
more than that, fraud was resorted
to when it was seen that the other
forms Of crookedness would fall far
short Of loading the petition to the
brim. Commenting on this subject be-
fore the Maine State Federation of La
Dor at its annual convention at Port
land last June, President Winn made
these significant remarks:
AFTER careful thought, 1 am Of the
opinion that the referendum law should
be amended in some way to prevent
fraud in getting signatures, as I have
personally inspected some Of the pc
tittons, and In my judgment a great
many signatures are in the same hand
writing, and recommend that your
legislative committee and incoming ex-
ecutive board take this matter under
consideration before the coming session