Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-08
Editors Letter Box
The 81. hour Law

The Legislature of 1915 passed a law
known as the 54-hour law, with prac
tically no opposition,-and if we mis-
take not, after both the Republican
and Democratic parties had gone on
record in their party platforms in ia
vor of such a law:-and it was ap-
proved by the Governor But later,
petitions in favor of invoking the ref
erendum on this law were circulated
and signed by large number of cit
liens, so that 1t is to be voted on next
Monday as an amendment to our
State constitution. Many who signed
the petitions were-and still are
heartily in favor Of the law, but as it
is one in which a large majority Of
the people are interested. they believe
the voters should have the chance to.
by their votes, accept or reject it.
Twice within the past month, letters
and circulars have been sent to many
Of the voters from the Maine Indus
trial Expansion Commission" COM
mission. evidently, having but one Of
ficer, W. E. Lawry, who in the letter
Of August II signs as Executive Sec
retary," but in the letter Of August
18th simply as Secretary. Very few
commissions or associations are or
ganized without a full set OF officers,
president, vice-president. secretary,
treasurer, etc, and very few that do
not have the names Of its officers
printed on their letterheads: and 1t
looks as if the officers of this COM
mission 60 are afraid to have their
names made public. In the circular
of Aug. 2Sth are given, Git is claimedD
the views of people engaged in some OF
the leading industries of the State,
but like the commission itself, no
names are given. and it certainly
looks as If there was "a niger in the
woodpile", and very few take much
stock in statements made by people
who have not the moral courage to
sign their names to any statement
made public!
One statement that circular claims
Is made by lumber manufacturer is:
II think the shortening of the hours
Of labor from what they are at present
in the State of Maine would be a
great mistake"
Now as a matter Of fact in nearly
every branch of lumber manufacture
ing only strong, able-bodied men are
employed, and according to the state
ment Of Attorney General Pattangall,
this law applies only to women and
boys under Is years of age, and very
few boys are employed at such labor,
and no women excepting in office work
as stenographers and typewriters, and
they certainly ought not to be required
to work more than nine hours day:
and~Mr. Pattangall states the case
very plainly in these words: THAT
this law could have no effect whatever
upon the numbering industry"
But the commission" co seems to
be the most worried about the poor
farmer. and makes this statement
During the past summer farmers
have come into the cities and offered
81 day, transportation to and from
the farm and meals, for men to work
in the bayfield," Doubtless there
might have been a few such cases, but
in this section Of Kennebec county,
where hay is one Of the leading crops,
farmers hired men In haying for 81 so
per day, and some for even less than
that. Comparatively few Maine farm
ers hire by the season, as a large ma
jority are farming on small scale,
doing the most of their work them
selves, but hiring some help by the
day during planting, haying and har-
vesting, and for the past few years
have hired men,-excepting in haying
for $3.50 per day, furnishing dinner,
and they work from A. NJ. to P. NJ,
with an hours incoming, so working
but 9 hours a day, or 81 hours per
week; while men working at nearly
every trade work but eight hours a
day, or As hours per week! And why
should women be required to work
more hours than men? Are they bet
ter able physically to do this? If this
proposed amendment is rejected, will
the mechanic or the man working on
the farm work any more hours than