Denver labor bulletin., 1917-07-21

1t was an earnest and enthusiastic
audience Of 200 representative women
that greeted Labor Commissioner w.
Club Monday afternoon.
Mr.. Morrissey had been invited to
address the club and he chose a live
issue for his subject: Effect of War
Upon Humanitarian Laws"
The speaker eloquently told the la
dies of the efforts made by several
large employers in this state to repeal
or abrogate humanitarian laws-stat-
utes relating to women and children
under the guise of military neces-
sity. The members of the club were
reminded that these beneficial meas
ures had been placed on the Colorado
statute books largely thru their in
fiuence, and vigilance was necessary
to see that these laws remained un-
changed.
The audience was a particularly
responsive one and the strong points
roundly applauded.
Mr.. Morrissey's address, in full,
follows:
when I accepted the invitation to
address the members of the Denver
Woman's club, had in mind speci-
fic request to make of this progress
sive organization. 1t was intended to
be a call to duty-a protest against
suspension of the humanitarian laws
on the statute books of Colorado.
at may be that the legislature
which meets in extraordinary session
will not attempt to in any way inter
fere with these laws, but l urge you
to be on the lookout so that in case
movement to abrogate these laws is
launched, you will instantly recognize
II and vigorously oppose it.
81 am hopeful that nothing of the
kind will be attempted, but in case it
1 is, l pledge relentless opposition on
the part Of not only the labor depart
ment, but also on the part of the man
who appointed me-James r. holland,
secretary of state.
Favors Child Labor Law.
''He is in full accord with the man.
ner in which the labor bureau is now
being conducted. He believes in the
strict enforcement of the woman's
eight-hour law, the child labor law,
and other measures of a similar ma
ture.
at seems to be the law that extra
ordinary sessions of the legislature
are limited in their functions to the
purposes outlined in the call issued by
the governor. Such being the case,
there is only one loophole for throw
ing down the bars and permitting
evasion of the state labor laws passed
for the benefit of men, women and
children.
This is found in the third reason,
advanced by the governor for the ex-
ira session, which he reads as follows:
To provide for the conservation and
distribution of the food supply and the
increase of production Is it not with
in the range of human possibility that
some legislator will seize upon this
sentence and attempt to serve his mas
ters by introducing a bill, which will,
in effect, suspend for the period of the
war. the humanitarian laws which it
has taken years to secure?
The increase of production The
words may prove to be talismanic to
the legislative seeker after loopholes.
| However. l am trusting to the vigil
ance of the good women of Colorado
to prevent an economic, social and in
dustrial disaster.
Assuming that each and every one
of you are opposed to any plan to sus-
pend these laws, / am going to say to
you that l was willing and anxious to
| be with you today-the eve of the
gathering of the state lawmakers be-
cause of my fear that certain legisla-
tive plans of some unscrupulous en-
ployer may be carried thru, despite the
vigilance of the state officers.
| Permit No Abrogation.
my opinion, publicly expressed, is
not new to some of you. 1t was given
to you in my office when l sought the
cooperation of some of your number
weeks ago and at time when there
was quiet, yet determined, move
ment on to bring about suspension or
abrogation of the state humanitarian