New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-04
Unwise to Remove ProteC-
ton for Women and Chill
dren, Says Governor
Control of Men Ample
Workers Must Not Be Made
Apprehensive of War Bur-
dens, Message Asserts

Albany, June Announcement that
he had vetoed the Brown bill, designed
to authorize the State Industrial Com
mission TO suspend the operation OF the
labor laws during the war. was made by
Governor Whitman to-day. The meas
ure was introduced i'm the Legislature
by the majority leader Of the Senate as
one Of the bills agreed on by the Sen
ate War Committee.
Among the requirements Of the
present labor law which the Industrial
Commission, with the approval Of the
Governor, would be empowered to sus-
pend or modify the Governor set
forth in a memorandum accompanying
the bill, "are those relating TO the linn
tations which have been very wisely
placed upon the employment Of women,
upon the employment of minors and
the prohibition against the employment
of very young children.
Power Ample Now Regarding Men
CAS- to the limitations upon hours Of
labor of men, the Industrial Commits
sion has ample power under the present
law in emergencies to grant an exemp-
ton from the limitations and prohibit
tons. II is conceivable that conditions
may arise which may justify, even ne
cessitate, modification of the labor law
in connection with the manufacture of
munitions and supplies for the military
and naval forces of the nation and the
state.
"If the Federal government, which
will be the purchaser and consumer of
such munitions and supplies, should
certify to the existence OF an emer-
gency, justifying a suspension or modi-
fication of the provision of the labor
law relative to the employment of men,
| have no doubt that the Industrial
Commission would grant an exemption
wherever such action is necessary TO
meet such an emergency.
at is of supreme Importance that
every man and woman shall be willing
to make every necessary sacrifice in
this great world war in which our coun-
try is to take so conspicuous and 50 I'M
selfish a part. but if we are to attain
the greatest measure Of efficiency IN
our preparation and in our prosecution
of the war we must not permit our
l.. I'll. - 81 fef a
pursuits TO become apprehenslve that
the standards erected for their pvotec-
ton will be set aside. and we must not
permit our industrial population to
have cause to feel that the wars bur
dens and sacrifices may rest most
heavily upon the shoulders of those
least able to bear them.
Should Profit By Others Errors
"To give cause for such an impress
sion would be a grave error. We should
rot disregard the errors o. other ma
tons with respect TO the suspension Of
their labor laws. On the contrary, we
should profit by their mistakes.
81 believe that the enactment Of the
proposed legislation would initiate
against hearty cooperation on the part
o, all the factors which are engaged IN
industrial pursuits, and cooperation IS
essential to adequate and necessary
military preparation
voluntary and enthusiastic service
on the part OF our wage earners VIII
result in volume Of effort and sup
mort of far greater benefit TO the state
and the nation than can be derived by
forced labor under conditions and dur
ing hours now prohibited by law"