Denver labor bulletin., 1918-10-12
COOPERATION is ASSURED
BETWEEN STATE AND
FEDERAL OFFICIALS.
Secretary of Labor Wilson Ad-
dresses Conference Which Is
Made Up of Notables; Colo
rado Labor Department
Policies in Accord With
the Program Adopted.
BY W. L. MORRISSEY.

state LABOR OOm missioner of Colorado.
Far-reaching in its Importance to
governmental bureaus, state agencies
and to the toilers of the nation, was
the conference held in Washington on
September 80 and October l. 1t was
attended by every labor commissioner
of the country and scores of officers
Of the various branches of the fed
eral service
Definite policies were decided upon
and the result will be adequate pro-
lection, during war times at least, of
the women, and children who are tax
ing the places of men in the industrial
fields. State laws are TO be lived up
to where the government has contracts
for war work and it makes no differ
ence whether these contracts affect
men, women or children.
The states are to prevail over the
government in most instances In
other words, it was decided that where
there are government contracts there
is to be no letting down of the labor
bars. The eight-hour laws, the state
regula tions as to child labor and con-
vict labor are to be strictly adhered
to for the period of the war. If the
contractors who are dealing with the
government refuse to abide by the
SNabC SSdN0lSS ItS In6 nOuTS OF
labor and other humanitarian condi-
tions then the government is to step
in and take the work away from them.
Comply With State Laws.
The government did not yield to the
states until it was clearly proven that
better and quicker results could be
obtained by the state labor commits
sioners or the state industrial COM
missions A clause is to be inserted
IN each government contract which
calls for conditions similar to the
state regulations as to hours and
working conditions.
The state labor commissioners are
to see to it that these regulations are
to be observed and if the contractors
are inclined to force the issue then it
is the duty of the state officers TO not
only proceed in the regular legal way,
but to report the case to the federal
department of labor, the latter prom
Using, in turn, TO abrogate the con-
tract with the employer
Perhaps the action taken which is
of even greater Importance than the
elimination of the employer who re-
fuses to live up TO the labor stand
ards, was the resolution adopted call
ing for absolute adherence to the labor
standards for women in all govern
mental and civil work during the war
times.
No Lowering of Standards.
4 strong resolution was adopted at
the close of the conference in which
it was stated that under no circum-
stances should the bars be let down
for u lowering of the standards for
women and children workers unless
authorized by a tribunal of competent
jurisdiction.
The introducer of that resolution
kneY when he put it before the as
semblage of distinguished labor and
state representatives that the govern
ment would only break down the
standards as a last resort He knew
that he had behind him that modern
labor savior, w. b. Wilson, secretary
of labor. who, in stirring speech to
the delegates, said that only in case
of extraordinary emergency should the
labor standards of the country be low
cred during war times. When all other
measures to win the war had been ex-
hausted. said Wilson, then, and only
then, should the employer, individual
or the government itself be permitted
to interfere with state or federal laws
for the protection of men, women and
children.
Women Are Given a Say.
The program covered four sessions
and lasted two days. That it will
prove of incalculable benefit to the
heads of the federal bureaus in Wash
ington and to the labor representatives
of the various states, there is no doubt.
The men and women who are striving
to bring order out of chaos in WASH
ington in the establishment of numer-
Gus departments, boards and bureaus
will profit by the exchange of ideas,
tcontinued on Page FourJ