The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-02-15
RECORD OF LABOR
CONSERVATION
SINCE JUNE 4TH

Laws IN var me was lSSuSU' OOIl-
slant and growing support has been
given to the campaign throughout
the country for the maintenance of
protective standards for labor; also
to the idea that our Human re-
sources are more important than our
Material resources. The following
brief chronology is designed to be
supplementary to our last one,
which recorded the gains from
March 23-when the Executive Com
mittee of the American Association
for Labor Legislation, realizing that
war was imminent. issued its pub
lie announcement outing the min
imum standards that are essential
for the protection of those who
serve the industries in order to in
crease production and to conserve
human resources-up to June 4,
when President Wilson issued his
statement that it would be most
unfortunate" to relax protective la
Dor laws and that there is mo ne
cessity" for doing so.
Witness the following labor better
ments during the last seven months:
June 3. Attorney General Lewis,
Of New York, rendered opinion that
war is not extraordinary emerg-
ency" within meaning Of provisions
Of labor law which forbids employees
on state contracts to labor more than
eight hours a day; therefore, state
has no power to suspend eight hour
law.
June Is. Secretary of War Baker
wrote to Wisconsin Industrial Com
mission with reference to request Of
Army Quartermaster that the hours
of-labor law be suspended in certain
wooden factories that had undertaken
government contracts: "This letter
was written without my knowledge
and | entirely favor your view with
regard to the unwisdom of breaking
down the enforcement of regulations
which have been enacted as to hours
eff labor in the various states. -
Clearly wisdom and humanity alike
counsel maintenance of existing
standards"
July 7. New Hampshire Commit
tee on Public Safety announced that
Governor, in responding to any re
quest of Council of Natioal Defense
to relax protective measures "has no
other intention than that any sus-
pending of the labor laws of the
svaoe should take place, if at all,
only under circumstances so critical
as imperatively to demand it, and
then only for the briefest period
necessary to accomplish the purpose"
also that mo backward step has
been taken in this state"
July 9. Secretary of Commerce
Redfield urged that IAN earnest eff
fort may be made to see that not
only are the safeguards for life and
limb provided by laws maintained
in full force and vigor, but that a
special appeal is made to our leaders
Of industry to safeguard by careful
provision and constant thought the
lives of the toilers now 50 necessary
to our country"
July 10. Secretary McAdoo, after
an investigation requested by Rep
resentatiye Jeanette Rankin, ordered
that operations of the U. S. Bureau
Of Engraving and Printing be placed
upon an eight-hour basis both for
men and women, six days a week.
July 10. Minnesota Public Safety
Commission adopted resolution com
hitting itself unreservedly to main
tenance Of existing safeguards as to
the health and welfare of workers.
July IS. Governor Brumbaugh, Of
Pennsylvania, vetoed bill aiming to
suspend Full Crew law during the
war; saying. ITO disturb labor condi-
tons in a time Of grave moment
is likely to invite strikes, riots and
disorders, the very things that all
good men devoutly pray may not
arise in this country"
September TO- Secretary Baker
issued order to make conditions in
army forts and posts conform to
standards laid down by Federal Child
Labor Act.
September 10. Board of Control
submitted to Quartermaster General
new form of contract for army cloth
ing, which requires all work to be
done in full compliance with all
tate labor laws; failure of contrac-
Tor 70 comply emitting Government
20 cancel contract.
September y. Secretary Of War
Baker, addressing War Convention
Of American Business under auspices
Of Chamber Of Commerce Of the
United States, warned against allow
ipfy uroart demands Of war 10 loyUer