Evening journal., 1919-01-31
SAYS MINIMUM
Wage MOVE GROWS
Miss Margare H. Shearman
Tells OF Action
Elsewhere
BILLS PENDING In
FIVE STATES NOW

1T isn't Just little Delaware and New
Jersey and Connecticut that are dis
cussing minimum wage bills at the
present time" declares Miss Margaret
H. Shearman OF the legislation COM
mittee OF the Consumers League OF
Delaware" but big Pennsylvania and
big New York are States where the
campaign Is now on 10 put a minimum
wage bill through the respective leg
islatures in 1919"
Miss Sherman stopped of at VIII
minbton today on round Of labor leg
slative activities to which she has
been called IN New York State and in
Pennsylvania and at the local Office OF
the Consumers League a representa-
tive Of The Evening Journal heard an
up-to-the-minute estimate Of the pro-
gress Of public sentiment In behalf Of
the minimum wage principle.
Il have just come from New York"
said Miss Shearman, where a mini
mum wage bill is being backed In the
Legislature by a joint legislation COM
mittee consisting OF regularly appoint
ed delegates OF the State Federation OF
W0men's Clubs, the Young Womens
Christian Association, the American
Federation Of Labor, the Womens
Trade Union League, the Consumes
League. and o number Of the inCuen-
tial women's organizations. This united
campaign Is having unusual success.
Quite the most significant event Is the
endorsement Of the Associated Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Of New York
State.
In New York there is a strong pub
lic opinion in favor OF this legislation,
as a wise and sane way Of meeting the
demands Of the workers for fair stand
ard Of living Labor proved itself an
absolutely necessary ally 10 the gov
ernment during the war. u Is increas-
ingly being recognized that the demands
OF the wage earners must be given not
only a careful hearing, but must be en-
bodied In legislative acts which shall
express IN some measure, the public ap-
probation OF labor's part In the war,
and ss have heard the view constant
ly expressed in New York, there is a
growing public realization that the day
is past when the great working COM
munity can be safely denied a voice in
determining the conditions OF employ
ment under which they work.
Coming from the greatest metropo-
lis where industrial problems have for
some time been assuming sharply de-
fined phases, ! cannot help but feel that
Delaware will be taking a far-eighted
step II she will this year incorporate
she principle OF the minimum wage In
the body OF her laws. Already as un-
employment takes on serious proper
a fInh L.
ing over Europe will be communicated
here, Is being as a matter OF fact, re-
Elected here In New York and IN Phila-
delphia, which Is my next stopping
place. expect to be In Delaware
pretty frequently during the present
campaign and ! shall look forward with
greatest interest TO the stand taken
by our employers and representative
bodies in support OF. or in opposition TO,
the Delaware Minimum Wage bill.
Although l have mentioned i've
States which have introduced the stand
ard minimum wage measure, so called
by us because II embodies all the best
points covered by the twelve states and
the District Of Columbia, which have
already put e minimum wage law upon
their statute books, there are stin two
other States, Illinois and North Da-
kota, which are asking for the bill this
year.
Republican Illinois. Democratic
western States and non-partisan North
Dakota, industrial Massachusetts,. not
TO speak Of New York and most indus
trial Pennsylvania-it seems to make
no difference TO the spread Of the mini
mum wage idea which is being accepted
everywhere, because as Mr.. Flene. Of
Boston, has put 1t, It combines good
business with justice for the worker"