The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-30
NEWS OF CLUBS
 FASHIONS SHOPPERS GUIDE
BY ANNIE G. PORRITT.

The new women voters of New York state are busy upsetting some of the old arguments of the Anti SuffraGsts, just as the women voters of the West have done in the past. The Western equal Suffrage states are SC far distant that perhaps there was some excuse for the ignorance real or pretended of the Antis as to real effect of the votes of women. But New York is next door, and the women of Connecticut can surely learn something from what is going on there. They can learn to ask the Anti-Suffragists to produce proof for their assertions before accepting them as true.
 One of the arguments commonly used by the Antis with working girls and women was that women would have to forgo their protective legis- lation if they got the vote---they could not have equal rights with men and also special laws limiting their hours of work or providing minimum rates of wages. This argument was frequently used in Connecticut, and 1t produced some effect in soaring the WOIltI 1IOII Ile oulII dSG IIlONtlIltlll There was never any basis for it. The United States Supreme Court had upheld special legislation for women as necessary for the good of the na- ton and of the race, and had delib- erately stated that the possession or non-possession of the vote by wo- men had nothing to do with the case But the -Suffragists were inss- tent, and close at hand: and the Unit ed States Supreme Court decisions are learned and a long way off.
 This argument of the Antis will however now be confronted with the movement in New York state to se- cure better and fuller legal protec- ton for men than women ever Ob- tained by persuasion and agitation when they were without the vote. 'The women's organizations-inclu ing the former Suffrage leagues and associations, have formed a Women's Joint Legislative Conference which has drawn up q program of legisla. ton to be pressed during the pres ent session at Albany. The program includes six bills, all for the benefit of women in industry. Several of these bills are already in effect as laws in some of the Western equal Suffrage states, but in the East there is as yet no state with such advanced labor legislation for women.
 The first of these six bills provides for an eight hour day for women The women are asking this in behalf of fair conditions as between mer and women workers. The working men in many trades have achieved the eight hour day through theil unions. The women are unorganizet and cannot through any union de 7fiand an eight hour day This ha resulted in their undertaking tn, men, and being forced into unfai competition with them. The eigh hour bill aims to remove this un fair competition, and to prevent tho lowering of the standards which tho men have achieved. The whole com munity is interested in the health ant strength of women, and if workn: women are not able through indus hour day for themselves it Is righ that the state should secure it fo them.
 The second bill prohibits nigh work, after 10 p. m. for women Il many trades and occupations. Me find night work much less of a strai than do women. Night work for wo men is worse than for men becaus women are rarely merely employe.