Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1920-10-21

hold her.
/ believe women are too inherently
practical to accept and to be satisfied
with program of negation, and that
it was because of its record Of actual
achievement that the Democratic par
ty asked for and received the votes of
the women Of this country in 1916.
The list is long one, so lona that
every section of the country and every
element of our citizenship has par
ticipated in the advantages which have
followed these enactments.
The Farm Loan Law brought relief
to the farmers of the west who had
struggled with drought and grass
hoppers and loneliness and privation
only to see the homestead that had
cost them SO much go into the hands of
loan sharks and land spectators be-
cause they could no longer meet the
extortionate interest piled up against
them. 1t is said that the average
ranch of the Far West passes through
four hands before itNfnds an owner.
The mortgage that pays itself off at a
rate of interest so low that it is not
burden brought new day to the
hundreds and thousands of men and
women who are developing the region
that used to be known as the Great
American Desert and making it the
garden of America.
The Agricultural Extension Act has
brought the discoveries of science to
the aid of farmers and farmers fam
lilies everywhere. Under this act the
government appropriates dollar fol
dollar for the benefit of any State
willing to accept its provisions. This
money is used to demonstrate the most
improved methods of farming, to
teach the easiest way to get results
and in many places where the women
have voice in public affairs there is
explicit provision that a generous
share of this money shall be used for
the special benefit of women living
on farms.
The Good Roads Act has conferred
great benefit upon our people. We
have endured almost impossible high
ways ever since the trail of the trap
per gave place to the rough and ridgey
road which characterizes the country
districts of nearly all the states. Ma
tional associations have been created
and miles Of statistics compiled to
show the waste in time and horse
power of ungraded, unkept highways
Men and women engaa> . in the "Back
to the Farm" movement have shown
how lack Of proper turnpikes has made
the farm an isolated and dreary spot
where it was increasingly difficult tx
keep either boys or girls. If there is
one thing about which the genera
public has long possessed adequate in.
formation it is the roads Of the ma
ton, yet Republican Congresses came
and went, listened to their constitu.
ents, received their petitions, and left
them without relief. 1t remained fol-
Democratic Congress to act.
The passage of the Child Labor
Law is another instance of Democratic
faith and courage. The women of the
nation had been asking for law Of
this kind for a quarter of century
The human animal is the only enc thai
deliberately exploits it's young. Peti.
lions and protests without number hat
been filed with Congress after Con
grees-in vain. The President at the
proper moment took such action thai
1, an adequate Child Labor Bill wa.
passed. When certain of it's provis
ions were held unconstitutional by thu
Sunreme Court, they were written intt
all war-work contracts, and in q bette
form Incorporated in the Revenue Law
passed by the outgoing Democratic
Congress in the winter Of 1918, and i
is in operation at the present time.
I call attention also to the rule!
adopted governing the employment o.
women engaged in war work. Tht
contractor who wanted to do bushes!
with the government had to subscribe
to the following general standards Sc
up in General Orders Number 1872:
No employment of children undel
fourteen years of age.
No employment of children ovel
fourteen and under sixteen more thar
eight hours day.
An eight-hour day for women.
/ Saturday half holidays.
Six-day week.
Avoidance of night work and over
| time.