The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-10-21
TO WOMEN WORKERS AND
VOTERS

A pamphlet on Luxury Wages"
has recently been circulated in Minot,
urging working girls to vote for Fra
zier and the Nonpartisan League tick.
ct, on the ground that the election of
O'Connor would mean the repeal OF
the Eight Hour Law and Minimum
Wage Law. Among both women and
men workers is being spread the re-
port that O'Connor's victory would
also mean the repeal of the Work.
mems Compensation Law.
To see whether there is any truth
in these charges, let's look at what
has hapuened both here and in other
states.
OConnor, as a member Of the 1919
legislature, voted for all these laws
He also voted for the law providing
inspection of coal mines, the full crew
law, the law forcing the railroads to
provide shelter for their employees
at work. In fact he worked hard
for every bill supported by the labor
unions So strong is O'Connor's rec
ord in favor of labor that he holds
solid gold medal presented him by the
labor unions Of Grand Forks, his home
town, in recognition of his services IN
the cause
These laws are not creations of the
Nonpartisan League. They are part
of the system of social reform that
is winning it's way in every state and
country on the globe. They have
heen passed by many states where
the Nonpartisan League never obtain
ed foothold. Progressive men and
women, of every shade of opinion,
have worked for them everywhere.
The Workmen's Compensation Law
now prevails in 43 of the 48 states
in this country THESE LAWS
WERE PASSED, NOT BECAUSE
THE LEAGUE WAS IN POWER,
BUT BECAUSE PUBLIC SENT1-
MENT WAS RIPE FOR THEIR
PASSAGE.
THERE is NOT A GHOST OF A
CHANCE THAT ANY OF THESE
LAWS WOULD BE REPEALED
WITH O'CONNOR AS GOVERNOR.
THE INTERESTS OF LABOR ARE
SAFE IN HIS HANDS. .....
AS showing that this kind of legis-
ation is the kind that is being enact
ed everywhere, it is proper to call at
tention to the fact that our 1915 leg
islature, which met before the Non
partisan League was organized, pass
ed the Mothers Pension Law. This
@ives pensions to widows to enable
them tc support their children at
home and avoid breaking up the fam
lily.
The pamphlet referred to above
says that "The l. V. AS through their
attorneys have declared that the pres
ent minimum Of $3.50 a week is a
luxury wage and not a minimum
wage. The unfairness of this state
ment is clear Certain employers have
brought suit to enjoin the enforce
ment of the wage, and have made
tlVs contention in their suit. Is
that the doing OF the mass of self
respecting, progressive men and wo-
r>en who oppose Townlev? Would
you say that our soldier boys were a
crowd of buns because few Of them
committed crimes?
The same pamphlet says that the
average wage for working women was
lower before this new deal. So was
the price Of clothes, shoes and gro
ceries lower. Restaurant prices have
been going up all the time. Wages
have risen constantly in the years
since the war, laws or no laws. If
this kind of argument is good, pref
ty soon we shall expect to hear that
the laws are res ponsible for our eli
rate and rainfall.
The state Home Building Associa-
ton is of great interest to working
men and women It too has come
in for it's share of misrepresentation