The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-05-05
Women and minors who work in

Women and minors who work in
mills more than forty-eight hours in
week are included in the proposed
bill. but those engaged In commercial
or domestic pursuits, on the farm or
in any employment other than in
factories are not directly or indirect
ly affected, the proponents believing
that the nature of the work should
make distinction in the hours of
labor.
There are two outstanding features
in this measure that outweigh all
others. One pertains to justice and
the well being of the race, the other
to the value and virtues Of political
pledges and promises,-neither OF
which will admit of a compromising
fulfillment of our plain duty. 1t Is
these principles and these alone that
want to plainly and frankly discuss
irrespective of party ties or political
exigencies, without attempting to Gre
ate sentiment, to invite applause or to
play on friendship, preferring to have
the issue decided on its true merits
The time Is sure to come, and
hope at no far distant day, when there
will be no more reason for wives and
mothers to work in noisy, vibrating
factory than there was for the In
dian to smoke his pipe in the shade
while his squaw hoed the corn.
And at present there ought to be
chivalry enough among us to at least
limit the factory hours of those on
whom depends the hope of mankind
For the future has a right to demand
of us that the en- .ldren of tomorrow
be born of mothers of health and yigor,
not of those physically unfit. broken
by excessive and unreasonable toil.All
social and economic functions in every
community are measured by the stan
dard of it's homes, founded and build
ed on the hope and happ ness of those
who rock the cradle
This act is not, as you have been
given to understand by members of
the Third House, an innovation or in
any sense a Legislative experiment.
Eight years ago by unanimous acton
of Congress an eight hour day was
given to all Federal employees. not
alone to women and children, but to
men as well. The Adamson Bill, also
a Congressional Measure, extended
the same working hours to all Rail-
road employees.
If it is unreasonable, nnbusnessl Ike
and ineXpedient for us to legislate for
a shorter day, great mistake has
been committed at Washington. Ten
states have enacted a forty-eight hour
week. If such Legislation will de-
stroy industries and smother develop
ment. then some action should be
taken to notify our sister common
wealths of their error
The indisputable facts are that rec
ords do not disclose a single attempt
to recede from this humane Legisla-
ton when once enacted. Education
and inventions are safely, sanely and
surely shortening the day of toll and
while civilization may ebb and flow
the progress of man moves on with
out retrogression. Even without re-
strictive statutes more than twenty
five per cent of the women industrially
engaged, and over one half of the men
working at their trades are on forty
eight hour schedule conclusively prov
ing it to be a feasible, pract teal and
workable plan.
1t is generally claimed by our EN-
ployers that on account OF excess
freight rates they cannot compete witt
states more centrally located unles:
our women and children work NOR,
hours here than they do elsewhere
Think. fellow members. of the comfort
and happiness of our children, the
lives and souls of our women. being
compared with transportation cost
do net believe there is, or can | con
cieye of there ever being, member oi
the Maine Legislature, who would
tolerate a comparison so cd Gus.
What does slight disadvantage in
freight rates or q small added pro
duction cost of a forty-eght schedule
amount to as compared with the quail
ity and standard of our working peo-
pie? And who understands this fact
better than do the manufacturers? But
the hand writing is on the wall, I'M
m stakingly warning us not to discrim-
mate by adding burdens to our en-
ployees that other states do not
In the Waltham watch factory In
Massachusetts there are employed
nearly as many Maine born men and
women as there is In the largest fac
tory of our own state.
1t is hoped that our employers will
come to realize before it is too late
that labor will surely go where work
ing conditions are most favorable. Blu
not until we create a condition tina
will compel our employees to seel
other fields for employment will on
| industries suffer as result of outside
compel ton.
There is not a manufacturer within
! the confines of our state who does no
concede the justice and equity of al
eight hour day provided it could be ;
national proposition, but intens iiet
with vision measured by the might!
dollar they eonspire with one of on
state officials until he, a servant o
all the people. becomes an exponent o
Their special interest and the oppo
nent of the common interests OF the
common people.
Sometimes we are told that employ
ees here and there do not want ar
eight hour day, but not until | have
had the pleasure of meeting such ar
L.. :; -. al a.