Manchester Democrat., 1921-03-16

4ldDOTiu6 6TSWOluclI sSouIOAhiPioSSu -. sAAS>
bill they were proposing. They stated
that working women in the homes
might need their aid as for them
selves they did not propose to have
such a bill pass which would restrict
them in hours that would make the
employment of men in their places
necessary without their protest.
Ask No Special Privileges
"We are equal now" declared one
women, "and we decline to go back
on our campaign pledges wherein we
announced that we should take our
places as the equal of men in every
pursuit. IT the hours we have are: too
hard for women then they are too
hard for men. There should be no
distinction, Many references were
made to the women on the farm who
know no hours. The women who
made this appearance were women
from the factories, stores, laundries
offices and schools. When one es-
pecially brilliant working woman was
questioned as to her position and If
she was not superior to other Of
flee help she declared that for thir-
ty years she had 'rattled the keys
of a typewriter and that while she
had become an executive it was be-
cause she had been ready to work
extra hours when such were neces--
sary and had been interested in the
prosperity of the business. On a
vote taken there were over 200 wo-S
men present who were not executives
while only half a dozen who held ex-
ecutive positions. The opposition to
the bill Is largely the result OF tha
formation of the Business and Pro-
fessional Women's League in several
cities of the state where working
women have been studying CONNER
ciaI and industrial problems and
business management. They have not
been much in the lime light but they
have been instrumental in bringing
about reforms in working conditions
for women through harmonious delib-
erations with employers. Some very
brilliant speakers have been devel-
oped through this organization as
was shown in the hearings before
the committee. Many legislators de-
clare that Iowa does not have sweat
shop conditions and that there is no
need at this time .of hamp aring in
dustry by enacting stringent legisla-
ton which might work a hardship
to the women themselves.
Industrial Court
The real feature of the session so
far was the presentation Of the in
dustrial Court or Compulsory Arbi-
tration bill by Representative Kline,
of Fort Dodge who, practically un-
aided, placed the measure before the
house in a most dramatic manner.
While the house during the early
days OF the session showed po SYM
pathy for the bill which was the
second bill introduced, DR.. Kime's
enthusiasm was so pleasing that the
house granted him all the time he
needed and extended him every cour-
tesy during the discussion This
courtesy responded to his request to
have former member Of the general
assembly and one of the most popu-
lar men In Iowa removed from the
hall when Dr. Kline pointed out that
he was directing the procedure OF
the opposition. DR.. Kline declared
that he had no fight with union labor
as such but that strikes should be
abolished and that differences be-
tween labor and employers should be
settled by a court Of arbitration bas-
ed on the Kansas law. The plan was
working successfully in Kansas and II
it had been adopted in Iowa farmers
would have had millions of dollars
to their credit which was deprived
them when the switchmen struck and
tied up traffis at a time when prices
for grain and other agricultural pro-
ducts would have paid margin to
producers. He attacked the policy of
unions to break their contracts at
will These contracts he said ap-
peared to be binding only on one
side. When the bill came to vote
it was defeated 43 to 81. While the
labor unions were arrayed solidly