Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-07-04

states to the south of us, where the
/ legal hours of labor are fixed at sixty
hours per week. While the proposed
amendment does not directly control
the work on the farm, experience I'M
der our present 54-hour law, which
also omits any reference to farm labor,
has convinced our agriculturists that
an established practice in industry
would also govern the practice on the
farm.
The farmers cannot escape it. While
the farmer himself and his immediate
/ family often work from sun to sun, he
cannot hire labor that will follow his
| example in this respect. This is
condition that is peculiarly hard for
the farmer because of the nature of
his occupation. To be successful, he
must work when the conditions of his
soil and crops demand, and the
weather permits, and although there
are many stormy days when neither he
nor his hired help can work on the
land. and are necessarily idle at least
a part of the day, this is not recognized
by hired labor as a Legitimate reason
for longer hours, no matter what the
loss in crops may be for want of proper
attention.
The very important summer tourist
business of Maine will not escape the
effects of further restriction of hours
of labor; for it will affect the laun-
dries, the bakeries, the gardens, and
many other occupations on which our
hotels. camps, and recreational resorts
are dependent for their successful
maintenance.
Although masquerading in the guse
of a measure for the protection of a
special limited number of women, the
proposed 4S-hour- measure is in reality
so far reaching in it's ultimate effect
as to justify the serious consideration
of every citizen of every class
throughout the State.
1t has been stated that all members
OF labor organizations in the State
will be taxed $500 apiece to finance
this campaign; and it is estimated that
there are more than $4,000 members of
labor organizations in Maine, which
means d contribution of $4,000 In
addition to this, it is reported that the
American Federation of Labor will
contribute an equal amount from it's
abundant treasury making $4,000 as
a preliminary fund to finance the in
vason of our State by the mercenaries
of one of the greatest financial
oligarchies this country has ever
known. Shall we sit still under this
invasion? How many of our citizens
will be deceived into voting for a
restrictive measure for which it has
not been shown that there is any
l., IL,
We're extended to restrict our mothers,
wives and daughters to an eight-hour
day in the home, is it not probable that
mere men would be herded to the polls
by the women as never before under
the injunction to cast their ballots
against such drafted nonsense? While
there is no doubt that our industries
and our agricultural interests (Which
happily now are showing signs of
definite revival along modern lnes)
could hold their own and even effect a
normal growth under conditions of
fair competition, it seems to many to
be ask ing too much of Maine to take
the lead in restricting hours of labor
below the present 54-hour-week, when
other states, with competing industries,
impose no such restriction. Wages in
Maine at present average higher than
in some competing states; and it is be-
lieved by many that a reduction of II
per cent. in the productive hours of
labor and consequent reduction of
wages will be a destructive handicap.
Names geographical position at the
extreme northeastern corner of the
country; it's long, cold winters; the
very limited supply of natural raw
materials; are all distinct handicaps to
our industrial development. Our water
power has offset these natural disad