Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-28

dustrial workers. The protection of
children is already provided for in q
special act, which was introduced in
the Legislature by Representative
Gardiner, and limits the labor Of chill
| diem to eight hours in any one day.
tries offMaine indorsed.
| In an interview published in the
Portland Press Herald Of June 11th.,
State Senator Clyde II. Smith admits
That the proposed -hour-law
would curtail the hours OF work for
men as well as for women in mills
ana factories where women and men
are employed jointly" 1t is indeed
gratifying to have this phase of the
question cleared up by an admission
that in common honesty should have
been made when the referendum ne
tltlOn was being circulated for sigma
| lures; and it is matter of no small
| Importance that State Senator Smith
mas now thrown off the mask of the
senatorial toSa. and appears in his
| true character as the agent of the un-
ion labor interests.
! The issue raised by this referendum.
ana the resulting special election,
I
state approximately $4,000 at a time
when we can ill afford unusual and
| extraordinary eXpenditures) has at
least two phases of it. 1t is a matter
or no small concern to our citizens that
/ the means provided by the amend
| nlent to our Constitution just referred
| 70, which was intended to give all the
tne people an opportunity to express
| themselves IN connection with any
| question OF governmental policy af-
| lcctlnS the State as whole should
DC called into action by a subte-fuge.
In some respects this phase of the sit :
uatlon is OF more importance than the
proposed reduction of hours Of labor
IN industry to As hours per week. 1t
| Illustrates forcibly that laws devised
py human agencies, no matter how
carefully considered in advance, and
adopted with only the best of mo-
| yves. may be taken advantage of by
! me INSCRIPTIONS in ways that were
I not anticipated.
DelleVe that it is entirely fair to
| iaiSe inc question as to whether those
VINO now admit that the ultimate eff
iecI Oh the restrictive measure which
| 'hey seek to have become a law of
the State is radically different from
4
petlllon. can be trusted TO give fun
ana frank expression to the truth in
the campaign which they now public
J iE announce will be vigorously con-
quoted by them throughout our State.
| nat Senator Smith is conscious of
| 'he Fulnerability of his position is
| evident by his protest in advance. He
IS quoted as being opposed to mud
Singing. and "That the campaign for
the S-hourlaw must be maintained
on a good. Clean level. IL our appeals
| lor 1t are not made to the understand :
ing rather than to mere cphemeral
emotion, then we deserve to lose. "
Having accomplished his purpose in
securing referendum by an appeal to
ment and emotion, he would now
,i'puaiate ms own initial mcthod and
/ appeal for support to the under
! standing" Ito use his own wordI of
| the electorate. The Associated Indus
| tfles of Maine are glad to accept the
| issue on this basis.
While it might he said that the
question of limited hours of labor for
| women has been eliminated by tho
Tree admission that the limitation. if
lhe proposed AS hour amendment is
ADOPTED. will also affect the men, it
VIII not do TO ignore this phase of
the present situation. firSt impress
SONS are almost always the strong
est. and liable to linger. We should.
therefore. give serious and earnest
consideration to the question as to
the relative powers OF endurance of
men and women. and in considering
IT, difficult though it may be, we
must clear our minds of that habit
or thought which is traditional with
Tv,;t ga I
mas become almost cecond nature.
which, in any difficult situation. gives
frst consideration to the welfare Of
oar women and their children God
forbid that we soil. even by touch.
90 much as one petal of this sacred
Hover of modern Anglo Saxon civil
lzauon. Quito the contrary-for we
have come to recognize the equal
rights of women in our political
system: and the question raised by
any proposition to limit the hours of
labor is. after all, not a question of
concession or special privilege, but
one OF arbitrary restriction of an
| inherent right and is only justified
conditions tend to impose unjust
/, burdens upon the individual that he
or she cannot escape.
Are there any fundamental rea-
sons why the hours of labor for
women should be less than the hours
! of labor for men? There are no phy-
| siological reasons, for nature has en-
dowed woman with greater powers of
| endurance in proportion to her
strength than man. This is but a
Just compensation for the special
| burden imposed rpon women in con-
| nection with the perpetuation of the
race.
1t has become the universal prac-
I tice in industry to assign work in our
| various manufacturing establish
ments in accordance with the natural
| physical and tcmperamental qualif-
cations of the various employees; in
! fact, success depends to no incon-
! siderable extent upon the careful ad-
! justment of the burden of any par
! tlcular operation to the natural
| qualifications of the various workers
Under no circumstances can we
! afford to ignore our women, and the
! special consideration due them as
the mothers of our children: and it
! is for this reason that l briefly refer
to the initial phase of the question at
issue. Notwithstanding tie fact that
they have been practically eliminated
as sex by the belated admission
that the real object of the so-called
| 4S-hourweek for women is 49,
hour-week for all employees in
Names industries generally. I am
! sure the wohlen have never had any
| doubts themselves as to their equal,
/ if not superior, powers of endurance;
and any man who has been so in
| cautious as to attempt to follow his
! wife on shopping trip is not likely
! to subject himself to such test Of
| endurance a second time If bo can