Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-12
Pros and Cons of 4S Hour y

Benjamin +. Cleaves of Portland,
who opposed the amendment, and
Hon. Clyde II. Smith, speaking for
it.
Roland Il. Patten, business man
ager of the independent Reporter,
presided and introduced the speak
ers, the first speaker being Judge
Cleaves. In opening his address,
Judge Cleaves stated that only Mr..
Smith could have persuaded him to
leave Portland the headquarters of
the campaign, so near its close and
come to Skowhegan to speak upon
this important issue.
Judge Cleaves stated that it was
disappointing to both sides that SO
few got out to listen to the issue
as eXpounded by various speakers,
but rather talked over among them
selves and formed their opinions.
Judge Cleaves said that the time
of appealing solely to the sympathy
of jurors or an audience was passed
and not subject presented must be
presented to the intelligence and
judgment and that this enlighten-
ment has been brought about in
great measure by the newspapers.
Judge Cleaves paid a high trib-
ute to Senator Smith, saying that
he had been known in public life for
a long time and said he considered
him mighty splendid type of
American citizen" and that he was
very fair in every respect Judge
Cleaves stated that the opposing
sides did not disagree upon the basic
principles, but rather as to time,
manner and place.
Ia iSrln bod N
Arthur Nash Is applying the golden
rule in his clothing manufacturing
in Ohio and said that because of diff
ferent environment and conditions.
however good the working of the
Nash rule, it could be applied in all
other places. He urged the voters
to think in State wide terms, not
in Skowhegan terms and to consider
what is to be best for the entire
State.
Judge Cleaves said that some arc
bound to be disappointed on the
morning of Tuesday, oct. 10th, and
that he believed that both sides had
worked fairly and had put their
heart and sou, into the campaign.
He said he and those whom he rep
resents did not believe that now is
the time and Maine the place. but
that the time will come when a As
hour will be the universal work week
Tor this country. and whether this
state this year adopted the 4S-hour
amendment or not, there must be no
lingering sting in our hearts and
the game must be PLAYED fair be-
cause employers and employees
must go on living and working to-
GCther.
Judge Cleaves discussed to some
length the question. why should
not Maine adopt the 4S-hour law ."
He spoke of the three principle
industries in Maine-the cotton
WOODEN and shoe shop-and men
uoned the likelihood of these indus
.rles belng removed from the State
II me eight-hour amendment is
adopted and that cotton mills are
being built in the south. Judge
'IeaVes spoke in appreciation of the
women employees for a generation
ago. Judge Cleaves stated that tbn
southern is real and that in Tho
southern Industries where mon ana
women work together that the work
ing week Is % hours and NAV be GO
hours II need be and if Maine adopts
me 4H-hour week it will greatly
Handlcap Maine manufacturers, and
tlat-the south has the ADVANTAGE in
so 1ar as cotton industry is CON
ceIhed' as 1t is in the land of tho
couon i1elds and the cost of the coal
"oulG ne very much less.
'uuse tleaVes spoke especially 70
we women voters and urged then,
a an 'lneS TO perform the resnonsi.
plIllles or the ballot Judge Cieayns
rieSehted the manufacturers .;do
lalriy and forcefully and received tbe
attention OF the large audience
u,, Mr., Smiths Address
\" neh introduced by Mr. Patton
ar. smith was most cordially a.
piauoed and stated that as the hopr
Mds tate ne would not attemnt 70
MAKE speech but rather he would
80 WIN the subject in cold facts
said S. h from the shoulder. lie
hos .lidt the proposed amendment
men, yet the manufacturers 0 w.
Judge Cleaves represents conton 49,,
that 1t would effect the men in jrS,il
.lldi pursuits where both mon and
Molleh are employed each dom
paiI vi the work, and that women
Moliu pe eliminated from industrioI
SUITS because of the PASSAGE of
me amendment, but that records who
.hat This is not so. Mr.. smith s.id
.hat men do not ask for tho eiaht
nour day and do not need II Eo
TURNER stated that those onnosing
ne amendment have enlisted the far
.ners 10 support the opposition, That
eney state that labor is the largest
cApenSe In the manufactured article
GU tndt II shorter hours are per
~, 'eu that the manufactured article
WI Increase IN price and Mr.. Smith
save a lew statements proven nv
Federal investigation and read .t,+
ments from a document which hos
peen circulated which containe faIse
comparisons concerning wages for
certain labors, but added that Judge
cledVes mad nothing to do with this
ialse representation. Gettinr
uo"n TO brass tacks Mr. Smith ash
ed can the employers afford to piHe
shorter day." and he discusscd a.
some length the good satisfact;on
win which the eight hour per dav
mas been worked in various indus.
lrlal plants where it has been tried
ana Is now in force.
IN answer to the question discussed
'uuse Ileaves that there is dam
e tHat the cotton mills which are
une vi tne reading industries of the
or ,,,orn ~ oeeh Tor a generation
. more Will be moved to the SON
umern states. MIR. Smith said that it
was as natural for cotton mills 70 no
punt IN the south near the nroduce
.ioii Oh the raw material as il &c for
paper mlllS to be built in tho por+b
anu 'hat IL causes no surprise whom
a paper mill is built in the north and
II is quite as reasonable for cotton
mills to he built and operated in the
south. III ''e
MI Smith paid splendid trihnta
10 I the iaporers IN Maine saying that
.ney We're the finest, most efficienf
ana law abiding of any under the
SKIES; Mr.. Smith gave figures show
ing the death rate of children born
vi mothers who are employed in The