Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-11
Editors Letter Box
The PROMISED Forty Eiaht Hour Law

Some years ago the people OF
Maine incorporated in the Constitu-
ton Of Maine an amendment which
provided: a sufficient number of the
voters could by petition initiate any
matter of legislation which they de-
sired should receive consideration by
the Legislatures; also that every act
of the legislature, except those of
an emergency character, should not
become the law Of the State until 80
days after the final adjournment OF
the laW-makIng body, and not then.
provided sufficient number of the
voters should within the 80 days fol-
lowing the adjournment petition for
the Referendum of any Act TO the
voters OF the State for either rati
fication or rejection. If rejected the
act became void.
From theoretical point OF view,
this amendment brought about an
ideal condition, as it gave to
majority of the voters the power
over the acts of the Legislature, to
undo any action which they deter
mined was not for the best interests
of Maine.
But in every instance since the
adoption of the amendment above
mentioned, the record proves when
ever the Referendum has been in
Vokcd. the result has been that but
4 very small percentage of the voters
have interested themselves TO vote
at all, either for or against the
measure: in no instance have q suf-
ficicnt number of votes been cast to
determine what the result would have
been had a majority Of the legal
voters registered their approval or
diSapprOVal of the measure. on
October IL. a measure TO come before
the voters of Maine, by special
election called by the Governor, that
was initiated by the Federation OF
Labor and pettioned to the Legis-
lature to enact & As hour law in
Maine for women and minors. While
this measure is drawn OStenSibly to
apply to women and minors, only.
every we'll informed person knows
that. If it becomes law it will apply
with equal force to all wage oarners
in Maine. men as we'll as women
The Legislature after due conSidera-
ton. declined to enact the proposed
Jaw, but recommended that ii be
submitted to the people TO vote up
on It, therefore comes to the pco-
pie for approval or rejection, by
action of the Legislature in refer
petition by the people.
If. on October Is. the result of the
election should show. that it was a
fun expression of the deliberate &C
ton of considerable majority of
the voters Of the State, we'll and
good. But tho indications are that
history will repeat itself. and but
comparatively few Of the total num-
Der of voters in Maine will interest
themselves in this measure to vote
at all. Those who are active in the
matter arc largely those who eX-
pect to benefit by the enactment of
the law, without regard TO its ell
feet upon the State at large.
If there is any one class Of our poo
pie who will he adversely affected by
the enactment of as hour law in
Maine, to a greater extent than any
other class, it is the farmers. 1t is
4 practical impossibility for the
farmers to successfully operate their
farms under a IS hour law, in har-
vesting the hay crop, just when he
needed his crew most their day
would end. When the hay was ready
to store in barns. At least 90 per
cent of the hay crop has been lost
and stands to-day unharVested in
Maine, for the single reason that the
farmers could not afford to harvest
it, for the labor cost would be 50
high that if each man employed was
given all the hay he would harvest