Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1936-10-15
The Six-Hour Day Referendum

Montana's supreme court last week end outlawed a
measure which would have undoubtedly brought return
of the open saloon to the state if the issue had come to
a vote. 1t contained a joker. By the supreme courts de-
cision Montana will not vote on the open saloon ques-
ton in November.
Another joker-type measure which would be a
constitutional amendment WILL, however, appear on a
separate ballot in the November election. 1t is a measure
TO regulate the working hours of people of this state.
The last Montana legislature passed a law which
reads, "a period of eight hours shall constitute a days
work in all industries, occupations, undertakings and
enployments, except farming and stock-raising; provid-
ed however, that the Legislative assembly may by law
reduce the number of hours constituting a days work
whenever in its opinion will bettes promote the general
welfare, but it shall have no authority to increase the
number of hours constituting a days work beyond that
herein provided"
People who vote FOR this measure will be voting
FOR A SIX HOUR DAY. It's another joker presumably
concocted by strong Butte mining organization.
Montana already has an Eight Hour amendment. 1t
was passed in 1908. The new measure plainly means the
six-hour day. Read again; The Legislative Assembly
may by law REDUCE the number of hours constituting
a days work, but it shall have no authority to m
CREASE the number of hours"
The passage of the amendment would have drastic
effects upon Montana, her industries and people.
Employers would not be permitted 70 give their EN-
ployees overtime work, even if they pay them time-and-
a-half or better.
Proprietors will not be allowed to work a minute
over the six hours, EVEN FOR THEMSELVES.
CONSUMERS WILL A v TO "a MORE FOR
EVERYTHING ECAUS OF THE COST
OF PRODUCING, SELLING AND DISTRIBUTING EV-
ERYTHING THEY BUY.
To the farmer, who is exempt under a clause in the
proposed amendment, 1T WILL RAISE THE OST OF
EVERYTHING HI UYS, WITHOUT RINGING HIM
ANY ORE MONEY FOR la HE HAS TO SELL.
1t would practically necesstate all of our wheat being
sent to mills outside of the state and all our stock being
slaughtered and processed elsewhere.
A truck driver would have to abandon the wheel al
the end of his six-hour day, no matter where he may be.
A sick patient, in hospital or home, requiring a single
all-day nurse would have to hire four nurses, each
working only six hours Bank tellers would havesto drop
their pens at the end Of the six-hour period whether or
not the books have been balanced for the day.
ANY HOUSEWIFE HI WOULD DAR WORk
MORE HAN SIX HOURS A IA WOULD VIOLATE
THE CONSTITUTION OF MONTANA.
The amendment makes no provisions for emergen-
cies. 1t will increase taxes and it will raise the cost of
living. 1t will penalize Montana by destroying every out
of-state market for her products.
The measure is too broad. Possibly a six-hour law
throughout the United States would be feasible, but no
other state has been called upon to vote on such a law.
Montana would be hamstrung. Voters on November Bird
should send the measure to decisive defeat.