Republican Labor Legislation.

Since its very inception the Republican Party has been legislating in every Congress for the uplifting of labor and the bettering of conditions for all working classes. Through our Tariff laws the working people of the United States have been protected against the cheaper labor of the outside world, and wages to-day are from two to ten times the amount received elsewhere. Through our financial legislation the wage-earner has always received a full dollar, and his savings and investments have been fully protected. Not only have wages constantly increased and hours of labor been reduced, but sanitary conditions have been constantly improved and inspection and liability laws have given to our workingmen and women conditions and advantages better, very much better, than in any other country.

All the great National Labor laws on our statute books were put there by the Republican Party. Among the principal ones are the following:

Slavery. The great revolution which exalted labor and freed the country from the curse of slavery was accomplished by the Republican Party, against the fiercest opposition possible by the combined forces of the Democrats and their allies. Still true to its original ideals of freedom, the Republican Party, after a lapse of forty years since the emancipation proclamation of Lincoln, abolished slavery in the Philippine Islands. (Act passed by a Republican Senate and Republican House and signed by President Roosevelt July 1, 1902.)

Involuntary Servitude of Foreigners.-In 1874 the Forty-third Congress, which was Republican in both Houses, prohibited, under heavy penalties, the holding to involuntary services of any person forcibly kidnapped in any other country.

Peonage. The act abolishing this kind of forced labor was passed by the Thirty-ninth Congress, when both Houses were Republican, by a large majority, March 2, 1867.

The Coolie Trade.-The legislation prohibiting the coolie trade is the work of the Republicans. The Act of 1875 closed our doors to the paupers and criminals of Europe, and the Exclusion Act of 1882 stopped the immigration of the Chinese. Upon the annexation of Hawaii in 1898 the immigration of Chinese thereto was prohibited by a Republican Congress, as was the migration of those already in Hawaii from the islands to continental United States. In President Roosevelt's Administration the Chinese-exclusion laws have been extended to the entire island territory of the United States. (Act passed by the Fifty-seventh Congress and approved April 29, 1902.)

Immigration.-The Republican Party has favored the American standard of living, not only by abolishing compulsory labor, but also by excluding the products of the cheapest foreign labor through protective tariffs and by restricting the immigration of unassimilable elements from other races.

The importation of foreign laborers under contract was first prohibited in 1885, but, owing to defective provisions for enforcing the law, continued almost unchecked until the amendments made in President Harrison's administration (Acts of the Fiftyfirst Congress, which was Republican in both branches, and of the Fifty-second Congress, signed March 3, 1891, and March 3, 1893, respectively.)

The Republican Party has increased the restrictions upon the immigration of cheap foreign labor in the new law of 1903. (Act passed by the Fifty-seventh Congress, both Houses being controlled by the Republicans, and signed by President Roosevelt March 3, 1903.)

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Convict Labor.-The law abolishing the contract system of labor for United States convicts passed the House March 9. 1886, and the Senate February 28, 1887. All the votes against the bill were Democratic.

The law providing for the construction of new United States prisons and the employment of convicts therein exclusively in the manufacture of such supplies for the Government as can be made without the use of machinery was passed by the Fifty-first Congress, which was Republican in both branches, and signed by President Harrison. (Chapter 529 of the Acts of 1890-91.)

Protection of Seamen.-This was accomplished by the Fortysecond Congress, when both Houses were Republican, and the Forty-third Congress, also Republican.

Inspection of Steam Vessels.-Accomplished by the Fortieth Congress, which was controlled by the Republicans.

Inspection of Coal Mines in the Territories.-Provided for by the Fifty-first Congress, both Houses being under the control of the Republicans; approved by President Harrison.

Safety Appliances on Railroads.—The original act providing for automatic couplers and power brakes on locomotives and cars used in interstate traffic was passed by the Fifty-second Congress, and signed by President Harrison March 2, 1893. Owing to decisions of the courts, new legislation became necessary, and the Fifty-seventh Congress (Republican) passed a greatly improved law, which was signed by President Roosevelt March 2, 1903.

Report of Accidents.-The Fifty-sixth Congress (Republican) passed a law requiring common carriers to make monthly reports of accidents to the Interstate Commerce Commission. (Approved by President McKinley March 3, 1901.)

Eight-Hour Law. The first eight-hour law in this country was enacted by the Fortieth Congress and approved by President Grant in 1868. It applied to all artisans and laborers employed by the Government.

In the Fiftieth Congress (1888) the eight-hour day was established for letter carriers. The bill passed the Senate, which was

Republican, without division.

In President Harrison's administration the eight-hour law was extended to include persons employed by contractors on public works. (Chap. 352 of the Acts of 1892.)

Department of Labor.-The Act creating the United States Bureau of Labor was passed by the Forty-eighth Congress (1884) and signed by President Arthur. In the Fiftieth Congress (1888) the Bureau was removed from the Department of the Interior and made an independent Department of Labor, all the votes cast against the bill being Democratic. In 1903 a Republican Congress established the Department of Commerce and Labor and made its head a Cabinet officer.

Boards of Arbitration.-Act passed at the Fifty-fifth Congress (Republican) and signed by President McKinley June 1, 1898. Incorporation of National Trades Unions.-Provided for by Act of Congress in 1886.

Labor Legislation in Republican and Democratic States. There is no better way of judging the merits of a political party than by the laws which are passed by the legislators who are elected to office from its ranks. With regard to legislation for the protection of the workers much remains to be done before they receive their full measure of protection and justice, but as can be shown by the statistics of the different States, nearly all protective labor legislation in the United States was first enacted by Republican States, and then adopted by way of imitation by the Democratic States. The proportion of Republican States having protective labor legislation is much greater than that of Democratic States. This is plainly shown in the table following.

The table shows the number and per cent, of Republican and Democratic States which have enacted the legislation explained:

An examination of this table presents an interesting lesson in practical politics. We shall take up in rotation each of the more important subjects of labor legislation, and see which States have done the most for the workingman.

Labor Bureaus.-There are few agencies which have done more toward giving a clear insight into the problems of labor and capital, that have brought employer and employee nearer together, or that have furnished the laboring people with facts for arguments in favor of protective legislation, than bureaus of labor and labor statistics. The above table shows that at present there are 33 State labor bureaus in the United States. Of these, 25 are Republican States and 8 are in Democratic States. Reducing these figures to a proportionate basis, we find that 25 out of 29 Republican States, or 86 per cent., have labor bureaus; 8 out of 16 Democratic States, or 50 per cent., have labor bureaus.

Factory Inspection Service. It is well known to all working people that protective labor laws are practically a dead letter in any State unless there is a factory inspection service organized for the purpose of searching out and bringing to justice persons who violate such laws. It is easy enough to enact protective legislation, but it is another thing to enforce it. If a State, therefore, enacts such laws and fails to organize a service for their enforcement, it is deceiving those whom it pretends to favor. Let us again observe the tables. We find that 22 out of 29 Republican States, or 76 per cent., have laws creating factory inspection services. We also find that 5 out of 16 Democratic States, or 31 per cent., have factory inspection services. In examining the other subjects of labor legislation which follow we must not lose sight of the fact that only 5 of the Democratic States have made provision for factory inspection services for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the labor laws which will be under consideration.

Inspection of Mines.--Public inspection of mines is required on the same grounds as inspection of factories. The tables show that fifteen of the twenty-eight Republican States and nine of the seventeen Democratic States have established this service.

Child Labor.-Ever since the introduction of the factory system, over a century ago, the greatest sufferers from the greed of inconsiderate and cruel employers have been the helpless children, who often at a tender age are placed in factories. It is a principle recognized in all civilized countries that children under 12 years of age should not be employed in factories, and nearly all civilized countries have laws placing a minimum age limit of 12 or 14 years upon such child labor. In our country 28 States abso lutely prohibit the employment of children under 12 years of

age in factories. Of these, 19 are Republican and 9 are Democratic States. Of these 19 Republican States, 17 have factory inspection services to see that the laws are enforced, while only 4 of these 9 Democratic States make provision for such inspection. Many States have enacted laws placing certain restrictions upon the employment of children, usually under 16 years of age, and in some cases even upon the employment of all minors. Of this class are laws limiting the hours of labor of children in factories or stores, which have been enacted in 27 States. Of these 19 are Republican and 8 are Democratic States.

Twenty-eight States have placed restrictions upon the employment of children of school age or of illiterate children, of which 22 are Republican and 6 are Democratic.

Thirteen States prohibit the employment of children or minors in places where intoxicants are sold or handled. Of these 9 are Republican and 4 are Democratic.

Thirteen States prohibit the employment of children in operating dangerous machinery or cleaning machinery in motion. Of these 11 are Republican and 2 are Democratic States..

Woman Labor.-Next to the children the greatest victims of abuse by greedy employers when unrestrained by law are women. Investigations have shown that their condition is sometimes pitiful where employers are given free scope in their employment. Their protection, in the interest of humanity and morals, has also been the subject of legislation in nearly all civilized countries. In the United States 38 States have legislated upon this subject. Of these 38 States, 27 are Republican and 11 are Democratic. Again it is interesting to notice that of the 27 Republican States regulating woman labor 21 provide for factory inspection, while of the 11 Democratic States mentioned, only 4 make such provision. Seats for Females in Shops.-Legislation on this subject needs no comment. Any man who has a daughter or sister employed in a shop or store, and every physician knows what a hardship it is to a woman to be compelled to stand all day at a bench or behind a counter. Fortunately in 31 States legislation has been enacted requiring employers to provide seats for females. Of these 31 States, 22 are Republican and 9 are Democratic.

Sweatshop Legislation.-There is no greater menace to the health of the working people, and nothing which tends more to lower and degrade human beings, than to crowd them together in small, filthy workshops, where they are often compelled to work, eat and sleep without regard to health or morals, and where the hours of labor are often so long that the victims, who are usually foreigners unacquainted with our language, are shut out from all opportunities for education or betterment of any kind. The scenes observed in these shops by official investigators have been revolting beyond description. Long ago efforts have been made to regulate these so-called "sweatshops," and 12 States have enacted laws looking to this end. Of these 12 States 10 are Republican and 2 are Democratic. Nothing more need be said on this point.

Wage Payments.-In order to insure the prompt payment of workingmen's wages in cash when due, 21 States have enacted laws requiring employers to pay wages weekly or fortnightly, and in some instances prohibiting a longer interval than one month between pay-days. Of these States 15 are Republican and 6 are Democratic.

Protection of Members of Labor Organizations.-Fifteen States have enacted laws, that are now in force, prohibiting employers from discharging persons on account of membership in labor organizations, or from compelling persons to agree not to become members of labor organizations as a condition of securing employment or continuing in their employ. Of these 13 are Republican and 2 are Democratic States.

Protection of the Union Label.-Thirty-eight States have a ed laws allowing trade unions to adopt labels or trade-mark be used to designate the products of the labor of their membe and prohibiting the counterfeiting or the use of such labels trademarks by unauthorized persons. Of these States 27 are R publican and 11 are Democratic.

Truck System.-This legislation prohibits employers from pay. ing their employees in scrip or orders on their company stores and which are not redeemable in cash. At present twenty-three States have such laws in force, of which fourteen are Republican and nine are Democratic, or 61 per cent. of all the Republican and 39 per cent. of all the Democratic States.

Mediation and Arbitration.-State boards of mediation and arbitration have been established in fifteen States to aid in the adjustment of industrial disputes. Of the fifteen boards eleven are in Republican States and only four in Democratic States.

Free Employment Bureaus.-One of the great needs of wageworkers who are engaged for only a week or a day at a time is some agency that will assist them in obtain.ng a situation when they are out of work. Private agencies have so frequently exploited their poverty by extorting registration fees for situations that are never procured, that churches and charitable societies now support free employment agencies in many leading cities. A few years ago State and municipal Governments also entered the field and now there are public employment bureaus (free) in fourteen States, of which twelve are Republican and only two Democratic.

Employers' Liability Laws. Since the introduction of steam and machinery workingmen are exposed to such great risks of death and injury that enlightened States have enacted legislation which requires employers to furnish safe work places and appliances, and makes them responsible, in damages, for any injury that may befall an employee through their ne ligence. Twentyseven States now have employers' liability laws, most of them relating to railways. Of the twenty-seven States fifteen were Republican and twelve Democratic in the last National election. Eight-Hour Law.-For many years labor organizations have been endeavoring to secure legislation prohibiting labor on Government works or public contracts for over eight hours per day. They have succeeded thus far in securing such legislation in twenty-one of the forty-five States of the Union. Of these twentyone States, sixteen are Republican and five are Democratic. other words, of the twenty-eight Republican States, 60 per cent. have enacted the eight-hour law, and of the seventeen Democratic States, only five, or 29 per cent., have yielded to the demands of the labor organizations in this regard.

Difficulty in Framing Labor Laws.

In

The difficulty in legislating for Labor is well illustrated in the hearings before the Committee of the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, Fifty-ninth Congress, first session, in relation to the anti-injunction and restraining orders. To give clearness to the matter, the following two bills are printed, the first known as the "Little Bill," the other as the “Gilbert,” or “Administration Bill."

ANTI-INJUNCTION

AND RESTRAINING ORDERS. "Little Bill."

(H. R. 4445, Fifty-ninth Congress, first session.)

A BILL to limit the meaning of the word "conspiracy," and the use of injunctions and restraining orders in certain cases.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That no agreement, combination, or contract by or between two or more persons to do or procure to be done, or not to do or procure not to be done, any act in contemplation or furtherance of any trade dispute between employers and employees in the District of Columbia or in any Territory of the United States, or between employers and employees who may be engaged in trade or commerce between the several States, or between any Territory and another, or between any Territory or Territories and any State or States or the District of Columbia, or with foreign nations, or between the District of Columbia and any State or States or foreign nations, shall be deemed criminal, nor shall those engaged therein be indictable or otherwise punishable for the crime of conspiracy, if such act committed by one person would not be punishable as a crime, nor shall such agreement, combination, or contract be considered as in restraint of trade or commerce, nor shall any restraining order or injunction be issued with relation thereto. Nothing in this act shall exempt from punishment, otherwise 'than as herein excepted, any persons