THE WOMAN CITIZEN \
A Department Conducted by the Jefferson County League of Women
Voters-—Edited by Mrs. Hugh L. Alison.
Hanking in importance with the
convict lease system is the question
of shorter wonting hours for women
in industry. Alabama is One of the
five states permitting women to work
an unlimited number o*f hours. A re
cen* government industrial survey
found the majority of Alabama wom
en working longer than ten hours
a day.
• An eight-hour day, a 48-hour week,
and a cessation of work six weeks
before and after childbirth are mat
ters needing state legislation. Hills
to this effect will soon be introduced
in both houses of the legislature dur
ing the present session.
The Alabama Women’s Legislative
Council, embracing the League of
Women Voters. State Federation of
Clubs, W. C. T. U., i:: fact all state
wide organisations of women, has
indorsed these bills.
In a letter urging voters in behelf
of the measure, Miss Mollie Dowd,
chairman of the women In industry
committee of the Alabama League of
Women Voters, writes:
“In everything you do, emphasize
the fact that the bills we are projo -
ing apply only to women workers in
mercantile and industrial establish
ments, such as stored and shops,
laundries and factories. All domestic
help, all agricultural workers, can
nei j, nurses, restaurant and hotel
workers, teachers, stenographers, and
workers In public institutions are not
affected at all, and arc specifically
exempted. Our object is to reach
those who most need protection.”
With 12 hours work, eight hours
sleep, one-half hour for dressing, one
to one and one-half hours going to
and from work, one hour for three
meals, and. one hour for cleaning up,
how much is left for recreation,
family life, and self-improvement?
o o o
Sheppard-Towner Triumphant.
