The evening world. Newspaper, October 28, 1918, Page 11

f ii | t y ge AS oo » PORES 1 .| RR feds Bd . >, | ea ‘THE aces bh ddan aan oorbeEs 28, 1918, cite LLRs RE RS ‘i ete Dtatsin ans | cer natuitiines | TO THE WOMEN THAT VOTE IN NEW YORK STATE: After a long struggle for justice, and the right to share in the making of laws, the moth- ers, wives, daughters, sisters, all the good women of New York State, are to share equally with men the right to elect public officials. It seems proper that I, a candidate for the great office of Governor of your State, should submit to you, now included among voters, a brief statement in explanation of my candi- dacy, and of my request that, if you think I deserve it, you should vote for me for Gov- érnor. : A Vote to Indorse Woodrow Wilson First, I submit to you the fact that a vote for the Democratic Administration, for myself as Governor, and other candidates of the Democratic party, at this election, is a vote to indorse the Administration, the wonderful ac- complishments of the President of the United States, Commander-in-Chief of our Army and Navy. Women, regardless of party, are indebted to the President of the United States for jus- tice done them, and the fact that they are able to vote at this election. Beyond question it was the influence of the President, his earnest, moving appeal, that decided the State of New York in favor of woman suffrage. of the women of this State will cast their first I believe a great majority vote as an indorsement of President Wilson, to whose sense of justice woman suffrage owes its opportunity for good, and to whose jofty genius the whole world is indebted for the approaching magnificent victory in Europe. { do not believe that while this war lasts the American woman, whose son, husband or brother fights in France, will cast her vote in criticism or repudiation of the Commander-in- Chief of the Army and Navy, undey whose direction the men of the United States are fighting. My Promise to You For myself, I promise that I shall, to the best of my ability, serve you faithfully as an efficient Governor and administrator of the laws. ; I do not ask voters to rely upon promises as to the future, except as those promises are justified by, and based upon, my record and my efforts to be of public service in the past. My record shows that I did not wait until the women had power to vote before doing, to the best of my ability, work that I believe the women of New York earnestly desire, f '" I do not think it necessary to tell the mothers and fathers whose votes I hope to receive that my interest and my sincere efforts will be with the mothers and fath- ers of other children, as my heart and my affections are with my own children. I Rnow the struggles that men and women go through in the effort to bring For Children As Vice-Chairman of the Factory Investi- gating Commission I stopped the employment of young children and the outrageous overwork of women in the canneries, I obtained laws to prevent the employ- ment of children under fourteen years of age in any cccupation, and have advocated laws that would make it possible for fathers and mothers to earn wages that would make it un- necessary for children to work when they should be at school. Conditions should not compel any child to work until after its education is finished and its growth complete. I have condemned the em- ployment of any child under fourteen, and for those older I have advocated a day of not more than eight hours. I led the fight which put on our statute books the humane Widows’ Pension Law that enables a poor widow to bring up her children at home instead of sending them to an institution. Woman’s Important Work Every man knows that women do the im- portant work of the world, in the bearing and rearing of children, and that special safeguards and conditions should surround women when up their children as American children should be brought up. I know, also, the struggles and the difficulties of the business man—of all whose combined effort have made of the United States the! hope of civilization throughout the world. ALFRED E. SMITH. compelled to earn a living. as a law-maker: First of all, EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK. It is unfair for any man to em- ploy a woman and pay her less than her work is worth because she happens to be a woman and willing to make sacrifices to feed her chil- dren. To employ a woman under such unfair conditions digraces the employer and wrongs the State. I have advocated The law should prevent it. I secured the shorter work-day for women, with a half holiday on Saturday and a full day of rest one day in seven. I secured thelegislation to prevent women from night work in stores and factories, There is nothing more important to the nation and to the future than the health of women and their protection from evil con- Upon the health of women depends the future of this nation, and that is ditions in work, more important than any passing prosperity or balance in the United States Treasury. Protection for Working Women I have as a law- maker, in the utmost detail, to formulate proper working conditions, and to protect women against improper conditions and surroundings, and I secured laws requiring among other things the following: successfully fought POLITICAL, { pourrica, ae Seats for workers, avoidance of extreme temperature, heat or cold, in workshops, with good light, ventilation and constantly inspectea Sanitary conditions, ‘ I have secured legislation that should afford to working women absolute protection against fire, that should safeguard them from overwork, disease and accident caused by bad working conditions and that requires proper places for eating meals outside of workshops, with adequate time for rest and meals. As Governor I will see to it that these” laws are rigidly enforced, swift punishment to” be meted out to those who violate them. I have urged and will continue to urge not only equal pay for equal work, but for women wages fairly based on the increased cost of living. More Justice-Less “C harity” that the fathers of children should be well paid, in order that) mothers may be at home to care for their young children, the father earning enough to. support the mother and the children and) permit them to live as an American family’, should live. ag I believe, above all, Iam convinced that with the right laws_ the richest State of the richest nation in the world can and should protect women from the hardships to whi¢h many have been sub-= jected. And I promise the citizens that, as your next Governor of the State of New York, I shall do my work bearing in mind the fact that the unit of life is the American family— the father, the mother, the children. No public official does his duty who does not have in ~ mind always that. family finit, and work for’ that unit; for the dignity, the rights and jus» tice for the father, independence for the mother, | good care, happiness and protection for the ~ children. ‘ In the past I have visited and talked with thousands of the mothers that struggle to take good care of their children, under the heavy handicap of high prices and low wages. fet know that every mother is entitled to peace of mind; that her children are entitled to a good education, a good home, with good food and good care. I shall be a Governor for all the men and» for all the women of the State of New York,, and I shall work earnestly and ceaselessly ta: protect the women, and especially the children _ of the State, who are the hope of the future. ~ I respectfully request you to vote for me, at this coming election, and to base your deci- sion not upon promises as to the future, but ~ upon my past record as it is put before you, not only by my supporters, but by those that oppose me. + ALFRED E. SMITH, |) me