Nonetheless, Atkinson worked for an eight-hour workday, to prohibit employing children under 14 years of age, improved working conditions for women, and safety regulations in manufacturing and mining. In addition to speaking out against racist Jim Crow legislation being adopted by neighboring states which disenfranchised most blacks and poor whites, Atkinson championed high-quality public education, a permanent road system, and open and equal immigration.
Atkinson worked for an eight-hour workday to prohibit employing children under 14 years old, improve working conditions for women, and enforce safety regulations in manufacturing and mining. Additionally, he opposed racist Jim Crow laws enacted by neighboring states that disenfranchised most blacks and poor whites, advocating for high-quality public education, a permanent road system, and open and equal immigration.