The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-03-21

The annexed IS the tcstiAoAy VI =. -
Kidd, of Fall River. The picture of New
England .soverseers" drafting tender chill
dren from the schools to labor eteren hours
day in the cotton mills, is surely htting
one to place by the si1e of that other picture
which so MANY New England philanthro-
pists have drawn of the crueltles and bar
barites of another class of overseers In an
other cestion of the republic. The latter is |
now. happily, done away; shall its twin |
relic"o bar bsrity In New England, mere
portrayed, be suffered to remain without |
word of protest from the spokesman OF human |
freedom? Mr.. Kidd testifes as follows;
Question. Did you know that there was
statute against the employment of such chill
dren?
Answer There has been some talk about IL.
Only among few workingmen.
O. You have school committee. Have you
| ever made any representations to them?
A. Don't suppose word was ever said to
them about it.
Q. Was there ever any one who tried to cause
| the children to be sent to school?
| A. Net since the old man Robinson died.
| Q. Why do not the parents send them to
| school
| A. Small help is scarce; great Ceai OF the
| machinery has been stopped for want OF small
| help so THE ovERsEERs HAVE BEEN GOING ROUND
TO DRAW THE SMALL CHILDREN FROM THE SCHOOLS
| INTO THE MILLS; THE SANK AS DRAFT IN THE
| ARMY.
| Q. Do understand that agents go about to
take children out of the schools and put them in
| to the mills
| A. They 90 round to the parents and canvass
| them This produces nothing but misery and
| crime have looked into it more the last year
than before The boys and girls all mixed
| together, from seven years up 10 thirteen, and
| are entirely demoralized. One demoralizes the
| other They get so that they don't care for their
thair z
| saw is II won't work" l can go round the
| streets of Fall River in the night, and pick up
BOYS who are staying away from home, and who
| won't work because they are so demoralized. 1t
all comes from their not having schooling. You
can attribute it to no other cause.
Is any more needed? Here is another
morsel from quires of the same sort. MIR.
John Wield. Of Fall River, said:
Idon't know as have any more to say. ex-
cept that have two little boys, one eleven aud
! the other about eight and half | am no
| scholar myself, because l have always been
| working in the mill, and am sorry for 1t.
don't want my children to be brought up in the
same way. wish to get them ID work little
less hours, so that can send them to night
school want, if it is possible TO get law SO
that they go TO school, and know now TO
read and write their names
.. Do they work in the mill?
\. have been forced to send them in. Ny
earnings ,gould not keep tie door open. had To
send them in TO help me earn a living. They
are getting pretty big, and they want deal of
clothing, and could not get 1t out ofnty earnings.
| | wish to get shorter hours. am willing TO
lose the extra hours for the good ofmy children.
Q. Do the children work by the day?
| \. BY the day.
| Q. How old are the children?
! A. Seven and eig ht.
Q. Have you a child of seven working in the
mile
g A. Yes, / have.
Q. You have only two children working in
the mill:
A. Only two.
q. What wages do these children get
A. I,eo dollars and thirty cents.
q Does the other get tue same:
A. Yes, sir.
Q, How long has the youngest worked in the
mill!
A About five six months.
z. Had he been kept at school up to the
time e?
D A Yes, sir; but he didn't learn much-noi
SO much as I'd like to have him.
Z. Does he get any schooling now:
; 4. When he gets done in the mill he is ready
to go TO bed lie has to be in the mil ten minutes
before start up, to wind spEdies. TheL he
starts about his own work. and keeps on till din
I I ner time Then he goes home, starts again al
one, and arorks tiR seven. When he's done, he i
r tired enough TO go to bed. Some days he has to
y | ClSdii anu up eCOdF the ulDneT UOur-
| We used to scour all dinner hour, but stop
g ped that some little time ago. 1t takes US til
8 abaut half past twelve; some dsys, all the time
= Some days he has to clean spndles Sdtatrda,
J., he's in all day.
=. Is there any limit on the part of tn,
employers as to the age when they take chill
| dreng
A They'll take them at any age when they
can get them, ifthey old enough to stand
e .. How young the youngest?
d A I guess the youngest are about seven
There are some that's younger, but very little.
q. Do you know that your children are work
ing contrary to law
a. | didn't know there Vas any law
. q, Did you know that if l should 60 TO Fnl
River and prosecute your employer, he could b.
compelled TO pay fine for employing your chill
dren?
A. No, sir.
We present these revelations concerning
the status of white slaves in New England
tor what ls 1t If not the very spirit aud O.
sencs of slavery for the consideration of can
d did and sincere men of all parties and all re
n llgions, and we ask them to answer each +
% his own conscience, are there any social evil
n in the south or anywhere on the face of God
"a fair earth, more shocking to just sentiment
a. of humanity than these? And particular,
~ do we ask every working man in Chicag
, and elsewhere, who reads the rehearsal o
>, these damniug facts, to say if there are no
: yet existing in the very heart of our nor,her
and loyal social fabric relics of barbarian
N that ought to be eradicated by every mors
N and legal means that the people can bring t
n. bear against them?
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