The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-08-31

There il no subject Of more vital impor-
tance to . nation than the rearing of the
young to perfect developement, physical as
wen as mental Unless children are pro
tected by good Laws Eigidly enforced, the
necessities and averice Of parents and
caretakers conspire 10 stunt their growth,
break them down, and produce, if they
even live SO long, a manhood OF woman
hood Of disease and imbecility. Some
countries Of Europe long ago felt this
scourage Of life and health, and made
statutory provisions TO protect ther man
hood. There may not be the same nsoes-
slty for such laws in this country, but
there is the necessity, and laws regulating
children's labor ought 70 be enacted where
they do not already exist, and enforced
everywhere. France has suffered terribly
from Overworked children. The latest
law OF the French Empire for the regula-
ton Of labor Of children was passed in l84l
IL hxes the minimum age q Which child
rem can be employed ut eight years and
from eight TO twelve their days work
was not 10 exceed eight h0'sn--frUm thir-
teen to sixteen, twelve hours. Children
under thirteen, under the terms Of the
lsw, we're not allowed 10 work ut night,
and Sunday work was forbidden. The
law itself contained 80 many leaks that it
would not hold anything of the prinnple
involved, utterly failed Of its purpose, and
became dead letter. II could only be
enforced IN workshops containing more
than twenty artizanA, leaving outside Of
its pale the places where the hardest work
was. The penalty was net laid on the
parent, but the employer, and no inspec-
tors were appointed to see that the Law
was enforced. this duty being imposed
upon other officers of the Government
without additional salaries.
Military statistics throw some light upon
the effect of the Law and the extent to
which France has suffered from want ~
an operative regulation In securing 10, =
OOO cOnscnpts tit for duty In ten agricul-
tural districts, there were 4,O29 rejected
on account Of physical incapacity. while
in obtaining the same number for the in
dustrial departments, 2, $50 were rejected
as incapable Of performing military duty.
In other districts where manufacturing is
almost the exclusive business. IA, 45I were
rejected before 10. 400 able-bodied yonng
men were obtained. In all France IN one
year, out Of 325, 40 youths who appeared
for examination, lO9, 600 were rejected for
teebleness OF constitution, deficient height.
or other defects. SO much for the boys
Doubtless the girls are equally weak and
stunted by overwork The moral nature
must also suffer from such physical de
fects
At present in France, children of nine
years Of age are made to work twelve
hours day, without hindrance. while
there are many instances where children
OF from four to eight years are kept at
work fourteen hours ont of the twenty
four.
In view Of these facts, the French As
sembly has, in the midst of its military
and financial questions. taken up the sub
Iect Of overwOrked children, and gone to
work in the spirit to pass Law for their
protection.
They could learn = good lesson from
their German nelghbors. The Law az the
old nth German Confederation. passed
In 1869, forblds the employment " child
rem under twelve years Of age in work
shops, while the maximum hours If labor
are SIX, until the child u fourteen years
old, and ten until sixteen. In Austria.
Sweden, and Switzerland, the age Il ad-
mission to certain branches of industry, is
put at thirteen years. In England the
law is still more strict and vigorously en-
forced. We might go into many OF our
own workshops and tnd innumerable in
stances OF such cruelty 10 children, and
just outside the door, probably. could see
member Of the society for the prevention
Of cruelty to dumb animals. arrest and
take Of to prison, a man ON charge Of
overlooking his brute.