Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-10-16
CH|LD labor IN DNA|
Next Legislature VIII 30 Asked,
to ! ass : Law to ke5u.
late It
5Msny Factories Employ Children Of
Tender Age, keeping Them
From chool.

Employers Gen, rally in Favor Of
proposed Law arents Gener.
ally to Blame
Des Moines, Oct. TO- The employment
lot child labor in Iowa is much more ex
tensive than is generally known. Sem
ator Titus Of Muscatire is engaged. at
the present time. in conjunction with
State Labor Commissioners Wenner-
|strum and the labor organizations Of
the state in making plans for an appeal
to the general assembly Of 1902 to enact
laws safeguarding the youth of the
state. There are no laws on the Iowa
statutes now prohibiting child labor, ex-
cept as to their employment in nines
It Is believed that the legislature win be
in a mood to enact the desired and need
ed legislation
Labor Commissions Wennarstrum re-
ceived complaint Saturday that GER
tain Des Moines institution had in its5
constant employ a large number of Chill
vestigation on Monday. Sometimes ii
seems unfortunate that the. law govern
ing the Office of labor commissioner re-
quires him to reserve the names of all
institutions with which he has. official
relation. 1t is also a fact that the law
gives him absolutely no authority With
respect to child labor. He can not stop
1t or proceed against employers or par
|ents. There is nothing in any of the
laws on the subject, therefore the labor
commits ssOner' s. operations in this line
are purely voluntary and. in the opinion
of some employers Of child labor, gratu-
itous. Nevertheless. the investigation is
being carried on with a view to Furnish
ing the state with specific information
on the subject Of child labor in Iowa
that it may be adjusted by the laws. Ii
is probable that, incidentally, this inves-
tigation Will assist the friends of the
projected compulsory education meas
ures.
Being compelled to retain the names
|of all houses in which investigation is
made, Labor Commissioner Wenner-
|strum g discussion Of the subject is nee
essarily general. Having been inform
ed a few weeks ago that large amount
Of child labor was employed in certain
Iowa city" said Mr. Wennerstrun, 81
at once proceeded to that city with the
intention OF arriving at facts. found
lat exceedingly difficult. Not only are
employers very reticent, altho assured
there IS no law in the matter, but the
children seem trained to claim maturity.
I have asked boys in Establishments how
I!old they Were when I Well knew they
We're not more than II to IA. Sixteen
was their invariable answer. This lie
one OF the great difficulties in the way Of
Thorough investigation. OF course, In a
general way, / have authority to swear
persons and take statements under oath,
but that is distasteful and Improbable.
However. / have kept careful record Of
cases Of what know are child labor
and they will be Invaluable when the
matter is called to the attention; Of the
Legislature.
Sometimes you will be compelled to
admit that the question has two sides
emitting that seen from the point of
view Of the child. Employ ers have said
tome: Il would gladly pay money to rid
this ablishment Of child labor IL
lyou can do it you will nave my sincere
thanks. I dislike it as much as any one
can possibly, but l am helpless. Here is
the child of prominent man and one
| Of my best patrons. This gentleman
came to me and said: Here is my son,
want him to work instead of run the
street. Give him a job. How can I
help it? don't want to offend the man
and I don't want to lose his patronage.
Looks like was helpless, doesn't it?"
Now, what answer can you make to
this? The boy does the workout he
takes the place of a man who ought to
| be doing the work, SO that he can sup.
port his family. The boy ought not to
be doing a mans work at tender age.
And there you have the three sides Of
the problem.
You will conclude from the remarks
of the employer whom ! have quoted
that the employers generally will well
leone q measure to protect children from
labor; which will make 1T unlawful to
hire children; and will aid labor by Civ
ling men work which is now done by
children.''
Mr.. Wenrerstrum is making special
ty OF factory inspection. This is
branch OF state inspection especially
provided for In many states Little at
ltention has been paid to ii in Iowa
heretofore. Mr.. Wennerstrum has vis-
tied scores Of the Institutions with a
special view to the fire esca pes, the SAN
citation. the life protecting devices on
machinery, elevator guards and gates.
at the same time procuring the stats
| tics as to the industry which the Law
authorizes him To publish in hts biennial.
Death OF NIisst;ochrane.
Special to Times Republican.
Storm Lake, Oct 16.--On Wednesday
last Miss Cora e. Cochrane died OF tu-
Iberculosis and vas buried Friday The
funeral sermon was preached by Rev.
John AIcAllister, her former pastor