The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-09
CHILD LABOR N
COTTON MILLS
The View of Prominent CWn-
ers and Managers.
REFORM is DEMANDED
The Methods of Reform Will Require
Serious Consideration.
NO TO MUIR SHOULD Be DONE TO MILLS
But in The Long Run ii viii Help Manufactur-
ing to Exclude Children. Interests OF
Humanity Demand That II
be Done.


One of the greatest evils in North
Carolina is the employment OF young
children in the factories.
1t is an evil that ought to be reme-
died at once. The humanity of the
State ought to assert itself, and COM
pei the passage of an act by the next
Legislature to end what will in timG
dwarf and stunt the manhood and wo-
manhood of North Carolina.
The best way to secure the proper
law is to enlist the cooperation OF
the cotton mill owners, cotton mill
managers, cotton mill operatives, and
others who are acquainted with the
practical workings of the cotton mill
industry. Many of the cotton mill
owners desire to put an end to the
employment of children in their mills.
They see how it dwarfs them and inn
poverishes their blood. In the agita~
tion for legislation to prevent the en-
ployment of children in the mills, be-
gun by this paper and others at the
session of the General Assembly of
1891, we have sought to enlist the
cooperation of all the owners and
managers of cotton mills. Many of
them began to employ young children
when their factories were small at
the solicitation of their pareuts, and
sometimes of their widowed mothers.
One of the best mill men in the State,
speaking about this matter few days
ago. said: II have for some years
wished to quit giving employment TO
children in the factories with when i
am connected, but / have not seen my
way clear to do it. for this reason:
Many skilled workers insist upon our
giving their children employment. Ii
my mill refuses to employ their chllu-
rem. these good operatives just quit
me and go to mill which will employ
their children. We need the employ
ment of these good workers we
cannot afford to lose them, and so we
submit to employing children, against
our Judgment. because we would 9TH
e1-wise lose needed efficient workers
This shows the necessity for law
that will put all mills ON an equality.
What shall that law contain? What
ought to be it's provisions? In order
to secure the views of the mill owners
of the State, this letter was sent TO
every mill in the State nearly four
weeks ago:
Raleigh, n c., Nov. Is, 1900
Dear Sir: | enclose you herewith a
conv of a Child Labor Bill. which has
been introduced in the Georgia Legisla-
trre. There is considerable sentiment IN
this state in favor of law preventing
the employment of children in cotton
mills. / would like to ask your opinion OF
such legislation, and whether the en-
1-eN
have you outline bill that you think
ought to be adopted in North CaFollAa
covering these lines.
An early reply will be appreciated.
Very truly yours.
JOSEPHUS DANIELS, Editor.
The bill enclosed with this letter
was as follows:
THE GEORGIA BILL.
To prevent children under the age of 10
wears Internationally from working in
textile factories in this State. and to pre-
vent children between the ages OF ten
years and fourteen years from working
in such textile factories except under
conditions herein stated and to enforce
the education of children working In tex
tile factories and to provide suitable
punishment for violation of this act, and
for other purposes.
Sec. l. Be it enacted by the General
Assembly of the State OF Georgia, and IT
is hereby enacted by the authority OF
the same, that from and after the first
day of January, in the year A. D., 1901,
no child under the age of 10 years shall
be employed in any textile factory of this
state.
Sec O. Be 1t further enacted that from
and after the date mentioned In tho
preceding section no child between the
ages OF 10 and IA years shall be en-
pIoyed In any textile factory in this State
during the period when the public schools
In the city, town, village district OF
county are In session unless the person
firm or corporation employing such child
male or female, shall produce certih,
cate from the superintendent OF schools
OF the city, town, village, district Of
county stating that such child has previ'
ously attended school for the period o
two months during the preceding si'
months, and after working four monthi
shall cease TO labor and shall not return
TO such work unless such child or chill
dren shall again go to such public schools
as above provided for at least twt
months, furnishing another certificate Il
that effect. and In like manner each 81,
months until such child or children shall
reach the age of IA years, the purpose
OF this act being that such child or chill