Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-04
CHILD LABOR IN IOWA
State Labor Commissioners Wen.
nerstrum Visits MARSHALL
town in a Good Cause.
interviewed. He Points Out
Needed Reforms and
Legislation.

State Labor Commissioner c. F. Wen
rerstrum, of Des Moines, who was in
the city Tuesday. came here with the
expectation of addressing a public meet
ing at the Y. NJ. G. A. rooms. but found
on his arrival that his letter asking that
arrangements be made had not reached
Secretary Fellingham, hence the address
was delayed for an indefinite time.
Mr.. Wennerstrum is attempting to
make OF the position Of labor commits
sioner something more than a political
sinecure, and is accomplishing some
thing in the way Of awakening public
interest in questions of reform. One OF
the things he is striving for is the en-
actment of laws calling for a more thor
ough system Of factory inspection and
the compelling Of the maintenance OF
death traps in institutions using ma
chinery. He has only to point to the
frequency OF terrible accidents In many
OF the large institutions OF the state to
prove that reforms along this line are
needed.
Another question of Importance that
Mr.. Wennerstrum is trying to impress
upon the minds of the people OF Iowa is
the wrongs Of child labor. On this SUBJ
ject Mr.. Wennerstrum said to the T.-R.:
I do not hesitate moment In saying
that under no circumstances should
girls be permitted to work in factories
where men and boys are employed until
they had reached at least Is years OF
age, unless there is woman superin- 4
tendent or matron in charge who will
SUPPRESS anything like undue familiar
ity.
"One Of the important, IN fact, one of
the vital facts in regard to child labor, i
is its effect upon the wages of adult men
and the income of families. Numerous
vestigations have shown that the en-
ployment OF children reduces the wages
OF men and lessons their employment.
it has been shown that the to-
tai wages of the average family where
all the children work are no higher or
aggregate no more than where the IA
Their is the sole provider for the family. |
The reseon for this will become appar-
ent if / indicate to you briefly the pro-
cess by which the wages of adult men
are lowered, the opportunity for their
lessened.
I'm these days of labor-saving ma
chinery, whenever an employer discov-a
RS that he can employ women and /
children at the same task as men and
re can get them to do the same amount
os work for less money. it Is certain that
be will employ the lower-priced labor.
This fact to which have just re-
.erred, namely, the depressing effect of +
-hild labor on the wages Of the working
men, completely offsets the objection
made to prohibiting the chill
lren working in our factories; for 1t is
by those who do not approve
IL such restriction that we are denying
antilles the income that the work of the
;hildren bring, and that we are working
hardship without a corresponding
THE contrary is true however. There
s no doubt but that the Ia her of a
amily can earn sufficient to maintain
in average family, but he is not bene-
tied when society permits the younger
of a family to enter into COM
petition with the heads of families, so
hat legislative restriction of child labor
= In harmony with economic laws and
he trend of industrial development and
owa should not continue longer to be
in this important matter"
Stomach and Liver
Tablets.
Try them
When you feel dull after eating.
When you have no appetite.
When you have q bad taste in the
mouth.
When your liver is torpid
When your bowels are constipated.
When you have a headache.
When you feel bilious.
They will improve your appetite,
leanse and invigorate your stomach
nd regulate your liver and bowels.
'or sala hy drugxists,