The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-02-14
Senator Mayffeld'S Speech.

SeHdlOf MA Htlu Specch.
While the child labor bill was under
discussion in the senate last Wednesday
night, Senator Maytield delivered the
following speech, as published in the
Columbia State. 1t might be well to
mention that the bill under discussion
was one offered by the senator himself
as 4 compromise or substitute measure
for another bill, which was killed. The
senate passed Mr. Mayfield's bill:
Mr. Maytield said there are two ques
tions to be considered. Have we as q
State the right to pass such law as this
and if the State has that right, ought we
to do it. The State occupies the position
of a parent to its children, and there is
nothing in our constitution that would
prohibit such law as this, so we clearly
have that right.
He then explained the minority re-
port which had been signed by him.
This report provides for 10-year age
limit instead of - years, as Mr.. Barnwell
provides, and also provides for the law
going into effect gradually. He spoke of
the need of educating all classes of citi-
zens. The great Roman empire decayed
and fell only after the education of its
citizens was neglected, and the education
of English people has made that em-
pire the greatest on earth. South Caro-
lima, if it would keep its place in the
progress Of nations, must look after her
educational interests No class of our
people most be allowed to grow up in
isnorance-and especially must our
white children be looked after if we
would maintain white supremacy. He
quoted the statement of President Cleve-
land of Whitney mill, that more than 80
per cent. of the spinning room hands in
that mill could not read, and the same con-
ditions prevail in other mills. 1t was
this deplorable amount of ignorance that
had fully determined him to support the
bill.
1T is wrong that cries to heaven for
little children to be cooped at hard work
in cotton mill from sunrise to sundown
from weeks end to weeks end, We
cannot allow great dividends to be de-
clared on cotton mill stocks if by so do
ing the standard of our citizenship is
lowered. He spoke of going down to
the Congaree bridge and seeing the little
children coming over from Brookland to
work in the Columbia mills Those little
children, he said, had nothing to do but
obey. the orders of those over them-to
obey. Shall We hold our hands from
righting this wrong simply because some
capitalists urge us not to pass laws on
this subject? 1t is urged to pass this law
will stop some of the machinery in the
mills, but if this is true, why let the ma
chinery stop. We cannot afford to allow
our greed of commercialism to dwarf
our young manhood and young woman
hood-the children of the coming genera
ton.
"Hc drew picture of child working
in cotton mill all night, from nightfall
until dawn, and asked the senators if they
wanted their children to suffer that. He
asked the senators to take the matter
home to themselves. Children may have
t. work on farms, he said, but they do
not do such hard or continuous work as
mill children They do not work as
many hours in day, nor as many days
in week, nor as many weeks in year.
They have ample time to go to school.
He spoke of how the negro children are
going to school. and the efforts they are
making to obtain an education, while
the white children are being ground
down and kept in ignorance. This
illiteracy in cotton mill towns is congest-
e I, and for that reason is more dangerous
than when scattered throughout the )un-
try, and for that reason is legislation
needed. We have a duty to. perform.
The responsibility rests upon us and we
cannot dodge it. Let the senate do its
duty and if the house wants to kill the
bill the responsibility will be upon them.
We have said the songbirds shall be pro-
tcctcd there is no sweeter music than
the laughter of children, and shall we not
protect them as we'll Let us not put the
price of stocks or weather above human
life and happiness"