The age-herald., 1901-02-10
WOmen's Work fer the
Child's Labor Bill

When Mrs Zac Smith was asked yester- day for an expression in regard to the turn ing down of the child labor and educational bills by the legislative committee in Mont gonlery last week she referred to the scene in the Senate chamber of the capitol where was gathered on Tuesday evening such a large, enthusiastic and representative audi ence as had not been seen there in many years.
 Earnest and enthusiastic as the women and men, too were for the child labor bill, D said Mrs. smith, and constant as had been their work fer the past few weeks, they were agfeeably surprised at the amount of support and enthusiasm which greeted them in Montgomery. We feel that in the non-passage oi the Siil we nave pev- ertheless been triumphant in their defeat. The bill was "smothered" in committee, as the lobbyists boasted that it would be, but such an impetus has been gained in the advocacy of humane measures that fully encourages to feel that the time Will come, and that not very far distant when the work will be crowned with Suc- cess. Miss Ashby was nobly assisted by the women all over Alabama and by many noble men, organizations and clubs of all kinds, religious societies, and by many of our most honored men in the House and senate, and heartfelt appreciation is ex- tended to these brave and fearless members ot the Legislature who stood by the bill they felt to be right and just.
 Jefferson ceuntys honored Senators and Representatives will ever be held in grate- ful remembrance by a large part of their constituency by their fearless support of this humane measure.
 Miss Ashby held an enormous amount or petitions from all over the State con- Sdering they were gathered in so short a time. The speeches before the House and Senate Committees in favor of the Dill were logical and convincing and what is more they were to the point at issue-child labor.
 ''blrs. Robert Cunningham, representing the Woman's Club, ably prepared for the work and made talk that was telling in her many arguments deduced and her force- full presentation of the question. Rev. E. J. Murphy represented Montgomery and gave splendid support to the justness of the bill After speeches by the opposition, ties and failed in any instance to deal with child labor, Miss Ashby made the closing speech. And the wonder of it is that after such speech the bill was smothered' in about two minutes time.
 Miss Ashby is an expert She dealt with the twenty-three factories in Alaba ma that she had personally visited. Logical thoroughly informed, incessive and as quick in thought as a lightning flash, even the opponents of the bill cheered her again and again with cries of applause. It was a magnificent effort as one by one she took up the weak places in the speeches of the opposition and answered them Tn a way that was recognized as unanswera- ble. One of the most telling points made by Miss Ashby was In her reply to one speaker who claimed that they opposed the bill because they were opposed to class leg islation- Miss Ashby in reply referred to the bill introduced the day before which proposed that factories which might be induced to come to Alabama should be ex- empt from taxation for the term of ten years Yet said Miss Ashby, they do not like class legislation Those who championed the bill demanded but one