The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-03
CHILD LABOR IN ALABAMA. An Appeal to the People and Press
 of New England.

by the Exccutive Committee of Alabama on the subject of child labor in this state 1t is addressed to the aeopie ana the Transcript, The BosIon Herald. The Springfield Republican. and many other papers of that section nave printed It ana have Given il emphatic editorial support. We publish 1t in full:
 Addressing ourselves to the public con science of those historic locaiities rom which so much of goed has come to our relation to the increasing evils of child labor in the South.
 Our responsibility is more directly con cerned with the State of Alabama. It Is not a responsibility which we would In any sensc evade We would not excuse the apathy of large numbers or our own people, though that apathy is partly que te their inexperience in relation te tne conditions of manufacture. The problems presented by the factory are new to us. Nsr would we forget or condone the m difference of certain of our ieslslators. Frightened by the threat that reIorms yvould be followed by the alienation or ca pital and by the withdrawal of invest rnents they have hesttated to grant what the people have not demanded. Frlnari ly, therefore. the guilt of this .econoHhc and social wrong must lie AI our own doors. To the conditions of the problem here we are addressing ourselves Wltn all the forces at our commanu. II wo bring this appeal to New EngiIno, ID 
 blame but because we confidently oeneVe that if you know the truth. New Eng land will share the task
 For the responsibility IS aiso somr., once Such protective legislation as we once had was repealed by the legislature as concession to the demands or the repre- sentatives of a mill. recently Iem0Eeu frem the East and opesated ; ibs nerS nroSortion % of fhe children under F in our Northern and Southern mills is approximateiy tne same. vet in the mills representing Nortn. efn investments. the sc.ua1 ;u tw,cs n as great ss fhe number found in the miiis con trolled by Southern capital: In the stTus Sie for reform legislation before tne iase isxislature, the friends of the Child IA Srr RiIi. were twice given a hearing be. fore committees. Tn both cases tne olll was Killed in committee In eacn instanJe instant, the most aggressive and enectve opposl- tion came from the saiaried repIesen.S ,S sivs of Massachusetts investments: ana st the second hearing. this representatNe U U appeared alone. as the chosen spokesn'an of al the forces of resistance. ,a That one or two of these mills snoulo he nroyided with library. natatorlum nnasium and other incidents or a spec facuiar philanthropy. may not opscuIe .mo fact that they are supporuns ,;t.Ia oh,i. ,,raer which hundreds of our nttte cnil- Sren are denied the most elementary oo, ~ortunities for health and happiness' Svatern representing the condltionS yl conapulsory i.rSTsnss' gsS,.ney of oSr future op: sysffvee by sappinG the vitantles oI vouth. and which-by imposing upon .ns Se,6er heart of the child an environIiien' sn oS whirlinr and deafening macninerE, to S.tler with the burdens of sustained ana Tnl1atural labor-has made scnool ol sA- nrrience disastrous alike to ootn capaci'y and character. ,,,o,+ of this ~restior is. with the people or New EhR- Sc,d unnecessary: and, in the space per lifted us impossible. We VIII elaos aend our literature to those who may De interested. ,as+,,, raouest the ,.ahiicatioi of this appeal. If answer t to W should be attempted, we ask tnas t soT,- statements may be forwarued and 1e replv sN.'
 We .haIl be grateful to those wno may ,.,,ss fo' niS us financially in the conouct sr o,,r work But we especially ask LVl something far more vs,uap5e to it's treas ,,rv We pray for the awakening or puor Nc interest, and for the qulckenins M o. t%at public conscience which recosnlscs , throu9h the unity and integrity oI oIr .atSorai life the unity of our responsl- rs,stsr for the welfare of all the peopie. Ta,a hcIievc that Massachusetts haVniS sefended her own children rom q cruTi w,;II o,S unnecessary industrial system, VII s,Iu.t;nn sru the heartless policy with Whlch SSSr ca y,ital is using and Is striving 70 per t,,ets the defenseiessness of the cniidren pf the South. This capital IS ooine here %baf if dare not do at home; =. .h. ReaiizinR, with all the peoples oI ,,ttie r.hrist that the protection or tne .I.- HUI Sh;id means the preservation or eSels thing that is worth preserSlnE, a of the tisSin9 that our fellcw-co intLyhen 1r ; s't. at' MorIh and East will unite with us m as, U, *an,nfin9 to check this exploitaton Ss eh;Idhood for the creation or oiviuenun oi,, Ge earnestly ask your interest anu SO'' aid. oo,
 N'kneo" Edgar Gardner Murphy.
 Thomas G. Jones:
 ex-Governor of Alabama.
 Iucien V. LaTaste.
 A10' Montgomery.
 J. H. Phillips.
 Superintendent nf Schools. Birmingham
 John Craft,
 Member of Legislature, Moblle.
 A. F. Reilly.
 Member of Legislature, Ensley.
 Executive Committee for Alabama
 An Ohio heiress wished to wed a pooi hut nromIsing suitor. Her folks obJectec on the ground that the man was mar mar ~ Snr her for money. Then 1t was suggested chat the heiress turn over all her prop erty to the family attorney Tor tnre wears. If at the end of that period m heirees still thinks her suitor married ne net hecause of her fortunes she Is t receive her property back again.
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