Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-08-21
State Federation of Labor.

FacCOTy inspector JOnn U. ward was
the target of the New Jersey State Fedora
tion of Labor at the Convention held at
Trenton on Tuesday. Broadside after
broadside of hot shot was aimed at the in
spector, who was invited to appear and
answer the sweeping charges made against
the administration of his department as re-
CARDS the enforcement of the child labor
laws.
The cumulative evidence which the labor
ing organizations of the State, and partic-
ularly in the South Jersey glass blowing
district, have been piling up against the
chief inspector, took definite shape in the
adoption of resolution making sweeping
charges of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. on his part,
and demanding his removal at the hands of
the Governor.
The resolutions were submitted by Dele
gate Thomas J. McHugh, of Newark chair
man of the special committee, appointed
Monday to consider and report upon the
question of child labor. This resolution
! follows =
''WHEREAs, The people of the State of
New Jersey have been brought to a re-
alzation of the fact that within its Dor
ders the labor of children of innocent
years is being exploited by rich corpora
tions, manufacturers, mercantile estab-
lishments for their private profit and
gain; and
WHEREAS, Through continuance of
this practice these toiling children are
deprived of that parental care which
should be theirs, and, too, prevented
| from attending the public schools of the
| State, which were established for their
express benefit; and
''WHEREAs, This terrible condition, if
prolonged, must necessarily result in a
| degraded manhood and womanhood for
future years:
GA, it is fret that Chief Factory In
spector John G. Ward is aware of these
truths.
"(b), it is fact that Governor Franklin
Murphy is aware of these truths
so, it is fact that the legal depart
ments of our State are aware of these
| truths.
SD, it is fact that the press of the
State are aware of these truths and have
published, from time to time, in the past
four months, stories telling of specific
violations in various parts of the State OF
the child labor laws.
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the
New Jersey Federation of Labor in con-
vention assembled this nineteenth day OF
August, 1902, hereby proclaims its alarm at
the increasing tendency on the part Of
corporations to impress into their service
the employment Of children of tender
years s.
'ResOtCed, That the incoming executive
board stand instructed to inaugurate in
this State a campaign of education on the
subject of child labor and to use its every
endeavor to bring about an obliteration Of
the most pronounced cause.
Res0lUed, That $4,000 copies of this
declaration be ordered printed and dis
tributed Throughout the State.
"ResOgUed, That the delegates here pres
ent put forth their individual efforts in
| their several localities to remove the child
| labor stigma from our States fair name.
Resolved, That the local and central
labor unions throughout the State be urged
to assist the federation in this campaign.
sResolUed, That in view of the fact that
John c. Ward is an admitted failure in the
office of chief factory inspector of New Jer-
sey, we demand of Governor Franklin
| Murphy his removal from office.
sResolred, That committee of three
delegates go forth from this convention and
convey to Governor Franklin Murphy a
copy of his declaration, and in the name of
organized labor Of the State of New Jersey
demand the instant suspension from office
of John G. Ward, chief factory inspector Of
the State.
'Resolred That during the time interven-
ing between now and the next annual ses-
sion of the State Legislature those Senators
who retain Office and those who are to be
elected in the fall be urged by all the in
fiuence at our command to insist in the re-
moval of John c. Ward from the Office of
chief factory inspector of the Staten
Mr.. Ward was in the convention, and
professed to have done all in his power to
enforce the Child Labor laws.