Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-17
EMANcIPATE THE
FACTORY CHILDREN


Editor of The Journal:
1t is more than a generation ago since
the heart of English speaking peoples
was stirred to an effort to right wrong,
to do away with an existing abuse, to
emancipate the children who were en-
ployed in the factories and who suffered
by reason Of neglect and overwork.
Then, as now, stress was laid upon
the greed of employers who doubtless
were at fault, but this was not to be
compared with the greed, neglect and
cruelty of those parents who unmindful
of natural obligation placed heavy bur
dens upon these little ones while they
contributed little to tighten the pressure
The law now pending in the general
assembly seeks to remedy the evil; II
has the support of those who have given
study and who recognize the pressing
needs of the situation, and II is probably
as drastic a measure as could be tolerated
by those who look only at the surface,
and do not realize the greater needs Of
those who toll and do not reap the re-
ward of their toll
That vast multitude which recognizes
in Holy Scriptures wisdom suitable for
all occasions, and which does not spare
the rod lest perchance a child might be
spoiled, this aggregation might search
deeper and turning 10 the New Testa-
ment find these words: For the children
ought not to lay up for the parents, but
the parents for the children" being a
part of the fourteenth verse of the
twelfth chapter of the Second Epistle Of
st. Paul TO the Church at Cofinth. In
the revised version no change is made,
the learned translators realizing that the
plain text could not be improved by any
change.
Now, while 1 fully approve of the pro-
posed law, 1 am confident that 1t is but
a step in the direction of complete eman-
cipation: much more must follow and
with small delay. When Mr. Lincoln's
emancipation became effective 1t freed the
slaves and thus satisfied the demand of
the radical reformers; but it resulted
in doing great harm for the reason that
no provision adequate was made for the
control of the enfranchiscd race.
AS Mr.. Dooley describes it, THE naygur
was turned out of the pantry into the eel
lar" had 1t not been for the unexam-
pied wisdom, patience and devotion OF
southern women the remedial process
might have meant serious disaster.
Now, we have to face this difficulty.
If the doors of the mills are closed upon
any considerable number OF children now
there employed. who is to replace the
employer? Certainly not the idle, inef-
hcient, incompetent parent The imme-
date effect must be in some instances to
make DdQ WOI6G, Unless Ills SldNE nav
ing interfered decides to go farther and
see to 1t that the parents take up the
work now wrongfully imposed upon the
helpless children.
1t is pitiful to see these little toilers
emerge from the mills as they have an
hour of freedom, and we know that
great wrong is being perpetrated; but
visit to another portion of the city where
the mills have not been established, but
in their place may be found the abodes
! of vice and poverty. closely allied, there
may be found more evil conditions than
those existing in the home of the poorest
wage worker. What remedy can be
found2
Possibly If our mission in China were
held in allegiance for a time and our en-
ergies concentrated upon our city slums.
we might reap better results than now;
certainly the effort should be made; the
"heathen Chinee'' is doubtless a menace
but the street arab is a greater, and near
er to our land; besides this we, and we
alone, are responsible for the over supply
of the home product, while the foreign
condition may be shifted to a wise Provi-
dence, wise enough to deal with this and
all questions involving the public veal
It was while this question, "Child Labor"
was under discussion in England that
Mrs. Browning wrote:
do you hear the children weeping, o my
brothers,
Ere the sorrow comes with years?
They are leaning their young heads
against their mothers,
And that cannot stop their tears.
The young lambs are bleating in the
meadows;
The young birds are chirping in their
nests,
The young fawns are playing with the
shadows,
The young flowers are blowing towards
the west
But the young. young children. o, my
brothers,
They are weeping bitterly!
''They are weeping in the playtime Of the
others,
I'm the country of the free"
The voice of the people was effective
and the reform prevailed: so it win DO
with us, the present bill should pass
end be made operative, but there remains
much to be done before the wrongs of
childhood can or win be righted.
Provision is made that when the bill
! becomes a law it shall not become opera
tive until several months have elapsed,
thus giving sufficient time for adjust
ment of all conflicting interests.
While this bill will not effect all that
is to be desired, it Will be long step in
the right direction, and it will pave the
way for other needed reforms.
Let us be just as we remember the
selfish employer who has disregarded the
rights of the child: let us also remember
those who have done much to mitigate
suffering by providing schools where the
children might gain at least the rudi-
nents Of an education.
WILLIAM RILEY BOYD.