The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-02-12
CHILD LABOR BILL.
There Is a Long Discussion Over It IN
the House.
MEMBERS LOST THEIR TEMPER.
By Close Margin the House Voted
Down the Motion Hostile to
the Bill One Day Last
Week.

the Bill One Day Last
Week.
On Tuesday of last week Mr.. Webb
Of Aiken called up the special order OF
the day, Senator MarShall's bill to
prohibit children under u years ofage
from working in the textile manufac-
turing establishments Of this State,
under conditions herein stated, and to
provide punishment for violations OF
this act and for other purposes"
Mr.. r. B. 4. Robinson moved to
strike out the enacting words.
The floor was secured by Mr.. Webb,
who made Speechfa favor Of bis bill.
1t is a protection to the health Of the
children. There is a rule prohibiting
windows from being raised in the
spinning department Of cotton mills,
and that is the department where
the children work. 1t is injurious to
grown people, too, he said in reply to
Mr. Dorroh, but more injurious to
children. The Oil flying in spray is
injurious to the health Of the children.
When their health is injured their
minds are warped. There is cry all
over the State for this bill. The
children themselves do not want en-
ployment. The mills, some Of them.
do not approve Of children working in
their mills, yet they oppose this bill.
He took up the statement that cot
ton mill operatives do not favor the
bill. He declared that the reason why
the operatives last year signed petit
tions against this bill was because
many Of them were forced to do it.
Mr.. Webb said that England. France.
Germany and even cruel Russia have
laws Of this kind. In Italy and in
Greece there are laws against child la
Dor in cotton msis. Northern States
have also taken such steps. There
are 10000 more negro children in the
schools in this State than there are
whites. The day may come when the
negro will be the voter and the factory
people be disfranchised. The general
assembly owes it to the State to see
that these children are protected and
that they become Intelligent citizens.
Why are the mill presidents opposed
to this bill? They are placing the
dollar above humanity. The father
himself who has a child in the mill
and cares more for the dollar than for
his child, opposes this bill. If the
bill as reported is not agreeable, then
use it as a basis, but take some action
at this session, he urged.
ASHLEY sILENCED.
Mr.. John McMaster, Of Columbia,
followed Mr. Webb, making a good
speech in favor of the bill. He was
followed by Mr.. Banks, Of Newberry,
who opposed the bill. He said it is no
argument that South Carolina should
have this law because other States
have it. South Carolina has always
been unique, why should she not be
UNIQUE in this as well? This looks
like paternalism. 1t is blow at the
roots Of the tree of liberty. 1t is a
blow at family government. Does not
the parent know what is better for the
child? Why should the legislature
arrogate to itself the right to tell pa
rents what to do? There may be
some parents who drink up the money
made by their children, but why put
hardShips on the many just to correct
she few?
Mr.. F. H. McMaSter, Of Charleston,
spoke in favor Of the bill. He charged
that the motives of the friends Of this
bill had been properly construed. He
declared that it is not to comfort the
labor organizations that the bill is
favored, but for the sake Of humanity.
However, as one in contact with Or
ganized labor, he expressed himself as
satisfied with it. This bill is not a
blow at individual liberty. It is a
recognition Of the highest kind Of lib
erty, the fact that the child does not
belong to the parent alone but to the
civil community. The law now pro-
tects the child from injury or brutal
chastisement at the hands Of a parent.
Mr.. Ashley asked if this bill would
affect Charleston county.
Mr.. McMaster made a splendid re-
ply to what he said wasa covert thrust
from Mr.. Ashley. He declared that
it required as much Independence OF
spirit for a Charleston representative
to support this bill as for any other
representative, for the people Of Char
lesion own the stock in the mills in
the up-country. He declared with
warmth that he was not prompted by
any self consideration but by a desire
to do right.
There was an exciting clash between
Mr.. Logan and Mr.. Ashley at the
close Of Mr.. Logan'S argument. Ee
had been interrupted by Mr.. Ashley
once or twice during his speech, but
refused to be diverted from the course
of his speech, saying with irony that
Mr.. Ashley's sweet and seldom heard
voice could be heard later. Mr.. Ash
ley did not like the thrust.
THIS STARTED THE ROW.
The presiding officers Of the house
have always allowed the greatest lati-
tude in debates, and Logan rather ex-
ceeded the custom. Somewhat Stung