The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-05-29
STANDS AT THE HEAD
Indiana Credited With Having The
Most Effective Law Bearing Upon
Child Labor.
HOW FACTORY LAW OPERATES
Chief Inspector McAbee Talks Enter
tainingIy of the Practical Results of
Recent Legislation for the Benefit
of Indiana Wage-Earners.

of Indiana Wage-Earners.
'In the matter of legislation affect
ing child labor Indiana stands first
among the states of the Union
This is the significant statement of
Mrs. Florence Kelly of Chicago, Sec
rotary of the Consumers League, and
formerly factory inspector of the state
of Illinois. And yet, no longer ago
than 1896, Mrs. Kelly declared at a
national convention of the state fac
tory inspectors held in Detroit, that
Indiana was among the most back
ward of all the states in this very par
ticular.
With the approval of Governor
Mount on March 2, 1899, of an act
providing means for protecting the
liberty, safety and health of laborers'
and ''for its enforcement by creating
a department of inspection" the state
of Indiana took it's place among those
commonwealths of the Union wherein
modern conceptions concerning the
right of the wage-earner to safe and
sanitary surroundings have been en-
bodied in statutes. Judged from this
standpoint, the most advanced states
of the Union are Massachusetts. the
pioneer in labor legislation, New York,
Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Mime
sofa, Connecticut and Illinois. The
labor laws of these states are based
upon Doth century ideas of human
rights and duties. In striking con-
trast stand out the conditions in some
other states of the Union-most no.
tably Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Florida
and Mississippi.
In the Carolinas, for instance. laws
for the protection of the factory wage
Garner are as conspicuously absent as
they were In England a century ago.
when the deplorable conditions pre-
vailing in manufacturing centers serv-
ed to awaken the conscience of a ma
ton and inaugurate peaceful indus
trial revolution. Children years old
are employed II hours a day in some
Carolina cotton factories, and the let.
OF these states in their attitude toward
conditions surrounding their rapidly
developing factory life.
The Indiana Factory Laws.
The Indiana factory inspection law.
enacted three years ago, strengthened
by the last legislature and enforced.
1t is safe to say, more generally than
the similar law of any other state, en-
bodies every demand and wish of
workingmen within the scope of fac.
tory legislation Not only have it's op-
erations proved of Unreasonable ben
eft to the factory worker, but the
results of it's enforcement have proved
most gratifying to manufacturers.
some of whom, though reluctant at
first to comply with the provisions of
the law, have expressed their pleasure
with the outcome. 1T pays" is a
motto to be seen everywhere in one
of the model manufacturing establish
ments of Indianapolis-and SO 1t does
mot only in the promotion of good
will and the increase of self-reliance
and skill, the advancement of morals
and intelligence among wage earners,
but, withal, In dollars and cents to the
employer who understands himself
and those who labor with him.
Provisions of the Law.
The Indiana law provides. in brief,
against the employment of boys under
16 and girls under 10 in factories,
stores or shops for more than so hours
a week or the employment of any child
under IA years of age. The provisions
for the enforcement of this regulation
are more stringent than those of any
other state. No illiterate child under
16 years of age shall be employed.
No woman. shall be employed in a
factory between the hours of 10 D. m
and 6 a. m. Elevators, stairways and
dangerous machinery shall be prop
erfy safe-guarded. Proper washruoms
and water-closets shall be provided,
with dressfng-rooms for women. Fe-
male employees shall be allowed to take
seats when their duties do not neces-
state standing Not less than so min
utes shall be allowed at the noon
hour; buildings must be safe and SAN
itary. Sweat-sfiops are specifically
provided against A chief inspector
and five deputies are provided for the
enforcement OF the law, and are vest
ed with an authority which Governor
Mount declared to- be greater than any
he possessed as chief executive OF the
state. Supplementary acts require the
weekly payment OF wages, and the in
spection and condemnation Of all un-
safe buildings of a public or semi
public character, placing upon the de-
PENDANT in actions for damages for in
turies the burden Of proving the con-
tributory negligence on the part of
an employe. and for the sanitation of
all food-producing establishments,
were passed in 1899 and 1901.
Organization Of the Department.
The organization of the department
was effected under the original law of
1899, by the appointment of d. H. Nc
Abee of Muncie, as chief Inspector. He
has been most efficient IN the perfor-
nance of his duties. The last legis-
lature, recognizing the importance of
q more Thorough enforcement of the
Jaw. authorized the appointment Oh
three additional deputies or five in all
These are David F. Sprees of Vincenr
mes, chief deputy; Harvey A. Richards
of Muncie, Joseph H. Clark OF In
dianapolis, Thomas 8. williamson OF
Anderson, and James H. Roberts OF
South Bend. The demand for an in