New-York tribune., 1902-03-08
CHILD LABOR ABUSE.
CONSUMERS LEAGUE TO EXPOSE IN
STITUTIONS THAT ALLOW LITTLE
INMATES TO DO CONTRACT WORK.

The Consumers League has found new field of
usefulness and is now engaged in effort TO pre-
vent the system of child labor from gaining ground
IN public charitable institutions
Mrs Florence Kelley, secretary to the league,
said yesterday: "Our attention was drawn to what
seems an abuse of this nature by the fact that
number Of manufacturers who applied Tor the
league label have admitted that Of their goods
are not made on their own premises and are made
in certain public institutions for the care OF chill
dren We are trying find out to what extent
is carried this practice Of making money from the
labor Of children who are supported by the city
and private benevolence and are supposed 10 ne at
school We have great quantities OF moral GER
tainty regarding these abuses. and are now en-
gagged in procuring legal proof.
1--WE are not yet quite ready to give the names Of
the offending institutions, but shall soon be in
position TO do So"
Henry White general secretary to the United
Garment Workers of America. when called on yes
terday said: 1--WE shall certainly give the Con-
surners' League every assistance in our power The
unions decidedly object to having the charitable
tnatttutions of this city brought into competition
In the labor market and to having child labor ex-
plotted for the benefit of private firms why II is
q revival Of the system of convict labor that has
been abolished by law in our prisons, with the
added wrong that children, not criminals are con-
demned 10 it.
fer the institutions in which they are lodged but
,e do object to using children Of tender age In the
se+er7 of contract labor. We have proofs that the
r
thing is being done, and propose to join the
league in fighting IL.
a17ternal vigilance IS needed in protecting labor
nc roanv covert attacks are made on the hard won
.,,+s o4 tho workers We are engaged in
s7ghting a bill in the State Senate which is an
effort TO get rid Of part Of the present Jaw
garding working hours for women ana minors III
factories The Marshall bill proposes TO anleiu lile
- nat rrobibits women and minors from work
ing more than ten hours day in any factory 50
that only women under twenty-one ana poys uiluei
eighteen shall be so restricted Ihe Consume consumes
League has joined with Us in protesting aSSIiSc S
this bill, and have Just received a te'tF that the
Governor OdelL IN whlGn ne P[tion If the bill
protest shall have his fdIl consideration Il ~ ~
should pass pass further that the officers of the
unions VIII II,S - e,force The sa nitarv laws
Board OF fdeIllh @ bo1s ~ % of the city The clothing
1nions employ twenty or more inspectors anu
pledge their cooperation IN every way
GROWTH OF THE LEAGUE
,,bs officers of the Consumers League are highly
,,tTsn+ over its rapid growth. Mrs Frederick
Nathan the president, exclaimed yesterday; we
are perfectly delighted with out progress! since
Dur annual meeting, in January, we nave grown
more rapidly than ever before, II W9S W,bt 5Ich 0
Lederle and John McMaclzn speak as they dId t anu
pledge their assistance. We nave Ielt me penelI @
siready and are encouraged to work harder than
even" ,.-,. ,r,no,n,es are spreading all over
tbls country and Europe: professor Ashley,
formerly Of Harvard uniyersity ana one 81 gone
honorary yice-presldents OF Ie An Jbe
to Birmingham University Engiano d 10 nj NE eY ee
eTvlV
beet soon through him. 70 have an international
There are at present thirty-four manufacturers
psing the Consumers League label. % 10 tle
oTesent wear these have all been factories ousiue
- New-York City. but the most recent aoaltlon ai
10 the ranks is a New-York City manuIactureFF
who makes up a fine grade Of garments: one OF ot
the largest Of the New England hrrns turns ouI
twelve thousand garments day, ana puts ,eee ese
f,onsumers' League label on everything. uhIeo1
Merchants object. Five other firms use the IaDel !
On everything manufactured, ana they asseis hr 1
he label has been the means Of securing hghet
GRADE of goods from the factories on account oL
me increasing demands through the merchants lor
goods not made in tenements. -, =.
STbe rSebt M use the label is granted only 10
factories In which the State Factory law is ooeyea
sU the goods are made on the premises there -
40 overtime work; children under sixteen years ol
age are not employed -,
Before the use Of the label IS awarded to man.
ufacturer his factory is visited by an agent ot
the league who also asks both the local Board OF
Health and the State Factory Inspector Tor sps-
risI report on the establishment when thls is
satisfactory the manufacturer signs penaIty
contract embodying the four points guaranteed.
After the Of the label is awarded the tactoEy
ls visited from time 10 time by the agent OF the
jeague and the local committee OF the league re-
ports upon IL TO the national secretary .
Mrs Kelley stated that the membership or the
league is much larger than is actually recorded as