Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-12-11
WOMEN ARE INTERESTED
Clubs, Consumers League and Teach
ers' Associations to Give Leoisa-
tors Their Moral Support-chiId
Labor Restrictions Also in Con-
templated Plan.
Madison. Dec. 9.

time serving politicians, who have so
long been fearful of it, are to have the
moral support and backing of the
Women's clubs, Consumers league,
and of educational associations
throughout the state, in an effort to
improve the school laws. For ten
years, practically no advance has
been made in the matter of the COM
pulsory attendance of school children,
because of the disaster which came
upon the republican party in this state
by the passage Of the Bennett act, a
drastic measure which was resented
by the foreign element of the common
wealth. On the issue of this law,
largely, Wisconsin then went demo
cratic.
The need for a reform in education
al matters has long been felt, and it is
believed that the time has now come
for progressive ideas to prevail. Bet
ter school laws and better child labor
laws are among the things promised
at the forthcoming session. At present
the law requires that ali children be-
tween the ages of Z and IS must at
tend at least II weeks of the year
in some public or parochial school.
Up to two years ago, it had, since
the repeal Of the Bennett law, been
II years, having been reduced from
IA; but the legislature two years ago,
took one step and raised the age to
10. However, the present school laws
are characterized by Labor Commits
sloner Halford E. Erickson as little
better than a dead letter or a farce;
as there is no way of making out a
case against a truant child or his
parents until after the last u weeks
Of the school are ended 1t is now
proposed to again raise the age of
compulsory attendance to 14years and
to make attendance compulsory dur
ing the school year in some public or
parochial school. To many legisla-
tors, this proposition will doubtless
come as a shock and those who fear
the cars will not be apt to entertain
it very enthusiastically; but the pro-
gressive women of the state have
taken it up with great vigor and their
influence combined with the general
demand for change will doubtless
mean that something will be done.
In the matter of child labor laws,
also, some important legislation may
be expected. Conditions have been
somewhat improved of late, but there
is crying need, say the factory in
spectors, for change. The state au-
thorities now have the power to take
out children between the ages of II
to IA from the factories, and in some
cases this has been done, though it is
often a mOOted question as to whether
the factory or the street is the worse
for them. Improved sanitation and
means of safety may be the ends
looked to, but child labor reform must
necessarily go more or less hand in
hand with education.
A bill has been prepared by a com
mittee of the teachers association and
submitted to Representatives of the
other organizations. After changes
to suit the views Of each one have
been made it is expected that complet-
ed bill will be endorsed by all.
The bill provides that every child
between the age Of 7 and
IA years shall attend school
from October 1 of each year
until June l of the following year,
that proper persons shall act as tru-
ant officers to compel observance of
this provision; that if parents are too
poor to supply books and clothing for
the children, the judge of the juvenile
court shall order the proper state Of
lcials to provide such necessities and
see that the children go to school.
Under the present law the children
are required to go to school twelve
weeks in a year, but inasmuch as
the time for attendance is not speci-
fed, it is difficult for the state Of
fficials to enforce the provision. At
the end Of any twelve weeks the par
ent of a child who has been sent to
school can be arrested and fined, but
that does not give the child the school
advantages which the state desires.
Under the new proposed law the state
officials can compel attendance for a
stated time
The chief difficulty with which the
state factory inspectors have to con-
tend now, according to Assistant Fac
tory Inspector Backus, is the falsifica-
ton Of reports of the age of children
on the part Of the parents. 1t is al
most impossible to stop the practice
or to prove specific cases so that
convictions may ensue. 1t is chiefly
the eigners who resort to this prac-
tice, Mr.. Backus said, and it is impos-
sible to get direct information of the
date of the birth of the child born
N foreign country In order to
correct this defect in the present law
the factory inspectors want to have
the burden of proof of the age of the
child put upon the parents instead of
upon the factory inspector. For in
stance in the case of a child, whom
the factory inspector has reason to be
lieve is under IA years of age, be
taken out of school and sent to work
the parents can be compelled to bring
proof Of the child's age by baptisma
or birth records or whatever Other
| evidence they may have or procure
It is desired that the factory inspect
ors shall be given large discretionary
| powers. so that children whom they
| deem untitled by health or nature fo1
labor in factory can be compelled tt
/ stop work.
Laws providing for sanitation, ven
| tilation and to prevent overcrowdint
of employees are also being framed 70
,iutrod1ction fo thp legislature thi