Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-08-27
highways. "They're far better off in
the MILL" say the operators.

These child toilers, as well as adults,
are required to work slxty-six hours a
week. In some mills work Is stopped
on Saturdays at noon; in others at 2
or 3 p. m, but this implies no curtail-
ment of the hours of labor 1t is
merely readjustment.
To make this half holiday possible
these little tots must begin work at
in the morning and continue thereat
till Gas in the evening, with forty-five
minutes intermission for lunch. In this
way they get in twelve hours for five
consecutive days, leaving six hours on
Saturday to complete the stipulated
siXty-siX hours a week.
This, of course, is too much for
adults, to say naught about children.
The work, it is contended, is light 1t
is, but 1t is not work that kills, but
the unceaslng grind of monotorK The
work at which these children toll
knows no variety. They become au-
donations.
Moreover, the deafening din of the
spindles and looms is of itself suffl-
cient to rack nervous systems more
robust than theirs. "They become
used to It," say the superintendent
They may, but, be assured, at the ex-
pense of numbed sensations and pal
sled nerves.
Who Is responsible for this state of
affairs? The Cracker" or father of
the family? To certain extent, yes.
But in this solution are not the real
culprits the mill operators themselves,
who have fought and are pledged to
continue to fight any and all efforts
aimed at q regulation of the evil by
legal enactment?
1t is true there are countless in
stances of Crackers" or heads of fam
lilies who invert the normal order of
things by calling upon their progeny
to support them In lieu of supporting
their offspring. l have talked with
several such. The Philistine editor
faithfully portrayed the type. Not the
slightest exaggeration there. Such a
parent is a monster whom 'twere gross
fiattery to call man. He Is generally
to be found hanging around grocery
store chatting by the hour with cattle
similarly situated. l have Joined such
group and "butted into" the milk.
One told me that he had $36 coming
In every fortnight, the proceeds of four
children's and n wife's earnings. Two
children each got 40 cents a day, two
got 60 cents and the wife 81 day.
1 asked him why he didn't turn In
himself and allow the wife at least to
remain at home. "That's my business,
sah," was the reply, accompanied by a
look and gestures which boded little
good to the questioner.
Undaunted by this ebullition of tenn
per, l further inquired what he would
do should his children slip their cables
and make for parts unknown. "rd get
and when l did they'd be taught a
lesson they'd never forget. The boys
are mine till they're twenty-one and
the girls till eighteen, and the law will
uphold me in my rights"
Yet there are mill owners graduates
of colleges and pillars of churches
who consider their industry grossly
libeled by the slightest references to
child slavery.
hG ny lHC way uO IOL
complain of cruelty by overseers. They
say they are not cuffed or flogged or
in any way maltreated, though many
taskmasters use abusive, even profane,
language in enforcing their orders.
Before being shown through the va
rious mills l generally had q chat with
the president, as well as with the su-
perintendent. Both assured me that
though they endeavored to keep chill
dren under twelve years of age out of
the mill some were admitted because
their mother was a widow or their ia
ther an invalid, their help consequent
ly being essential to the support of the
family.
But there was another feature, they
added, from which, without eXplana-
ton, wrong inference would likely
be drawn. Quite a number of small
children would be seen In the spinning
rooms who are not on the pay rolls Of
the mill. They were there merely on
sufferance-that Is, at the request of
mothers employed in the rooms, who
wanted their children near them while
at work.
So, in making the rounds of the mills
whenever tiny tot was noticed tying
broken threads or otherwise busy
around the spindles the foregoing ex-
PLANTATION was invariably forthcoming
mot on the pay roll" In one instance
after the superintendent had made this
stereotyped comment he was called
away a few moments-an intermission
which, true to reportorial instincts,
employed to good advantage by asking
the tot "merely there on sufferance,"
'Do you work here regularity" "Yes,"
was the reply.
"How much do you getf" asked.
"Ten cents day." was the reply.
OF course | am not sure that this
was not an isolated instance, but / con-
fess to strong doubts thereon. So many
such infants were noted in the spin
ming rooms, all apparently as busy as
those admittedly employees, that Gre
1,,1; ir 60 e,fn OF