The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-10
ghs M;era1a and Jlrp:p
g. u. AI,.L. 'fnsr"s

II IL should come to pass thaC we are
to have a child labor law, rs proposed
by the advocates Of that scheme, there
will have to be an inspector TO sec that
cost some money and will be nice, fat
job for somebody. 1t is all right to
have such an officer if we are to have
such a law, for it ought to be enforced,
but we cannot help but believe that
some of the loud -mouthed politicians
who have been crying themselves hoarsc
over the ''inhumanity of conditions"
had that job in view all the time. They
will be easily spotted after the legsla-
ture gets in good working order. Co.
lumbia Record.
We do not claim to be better than
other people, but there are times when,
and there are cases in which we can
imagine that people advocate and work
for the common veal without purely
selfish and personal motives. At least
without the hope Of pecuniary benefit.
We believe there are people who are
sometimes termed politicians who are
IN favor of Bill to protect the children
of the State, and who take that posi-
tion from patriotic motives and with a
view solely to the betterment of the
people and the elevation of the future
citizenship of the State. We would
hate to see in every position and act of
our public men purely and only sordid
motives Why should it be necessary
to have an officer to see to the enforce
ment of child labor law? The mill
men in this State, so far as our knowl-
edge goes, are law-abiding citizens, and
we believe would regard the statutes Of
the State. There ar, many laws on the
statute books Of this State forbidding
certain things and fixing penalty, and
yet there are no special officers to see
to their enforcement. If a law were
passed by the Legislature forbidding
child labor in our mills, it would be as
well enforced without special officer
with fat job as it would be with such
an officer, if not better.
The law on child labor in Connecticut
is contained in one sentence, and in Il
letter from State official it is stated
the law is strictly enforced, and feel
confident meets with the almost univcr-
sal approval of our citizens" Section
47O4 OF the general statutes of Conncc-
ticut, revision of 1902 reads: "No child
under fourteen years of age shall be
employed in any mechanical, mercan-
tile or manufacturing establishment. "
That is plain and simple and scarcely
admits of misconstruction and there i,
no provision for a fat job for any loud
mouthed politician, and yet we are told
1t is strictly enforced and meets the al
most universal approval Of all the pco-
pie. Are we to act on the presumption
that our people are more lawlcss than
the people Of Connecticut, so much so
that fat job would have to be pro-
vlded for some loud-mouthed politician
in order to have the law enforced? We
90 not believe it. A wise law that
would be fair to the mill owner and to
the operative, as well as have for its
purpose the highest development of the
child, and at the same time have in
view the making Of the highest type of
citizenship would n,ret the endorsement
of our people, and would be observed
and enforced without providing IA soft
berth for some loud-mouthcd politician