The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-16
Children Compelled to Stand Up and
Work i'm Scranton Silk Mills All
Night for 81 to "a Week.
JUDGE GRAY WAS INDIGNANT
AND SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
THE FATHERS OF THE GIRLS.
They Have No Right to Coin the Flesh
Money, He Asserted.

SCRANTON, Pa, Dec. 15.-The mine
workers. after occupying nineteen days in
presenting about 160 witnesses, closed their
case before the anthracite coal strike COM
mission this afternoon with permission to
call one witness tomorrow morning.
The mine workers to-day introduced evil
dence showing that the mine officials of
the Continental colliery of the Delaware.
Lackawanna & Western attempted to or
ganize a union known as the Lackawanna
union. In opposition TO the United Mine
Workers Mr. Darrow, for the miners. Of
fered the bylaws of the new union as evil
dence. Everett Warren. for the companies,
objected to their admission, but the COM
mission admitted them.
Several little girls employed in silk mills
were called to the witness stand, and a
result Chairman Gray plainly gave his
opinion of parents who send their children
to work at a tender age. The first girl
called was only eleven years old. and she
had to go to work because her father had
been hurt in the mines. She said she
worked from a. m. until p. m. for -
week. In answer to Chairman Gray she
said her father expects to take her out of
the mills next week, to which Judge Gray
replied that he should be commended.
JUDGE GRAY INDIGNANT.
Annie Denks. aged thirteen years. said
she worked at night, from $50 o'clock until
$50 in the morning. She had to stand up
all night during her work, and received 65
cents a night When the girl said she was
employed at night every member of the
commission seemed to be shocked. Judge
Gray appeared especially indignant. He
asked her where her father worked, and
she told him in the mines. The girl also
told the number of persons in the family.
and finally Judge Gray said he would like
fathers of these girls" He repeated: 1T
may be a necessity to send them TO the
mills, but l don't think a father has a
right to coin the flesh and blood of his chill
dren into money. It's an outrage. l would
like TO see what instincts he has" The
chairman of the commission spoke with
much feeling. and his views apparently re-
ceved the approval of the other commits
sioners.
Mr.. Darrow. for the miners. said it was
not altogether the fault of the parents, but
the employers are to blame for not paying
wages enough to permit man to keep his
children In school.
Judge Gray replied. THAT may be. but
there are miners who received enough pay
to enable them to keep their children out
of the workhouSe.
a small Slavonian girl. aged twelve. who
also worked all nlgnt, gave ner testimony
through a thirteen-year-old girl interpre-
ter She worked twelve hours each night
and received cents an hour. She was
asked whether her father owned the house
she lived in. and she replied. Yes" Chair
man Gray, who was standing up and lean
ing over to get the girls answer. straight
ened up, and as he walked to his seat re-
marked: well, I'd like to see her father"
Another thirteen-year-old girl said she
worked all night in the silk mill at Dun
more for &c cents night.
Judge Gray-Does your father own his
own home?
Yes, sir; he's my stepfather.''
He is your stepfather: l thought so'
Judge Gray here inquired as to the law
i'm Pennsylvania regarding child labor at
night One statute found which par
TALLY covered the case. and the chairman
remarked that IL seemed though the
statutes of Pennsylvania in this part of the
State do not seem TO bother any one. Mr..
Darrow remarked that the laws cannot
enforce themselves.
After hearing all the girl witnesses the
miners put a breaker boy on the stand
year-old brother working In the breaker
mel The father OF the boys was killed in
wrote the note 10 the company. which was
younger brother was of legal age
SCOPE OF THE INQUIRY.
AT the afternoon session the question of
whether the close relationship OF the coal