The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-10-15

In season and out Of season the PROPOSED
legislation ON child labor comes up In the
newspapers. The greater part OF this ssita'
tiou we have thought had for its or origin
spite at ths cotton mills. This opinion u
STRENGTHENED because No see nothing else
from the child labor ssitatora which has for
In ostens.ble purp0se the benedt OF tho poor
The poor do not need the proposed interfsr
suoe with their personal rights and liberties
bot Il 10 perfectly certain that these weak ant
dssenseless people need protection-not op'
presslou.
II these friends Of the poor were sincere In
their efforts % benefit them, instead OF trying
TO injurs tho cotton mills, they vould advo,
cate:
Firs,-rhe establishment OF an industrial
eommission, whose duty is should be 20 Gee
and 10 ksow the real conditions that sur
round the operatives IN the cotton mills. and
Who should b empowered either 70 rectify
wrong or be required 70 report The Same 70
the Legislature.
Secopd-The physical comfort Of these do.
isnseless people should b looked aftsr. Pro
per houses should bo required. and the crowd.
ing togsshef Of two or more families In one
house should be forbidden BY law. The
houses themselves should not be crowded tOo
close together.
Third-The health, or vital statistics Of the
mill towns, should rsoeive especial attention.
The sickpeas. the. causes, and the diseases
which bring death 70 these people should Be
ssrictly noted. Typhoid fever b worse and
moro fatal than yellow fever and yet these
people may suffer untold agonies and death.
from typhoid ftver, without receiving notice
from the STATE authorities. Typhoid fever
never comes uninvited. Il is the result Of
prsvsniable cause and the mills should be
held 70 strict accountability for 10 presence.
Foursh-Pure water shoald BE- furnished
10 these people.
Fiith-Inssaad OF encouraging idloncss on
the part Of great muititudes Of shildren. that
commission should zee 70 it that oil children
In tho mill towns sre required 70 work or, Il
not at work, shoy should be required 10 60 70
schooL ldlsnsss ID the DEVILS workshop.
Sixth-Neither idloness on the part Of great
crowds of children nor the orowding OF too
many families into ons house u conclusive TO
the best morals.
Hsvsnth-Loafen or vagabonds who may be
living on the labor OF childI on, should be
arrested for vsgrancy and put on the eoupty
chain sang. '...
Eishth-This commission should have pow.
Or 70 require the cotton mills 70 erect suitable
school houses 90 well 60 proper houses OF
ohapeis for religious vorsbip.
Ninth-Suitable cloaks rooms should be
sarnished where men. women, boys and girls
may change their apparel amor coming into
the mill out OF The rain or sloppy streets. No
operative should be allowed TO work all day
In vet shoes or vet clothing.
II the agisetors Of child labor laws are actu-
sied By desire 70 benent the operatives II
strikes % that some Of tbs matters above
enumerated, might reoeive ct least Q passing
notice. Our own opinion In that the mo theirs
Of this country may be depended upon TO
take care OF Sheir children. The mills should
b required to take proper care OF the opera.
uves and their familieaL
The Legislature Ahould appoints COMMITTEES
Of their own body 10 investigate this whole
matter and report 70 the next sltting Of the
General Assembly. Hasty Or ill-advised leg
islation II not needed, bot wholesome laws
are needed.