The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-15
MRS. GOODWIN REPLIES
To Mrs. orr's Address Against Child
Labor Legislation.

To the Club Women of Alabama:
The appeal of the President of the
Federation of Clubs to the clubwomen OF
the. State will be read with interest by
all. with satisfaction by a few with re-
greet, l think, by many. In saying this
refer to that part of her address that
deals with the subject of child labor-a
subject that has taken strong hold upon
the sympathies of our women. The APP
peal is written in opposition to proposed
legislation in behalf of children in fac
tories.
The work of the Federation as a body
is directed to the advancement of three
objects: The Boys Reformatory; the
Girls Industrial School and Child Labor
Legislation. This year child labor legis-
lation is holding first place in interest
and it has been arranged to hold our
Federation convention in Montgomery
February next when the legislature meets,
in order that we may confer with our
law makers on this important subject.
IT, as our esteemed President assures
us, the regulations" of the Georgia mill
men are all that we need at present In
Alabama, what objection can there De TO
the enactment of these regulations into
law? Why should their enforcement, by
law "antagonize'' our husbands, fathers
and sweethearts? Why should we call
them 'heartless' or speak of their de
ceit' because they control conditions that
we know might be improved? we 40
not doubt that the directors of the Avon
dale cotton mills are among the best per-
haps they are the very best men in their
community; but who is not blinded by
self interest-can you and l, dear cluo
women, say we are incapable of so being
Our President says that if the integrity
and humanity of our husbands. fathers
and sweethearts are to be doubted then
yours and mine" may be. Alas ana
alas, it is too true that yours and mine
may be! Is it not the effort of our lives,
yours and mine, to keep our integrity
and humanity screwed to the sticking
Mace lest we should fail in our duty to
God and our neighbors? 1t is conceded
that the owners and directors OF mills
are more familiar than others are with
conditions in the mills; we grant their
sincerity: we even admit that they are
kind hearted. but we protest that they
are interested; they are the gamers; they
love nrst their children; they are human.
Humanity has many God like attributes,
hut selfishness is deeply ingrained in us.
While it is the natural instinct of the
wife. daughter and sweetheart to ad-
vance the interest of those who are near
est and dearest the love for humanity
. must be cultivated 1t requires con-
secrated purpose to arouse to enthusiasts
tic effort for others, especially for the
poor and weak.
Therefore, dear women of the Fedora
ton, since we are among the ''well-to-
do" people of the State, since our inter-
est is so indissolubly bound up in that
OF our husbands, brothers. sweethearts,
let us protect these children against our
selves; let us not yield to our own ease
and prosperity" let us not trust our
selves too much. but let Us cleanse the
darkened windows Of our soul that pity
may look through" If 1t is true that
child labor is not profitable why do not
mill owners universally abolish it? II all
mill owners combined to give up child
labor then one of the difficulties of hold
ing adult labor would be removed Does
it follow that law is at fault because
appointed inspectors fail to. enforce it?
And it would he well TO kh@w whether
the laxity of the inspector was in the
interest of the children or in the inter-
est Of the mill owners? The fact that
our mill owners "all combine against a
law passed" in the interest of the child,
while allowing regulations 'that affect"