Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-05-02
CHILD LABOR EVIL.
FELIX ADLER SAYS THE CONDITIONS
IN NEW YORK ARE TERRIBLE.

In his address before the New York
Ethical Culture society at Carnegie
hall recently DR.. Felix Adler spoke Of
the evils of child labor. He reviewed
at length the history of the movement
in England during the latter half of the
nineteenth century to ameliorate the
conditions which were rapidly destroy
ing the minds and bodies of many Eng
liSh children and which were menace
to the commercial and economic integ-
rity of Great Britain. The Earl of
Shaftsbury was the pioneer in this re-
form, and under his guidance laws
We're made which now prevent the fla
grant abuses of child labor.
During the early part of the period
following the introduction of steam
and other labor saving methods of man
ufacture, DIR. Adler pointed out, to COM
pete with machinery the old industries
were compelled to introduce the cheap
est kind of labor in their factories. So
low were the wages that men and wo-
men could not exist on them. Their
children were their only resource They
We're taken ostensibly as apprentices,
but actually as slaves. Age was not
considered. Instances were given where
little children of both sexes four or five
years of age were forced to do the most
arduous kinds of labor in many cases
for twelve or sixteen hours day.
Turning to conditions in America, DR..
Adler said:
"The account of cruelties perpetrated
upon young children by imposing la
bors upon them beyond their nature is
terrible. In fact, they are so terrible
that we are often unwilling to believe
that there could be such thing. To
call attention to the state of affairs
seems more the work Of agitators and
sentimentalists. We are stepped in de-
fusion. We say this is an age of philan-
thropy, and any contrary instances
cited are ascribed to exceptionally alb
normal natures. But whatever we may
think the fact remains that oppression
does exist. 1t is imposed not by a Nero
or monster such as we would sup
pose, but by men who at their clubs
gentleman and who at their homes are
model husbands and fathers.
Their moral sense is paralyzed in one
direction. With one hand this fiend ca
resses his own children, while with the
other he strangles those of his neigh
Dor. We must restore him to moral
sanity. We must compel him to follow
his people to their homes and study
them. If he refuses, we must publish
the fact. In reaching him we find that
the ordinary reformer paints this fiend
too black, and people refuse to believe
that those who are at the head of re-
form movements are themselves in
need of reform.
Il am impelled to make the present
address from a study recently made Of
the efforts in the south to do away with
child labor by the American Fedora
tion Of Labor. 1t is shown that from
TO per cent of the mill operatives in
Alabama are under twelve years Of
age. In other states the percentage is
as high as 20. Often when the parents
refuse 10 allow their children to work
they themselves are refused employ
ment. All efforts to do away with this
condition of affairs has been opposed
not by the sOutherners, but by men in
New England and throughout the north
who supply the capital for southern in
dustries.
But conditions in New York city are
worse than in the south. 1t is true that
our factory act protects children under
fourteen from certain kinds of labor.
But in stores and tenements the abuse
is as bad as ever. During the Christ
mas holidays little children are compel
led to work from twelve to fourteen
hours in stores.
at is strange that we do nothing for
our little newsboys. They are out at all
hours of the night and day, exposed to
the most inclement weather. We are
accustomed to see them, and their wit
and brightness make us think that they
are well able to care for themselves.
But this precocious development of wit
is the prelude of sterility. BY the time
they have reached their fourteenth
SbdI llty are WbTn Oul. bul tllt llOSL
pitiful of all is the conditions found in
the tenement houses, where, exposed
to contagious diseases, little children
are compelled to work to help support
n whole family. Little as the amount
earned may seem, it is essential to very
existence.
ITO do away with this we are con-
fronted with the dilemma of pauperiz-
ing the whole family and protecting flu
ture generations or of allowing all gen.
erations TO grow up charges to the
state as paupers, insane or criminals.
The governor and legislature should
appoint child labor commission at the
earliest opportunity to study the evil
and propose remedy"
Bank For Labor Funds.
L. II. Thomas, president of the Pat
tern Makers league, favors the estab-
/ GShmpnt Of n notiounl bon1, tn ba tbo