New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-27

ferent to the wrongs alleged or IN any way con1iy
ing the maintenance or extension oa nhe ysrms
in which the employment OF children Is usually os
nounced and the constan. mpgession on the minds
of those unacquanted with the suoJect LnaI NsV 49,
dependent for their prosperity upon child labor
That children are employed In the IaS Sts goes
as they are in other manufacturing S.@tss' g
without saying. but that the number n IarSa
ssnoash 10 form a conspicuous element in the fac.
tory population and a menace TO the Interests W
adult labor, is not correct
After calling attention to the difficulties that
many families have in gaining livelihood. even
with the assistance OF their children. the report
continues:
Child labor IS condemned by its opponents on
assumed physical unfitness of children for perform
Ing the kind OF work at w bd injury to
health the loss of opportunity for obtaining some
nIaoed d bv ignorance upon their future lives and
the moral injury to which children are h ape
may vulgar. obscene or profane iansoS Tn N
those acquainted with the subject. there are IN
stances in which some one or even all OF th tS
empoymsnt Of children but there is no reason to
believe that such Is the rule OF ronSai stand
ards Of factory life are in any way oelo" the
If # '' We're Otherwise, the vicious consequences
charged by against the employment Oh frS
traces of themselves on our social fe Tor or cur
total population Of @s6ss IN $50 mere ge9
cent who were employed in some form or manu-
featuring industry carried almost entreIy IN IN
factories and workshops OF this number SIool
were females than sixteen years OF age,
Many, probably a large majority, OF the men ana
women comprised in this great army or operatives
learned the trades handicrafts by which they
earning an honorable livelihood As
class they have superior among our peoPie,
their labor helping TO support schools. churches
and social institutions, and In many ways 10 en-
rich the communities in which they reside
The force of of the objections urged against
child labor will be readily admitted If the other
"
other sfde-is not also taken into CONSIDERATION
Its uncompromising opponents should consider the
following propositions: What is TO be done IN the
case OF orphans children left without means or
relatives, who both willing and able TO sup
port them? If the law denies them the right TO
earn a living. must they not take refuge in some
charitable institution become public charges IN
the almshouse? Again, what is to be done in the
case Of widow left with a large family OF young
children dependent upon her for support, she hav-
ing no income except what she may be able TO
earn by laundry some other poorly paid line OF
labor And, further what is to be done In the
case Of dissipated father. who will not work, and
can be locked up for his neglect but that does not
help his wife TO solve the domestic problem. Final
y. what is to be done with a boy who viii not
attend school? These are questions which cannot
lead the conclusion that the problem OF child
labor is a many sided one. and that it cannot be
dealt with in the ofhand manner which many advo-
cate and which the law contemplates. All cases
given to responsible for their enforce
to suspend the age limit in cases like those
cited above. where to enforce the laws would be
a palpable injustice.