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

Trenton, ". J., Dec. IS (SpeciaD.-Winton c.
Garrison chief OF the New-Jersey Bureau Of Labor
and Statistics. advances some new theories on the
question OF child labor in his annual report which
has just been submitted to Governor Murphy. and
at the same time takes issue with the Department
Of Factories and Workshops, whose report on the
same subject was submitted to the Governor rev
days ago. The situation resulting from these con-
Trajectory reports is peculiar. The Factory De-
partment which is charged with the enforcement of
the child labor laws admitted that the law Is be-
Ing violated f1agrantly and in every important
manufacturing industry in the State. 1t pictured as
most distressing the conditions the glass textile
and other industries where child labor is most
sought after.
The Bureau Of Labor conducted an investigation
Of Its own, as result of which Mr.. Garrison de-
clares that child labor is not prevalent in New
Jersey 10 either alarming or an undesirable ex-
tent and that statements to the contrary are a
gross exaggeration. He asserts that the news
papers which have been most active in exploiting
conditions Of alleged child slavery given to
sensationalism and that labor and charitable or
CARNATIONS who have handled the subject per-
mitted facts and reason TO give way to senti-
mentalism. He attacks Tie law that was passed
last winter at the solicitation Of Governor
Murphy as dealing with the subject in offhand
manner, and recommends its amendment to
make the employment OF children in factories dis
cretonary with some responsible person or de-
partment- This suggestion is significant In view
of the fact that Mr.. Garrison has for time
been advocating the consolidation of the Factory
Department with his own bureau. On the subject
OF child labor the report among other things says:
In the South Jersey glass districts Il has been
the theme of bitter complaint the part of the
glassworkers' unions against certain employers In
that industry who insist upon running open shops.
In the middle counties of the State where the
largest manufacturing industries carried on the
agitation has bean almost constant and intense.
Scarcely meeting OF labor organization is held
without some time being given 10 ventilating the
child labor grievance. and denouncing either the
insuftciency or the nome enforcement of the law.
Numbers of benevolent women, assuming the alb
ganized themselves into societies fight the sys-
tenn and expose its iniquites Certain newspapers
given to sensatfonalsm have taken up and given
wide publicity to stories. often from irresponsible
sources, of overworked children of tender years
toiling in factories at tasks far beyond their
many modern Molochs who are growing rich on the
labor of infants. The term child labor has given
way to child slavery in the vocabulary OF denun-
citation. the latter term being more expressive of
the hopeless and unhappy lot to which the little
ones who must earn living said to be con-
ever ready to respond to such a call. appealed
10 on behalf of the children helpless victims OF
ayarice on the part of employers parents. the
blame and resentment being generally directed
against the former.
In attempting deal with the subject facts and
reason have given way TO Sentimen talism; the ex-
tent of the evil if there is one is grossly rnagni-
fed, and the points of view from which it might be
JUSTIFIED necessary, unavoida BILE and unObiec-
tionable, almost totally ignored The repiita-
ton OF the state cannot but suffer. although may
not be Intended to accuse the public of being ndif-