Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-02-21
GIRLS IN SLAVERY.
WORK THAT UNDERTAKINGS HEALTH
AND BlUNTS MORALS.

The following shocking story was
sent as special dispatch to the Phila-
kelphia North American from Shame
kin, Pa. by Richard J. Beamish:
Some Of the evil effects Of night work
upon children Of tender years have
been discussed. There are others, the
portrayal Of which would be SO shock
ing that publication in detail would be
impossible. = -
Not only is the. bodily health i'm
paired and the mind dwarfed and stu
pefled, but the moral sense Is blunted
to an appalling degree. ~
The mills almost invariably are stu
ated in lonesome suburbs, where land
Is cheap and where there are few resi-
dents to be disturbed by the night
work. On pleasant summer nights
tramps and immoral, Ioaf1ng, drunken
boys and men hang around the mills
until the little ones come out to play at
the midnight hour that is set aside for
lunch and recreation.
The one or two male employees who
are supposed to watch over the chill
dren during this time make honest ef-
forts to do their duty, but the task is
too great. The circle that Is lighted by
the mill windows is small. The chill
dren are many. The shadows are dark,
almost as dark as the minds Of the
creatures that Turk in their depths.
Oonstables, policemen and justices of
the peace in the communities where
are found the night working mills tell
appalling tales of the consequences of
night work and night temptations.
They are tales to make mothers go
down upon their knees and pray that
from the state.
The night working child is robbed Of
her childhood. She becomes old long
before her time of maturity. Childish
plays are soon forgotten, and many
childish joys are never known. With
the knowledge that she has become
self supporting often comes feeling Of
independence that develops into a sur
~ rebellion against all wholesome re.
straint.
This feeling and the general atmos-
phere of neglect that environs her
young life tend to take her away from
the softening influence Of religion. The
clergymen of the anthracite region,
Protestant, Catholic and Jewish, agree
that this is so. 1t makes one of the
chief objections raised by Bishop
Spalding. There are many good and
even noble characters among the night
workers, but there are few who are
morally unfit to associate with inno-
cent children. In almost every instance
the character formation of these i'm
moral ones may be traced to circum-
stances connected with their work.
The utter loneliness and unloveli-
ness of the night workers of maturer
years are the causes Of many early and
unhappy marriages. Their eagerness to
escape from the life of drudgery i'm
pels them to accept without hesitation
the first opportunity to escape from it.
If that opportunity comes in the form
of worthless husband. the poor girl
pays the price of lifelong misery for
her release. Poor boards and charita-
sources of the disappointed ones.
The lack of even a fair documentary
education has been pointed out as one
of the evil effects Of nightly toll The
day worker has an opportunity to at
tend the night school during the win
ter months. The night worker has no
chance to learn the rudiments either
by night or by day.
George w. Phillips, superintendent
of schools for the city of Scranton, said
to me:
'"The ignorance of even the elements
Of an education that prevails among
the night working children is an i'll
dictment of our factory laws. There
may be disputes concerning the cause
of this deplorable condition. but there
can be no dispute concerning the con-
ditions existence.
"Many times in the course Of
school term truant officers bring to me
read nor write. In almost every in
stance investigation shows that the
uliterate children are mill workers"
The physical ills that atflict these
unfortunate girls run the gamut Of
disease. For the facts herewith pre-
scented I am for the greater part in
debted to physicians with the various
poor districts, to John J. Murphy, at
torney for the mine workers of Dis
trict No. l; to Thomas Duffy, presi-
dent of District No. Z, and to my own
observations.
In this season most Of them have
colds contracted by their long walks
to and from the mills and by their
sudden exposure to the chill Of the win
try dawn after coming from the warm,
moist working rooms. -,
These colds commonly develop into
tonsilitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, pleu-
risy and too often into consumption.
Rheumatism frequently comes from
undue exposure.
Nervous disorders caused by Sleep
lessness, constant physical strain and
indigestion frequently are found. Heart
arrangements follow in their wake.