The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-28
About Child Labor.

Birmingham News.
 The question of child labor is expected to create good deal of discussion in the present Legislature. There has been a disposition on the part of some to side-track this important movement and have it go over without any legislation bearing upon it. But the sentiment in the State has been steadily crystalizing in favor of an anti-child labor law and those who have interested themselves in It have been increasing in number until the question will not down." That a bill looking to the enactment of some law forbidding or modifying the present con- dition of affairs will be introduced is reasonably certain. and it is believed that such bill will receive strong support. As Alabama goes more extensively into manufacturing industries 1t is easy to realize how the system of child labor now in existence can, and doubtless will be, greatly abused, and unless restric- ton be made the harm done in the way of lowering the mental, moral and phys ical conditions of the children of poor parentage in this State is sure to be se- riouS and lasting.
 Governor Aycock of North Carolina who has manifested much interest in this question. made some strong and practi- cal recommendations for the enactment Of child labor law in that State. North Carolina haS become great cotton man ufacturing State, and the evils of hun dreds of small children grinding their
 
 hygienic aud moral conditions and sur roundings are anything but favorable, are growing alarming. Governor Aycock urges that the employment of children under F years old in factories be abso- luteiy prohibited; that no child under the age of Il should be employed to work at night, and that after the year 1905 chil- dren under IA years who cannot read and write shall not be permitted to work in the factories at all.
 SuDD0rtinR fhis nosifioo Aycock says: There is great necessity for the development of our industries. [ am glad to see them increase in number and grow in prosperity but there is no such imperative necessity for the erea- ton and accumulation of wealth as to Justify us in the sacrifice of child life to secure 1t. Indeed. the State will grow Cicher by preserving the health and de- children than it can possibly grow by the creation of any values which their puny arms can win"
 Commenting upon this The Baltimore sun, which is an exceedingly conserva- tive paper. says:
 Nothing could lH more just and true than this. The Governor refers to the threaubare argument that children should be permitted or compelled to work their lives away to support widowed mothers or inhrm fathers. That is the favorite argument of the factory man who wants to coin the lives and intellects of chil- dren into dollars. But Governor Aycock intimates that such infirm and indigent parents should be cared for by the com munity and that their support should not be put upon little children. It is a sad fact that many of these "indigent and infirm' parents are perfectly willing to i've m ldleness while their little chil- dnen are supporting them. If this method of gaining support were withdrawn they would generally find themselves able td work for their families. In many of tine hibitad, and we hear of no great hard ship resulting to inffrm parents. The right of the State to intervene for the protection of children. the Governor the State to perpetuate itself by the care of those who are hereafter to constitute her citizenship. It. therefore. becomes the duty of the State ''to protect small children against labor which tends to dwarf them physically, mentally and nor ally"