The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-06
Truancy Law Brings Up Queer
State of Affairs.
lola Woman Needs Help of
Children for Support.
HER BOY IN ZINC PLANT
Earns SLIGO Per Day Which
Keeps Family Alive.
Several Married Women Are
Yet of School Age.

lola, Kan, Oct. 6.-The new truancy
law continues to be a source of great
interest and worry to a good many
people, who for one reason or another
have gotten out of the habit of thinking
that during school days their children
must be in school An unusual case
has developed right here in town.
Mrs. ]. NJ. Kelley lives on North
Buckeye street with her three children.
She came to lola about three years
ago and about six months ago her hus-
band died. The oldest of her children
Is a boy of twelve, the next girl of
seven and the baby a two-year-old.
She is a seamstress and since the death
of her husband has managed to support
herself and family with the help of her
Oldest boy. The other day the boy was
discharged from his position with the
Lanyon Zinc company because of the
working of the new truancy law. and
the family is sore perplexed to know
what they are to do.
Mrs. Kelley is negotiating with the
school board to see if there is not some
way in which the law may be waived
in her sons case. He is large for mis-
age, has had some schooling and she
continues to instruct him as she is able.
- the works he made $3.50 a day, and
this practically supported the little
family of four. 1t will be admitted
that a twelve year old boy as head
and provider for a family of four is an
unusual condition. The job is held
open for the boy if he can get the con-
sent of the school board, and the
mother declares that the boys wages
are absolutely necessary for the fam
ily's living.
The law provides that boys of four
teen who are dependent on their wages
for a living may escape its provisions,
but twelYe-year-ol dS are supposed to be
children and required to attend school.
Down in the Fourth ward the officer
found a case that he gave up. In
colored home he found a number of
school children, one a girl of thirteen.
He had not made many inquiries until
he learned that this Ignorant little
negress, still but a child, is shortly
to become a mother. He could not
order her to school and he could not
see where the law excepted her case.
He has taken the case under advise
ment, suggesting that the proper Off
Gals ought to institute legal proceed
ings and prosecute the criminal father
of the child.
Mr.. Lemaster has also discovered a
number of married women who are of
school age. Such a case at Fort Scott
was heralded as a queer case, but he
years old in lola. In his judgment
wives of fourteen are not under COM
pulsion to attend school
Up in the Second ward he ran up
against a case that he don't know what
to do with. He found a mother of
family of five children. The oldest of
the children is a girl thirteen years old,
and it was over her non-appearance
at school that the officer began ques-
tioning the mother. She admitted the
girls age but says she needs her at
home to help with the house work. The
mother grew hysterical over the matter
and declared. before the children, that
If the eldest girl is sent to school she
will kill herself. The officer pointed
out the foolishness of this, but she re
heated the threat over and over. She
added that she was too proud to accept
charity and that if the girl We're taken
away it would mean starvation or
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