The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-29

son that the complainant IL not required
10 procure the affidavits OF responsible
perE'ns" that the law is being violated
II the proprietors were wealthy men.
the police might be as helpless I'm arrest
ing them as the factory Inspector seems
10 be when Il comes 10 enforcing the
laws made for the protection OF the wage
Garner
As nearly everything done thus far in
the enforcement OF labor laws has gone
up In smoke II seems TO me that this in
spection OF factories should be done by
the smoke inspector and IL would not add
very much TO his labors.
II an adult cannot obtain justice In
these mills how can IL be expected that
little child will be noticed. | have IL on
good authority that there are good rugged
men, men Weighing $50 pounds, employed
In the mills of Olneyville, who receive as
wages the enormous sum OF $40. And
these men, some OF them, are heads or
families. Read this again and then read
the editorial in The News of July 9th,
How Would You Like to be Annoyed?
Do you suppose for a moment that these
men get fair return for their labor?
II this is a mans wages what do you
consider fair pay for child?
The factory Inspector has access 70 the
mills In question and II he says that he
cannot obtain any evidence that the law
Is being violated II means one Of two
things-either the three men stationed az
the gates OF the Atlantic mills by Mr..
Powers lied. or else Mr.. Hudson is not
competent TO Judge the age Of children.
When these men say that they saw go
children under the age Of l3 leave the
factory do not think that they made
false report to Mr. Powers. / believe
that they reported facts.
When | used 10 ride on the Dyer avenue
cars, which was about two or three years
ago. | have seen from six TO II children
get on the cars at Olneyville square even
ings with dinner pals their clothing COW
cred with lint or cotton and with strong
odor OF the mill about them. In most
cases they were surely under l3 years OF
age, young enough TO be In school, and
some OF them 1T subjects for a hospital.
Conditions may be altered now, but |
have never heard that anyone was ever
charged with employing these children
contrary TO law.
wonder what becomes OF these chill
dren when the factory is inspected? Mr.
Hudson may be right when he says that
he can find no children illegally employed
in the mills OF Olneyville.
Perhaps they use the same method IN
Olneyviile as they did In the glass works
OF New Jersey on the visit Of the i'
spector. There in New Jersey II you re
member the case. you will recollect that
when an Inspection was on the children
were, sent out to play. and then doeked
OF course. such thing os that would
never be done In Rhode Island with its
anchor and the motto, Hope" We would
and then bid IL hope We simply anchor
II and take away all hope. And the chill
dren OF this state can never hope Tor
better conditions until the citizens de-
mand that the laws regarding child Ia
bor be enforced. and see that the men
they elect 10 office are men with the
qualifications which the office calls for
I'm A man who is TO uphold the laws OF
the state. and when you have done TINS
you must give him to understand that
| The people have elected him 10 office and
that as long as he properly fulhlls bis du-
ties In the Interests Of the people that ne
cannot be broken" by any corporation
whom he refuses To favor. ny disregardl
N YOU are unwilling 70 elect your own
class 10 office YOU need never expect TO
see the laws regarding labor helng en-
| JOHN II NICKERSON.
Editor Providence News:
| II there is anything more interesting
than your editorials n is your people :
column. In this neighborhood when ]
meet a fellow reader Of The News IL ts.
/ What aid you think OF so and SOS ar
ticle I'm the Voice Of the People column
and II causes discussion. which OF course
| breeds thought
! Even the "f.ife Long Advocate Of Wage
Slaves" is sometimes worth reading. but
/ of course his selfish conclusions are most
| apparent, he seems mostly interested I'm
Starving the millions of other countries.
" only this country Is glutted.
| I ann surprised ~ Dr. r. asking that
| no Socialist be Iaught by this free trade
| and tariff bunco. The fact of Socialist
being influenced by such illogical logic Is
/ 90 my mind conviction that he IL not q
Socialist. or at least not n scientific one.
/ and there are many.
| Socialism is science that must he
studied Nv the masses for their own up
| liftment. our industrial system II becom
ing 50 rotten and breeding 50 much cor
ruption that tariff or free trade will not
much longer blind the people 10 oondi-
| tion that allows the commercial man 20
| hrIhn leRislatnres and LIEUTENANT gnvern-