New-York tribune., 1903-01-21
4 FIGHT TO THE FINISH.
Workers Against Child Labor Shoe
Great Enthusiasm.

IT is never wise 10 drive a hard bargain with
childhood" said Homer C Folks Commissioner of
Charities At ths annual meeting Of the New-York
Consumers League yesterday The meeting was
held in the assembly room Of the Presbyterian
Building. which crowded the doors In
the long run, continued Mr.. Folks 1T is never
cheap or economical TO be cruel or hard.
The standard objection TO restriction Of child
labor i the alleged fact that the earnings of the
child are needed TO support the family. In a great
many cases this does not hold But let Us cheer
fully and willingly admit that there viii be some
cases where it viii hold. and let be willing 10
step into the breach and provide for those fam
ilies and relieve hose children from burden
which they ouElf 10 be allowed TO bear
Every stroke work done by young child
should be incIdeI' ro his education The great
business OF the chilG IS IT himself for manhood.
The minute his labor becomes revenue producing
SIS educational end is defeated Child labor is not
scheduled among the causes OF pauperlsm- But
that schedule sickness Is recognized as the
great immediate cause for charity To a great
degree the whole institution Of charitable relief
IS maintained for the relief Of the sick and inhrm
Trace back the history Of the INDECENT sick and
you find a weakened constitution, due IN large
numbers Of cases, I believe, to hard work at the
period wher nature building the frame
"oHr charitable policy is developing along the
line Of not postponing relief to the last moment,
bur of giving IT when it viii do the most good
charity used TO let the consumptive struggle into
his grave without helping hand. and then sup
port his children. Now il takes the in time
helps him recover. and then he supports his
family himself I believe that every dollar ex-
pended in preventing child IA Dor and promoting the
health and education Of the child Is saved at the
other end Of the line Modern economics has
ceased TO regard charity as a necessary evil It
regards II now, when wisely administered. an
upbuilding and uplifting force
VULGAR PASSION FOR CHEAPNEss
1t Is impossible TO patronize the bargain counter
without finding. If one looks closely, a stain Of
blood the goods bought there" said Bishop
Potter. 7 wish I could take you through
hospitals. and show you poor girls who are there
because We have system which demands cheap
ness II one end and wasteful extravaganza at the
other
This league represents q high water mark OF
Utilization. 7 is its Office rot only to compass
legislation. but 70 make itself disagreeable at
ru1=s-ask iupertinert questions If they are neces
sa-y 70 md out The conditions that surround boys
and girls who are being sacrificed 10 satisfy the
vulgar passion for cheapness-'
The first tine was ever brought TO New-Tork,'
SAID Mrs. Florence Kelley. 1t vas TO see the
Christmas shops saw a woman begging on the
street and in her arms she held a baby. blue with
cold 7 asked why. # the woman had TO beg, she
could not leave the baby At home was told that
The baby would touch TIE hearts Of the Christmas
shoppers more. and she would get more money
a few nights before Christmas was returning
from concert ] live in the heart Of the Ghetto
and in that region We are still forced TO oepeno on
the hOrsecars. At NE corner OF Broadway anu
sUring-st We waited Il TO 11;50 o'clock for q
es- Waiting with Us were fifteen girls. from ten
20 fourteen years old who had worked TIL 1880
O'Clock n the stores. They had received supper
orders but on reaching the cafe late had found the
S,Ipoer all gone II a bitter cold night: they
had worked since morning. and they were supper
less Such a scene could not have been dupIcateo
~ Boston Massachusetts. once for all proVloes
hat every child shall attend school the full schooi
wear I'D 10 fourteen years old. and that no chlIo
shall be employed under that age II the child
wages are necessary. the Commonwealth OF Massa-
-F7rsetts steps in and supplies the equivalent Is
not the Commonwealth Of New-York able to do so
rnUch2 (Applause)
WHAT NETWORK MAY DO
THAT particular form Of cruelty by which the
tender heart of the Christmas public was impressed
nv a ba be n arms IS no longer allowed IN New
York / believe that this year NeW-hork VIII 20
= step further and VIII render Impossible also lnat
other form Of cruelty by which ten-year-oio cnH-
srsu are allowed TO make their way through the
a. s-ree-s Il midnight because Christmas shoppers
must be served .. -.
IN looking back over the years WorA' sa-N
Yrs Frederick Nathan in her annual report 'ie
governing board feels that a great deal OF "hat