The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-06-06
PRESIDENT HOLDEN
til III i. :. ON: Chilli. LABOR
How shall we save the child?

How shall we save the child?
Most children. are treated with an
amount of Indifference which is de-
ploiable. AS Topsy, the little heroine
o.: Uncle Tom fame innocently ex-
pressed IT, She ..rst growed,' so the
situation remains today with many
children. white or black
The, science of raising and training
children has: been relegated to a more
convenient season and the preference
for care and attention has been devot-
cd to--:;tock-"blooded stock" is the
great ambition of many wealthy Amer ::
leans. 1T pays" Yes, it pays to
animals or humanity.
Thanks to the heroic efforts of the
noblest sons and daughters of men
VINO compose the great army of Amer
lean trade unionists, the welkin will
be made to ring with the cry of---:save
the babies!"
Improve the human stock. train the
young heads, hearts and hands in an
intelligent, scientific way: treat them
'humanely, give them sympathy, pre-
serge tf"m for an opportunity to live
make them self relia Mt, assist. them to
become citizens viii will appreciate
the privilege to the extent that they
will dare to think and act, and then
ask if you will-"does this policy
pay? Pay-yes, it will paw to the
extent that it will first abolish the
abo1nination of race suicide both be-
fore and after the babe has the power
to breathe, and further along in the
years that follow the child will learn.
Let us place more confidence in our
school teachers. AS rule they COM
pose the most conscientious class of
citizens. Let us trust them. They
will not lie or pass a chilo who has
not attained the proper educational
qualifications. This should be the
test, and when once applied the child
is assured of sufficient knowledge and
reasoning power to enable it to hold
its own future more securely.
Fourteen years is the age limit for
employment now in nine states for
children in stores and factories. Pour
teen years in seven states for factories
alone. Fourteen years in eight states
Tor mines. Thirteen years in one
state for stores and factories. Twelve
years in three states for stores and
factories alone. Twelve years in five
states for mines. Ten years in two
states for stores and factories. Ten
years in one state for factories alone,
and ten years in one state for mines
alone.
The greatest menace to a healthy
patriotic love of country today is the
commercial advantage taken of our
helpless children. They are the wards
nation nd
childless or the parent Of many can
shift the responsibility
What class of society, If anv. can
be expected to assume this RESPONSE
bility? Surely we can not expect
those who are extremely wealthy;
they are otherwise occupied with
blind, selfish pursuits.
The responsibility, therefore, rests
on the rapidly diminishing middle
class and the ever expanding working
class. Every effort must be made: to
awaken their interest and arouse Their
consciousness to work for l1limanity's
interest, by saving the energies Of the
child and preventing further impossi-
ton m the youth of our land by COIN
ing their 7nverilo sweat into dollars
in our factories for others to suuander.
How Shall thu be done? First,
create a healthy sentiment in favor
Of the movement. Next, make child
labor penal offense by legal enact
ment in The various states and pro-
vide ways and means to enforce such
laws. Prohibit any employer from
taking boy or girl into active con-
tinuous service who has not passed
the eighth grade in grammar school
with duly recorded certificate from
the county superintendent of schools.
Let us abolish the age limit. It is
a Dltfall. 1t is too easily evaded. IN
scrupulous parents will lie, and regis
tration of births are not properly re-
corded in many states so substantial
proofs can be obtained.
Eleven states have neither age limit
nor any other restriction. Sixteen
states have no school attendance laws.
Twenty states have nc educa-
tional test whatever. Thirteen states
require that child shall be able to
read and write. School attendance
for a prescribed period ranging from
IL weeks in 16 states to full term in
eight states are now required, but in
none are the requisites made that the
minimum educational. qualification
shall be grammar school graduation.
Let this be the slogan and the in
terests of thousands will be enlisted
to blot out the scrubs and scabs of
Juvenile life, and healthy, vigorous
start will>be made for high bred stock
in men and women.
This will save the child and save
the nation. It will pay.