Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-12-09
CHILD LABOR EVIL.
URGENT DEMAND FOR STRINGENT
LAWS REGARDING IT.
The Fight In Great Britain In BEHALF
of ChildreD-Nced of Legislation In
This Country to Check the Growth
of the Pcrnicious system.

of Chiidren-Nced of Legislation In
This Country to Check the Growth
of the Pcrnicious system.
In recent discussion of the child
labor problem Hon. IIoke Smith, for
mer secretary of the interior, said
In 1890 the census report Show "a ua
that there We're employed in our stores
children between the ages ot Il" ma
fifteen to the number Of moro than
100000. Unless legislation prevents
the increase in the next ten years it
will be even greater. What are we
going TO do about it? Are we to wait
or act? 1t took in England three
quarters of Il century Of lighting by the
friends OF the children before legisla-
ton WAS secured to fairly protect them
from the factories, the mines and the
workshops. The abJest statesmen OF
Great Britain i'll the early part OF the
last century began tie tight. i uey We're
told then that the industries of Great
Britain would be ruincu ard that Ger
many and France would outstrip her.
The same kind Of arguments are made
IN most of our states TO-DAY 1t took
8 long time then for tie friends Of the
young to overcome the influence and
power of those who were using chill
dren. and the Willingness TO let them
work, the Willingness not of masters.
but OF idle and brutal fathers. All dur
ing that history reports to the English
parliament are filled with records Of
shame and suffering aud misery. Be
fore her commissions the abest doctors
of Great Britain testified that TO such
an extent had the use of children in
factories and mills gone that a per
manent injury to the physical condi-
ton OF mankind was threatened.
"A report OF the French war depart
ment has shown that In those sections
OF France where child labor exists the
recruiting officers find not more than
half as many men who can meet the
requirements Of the army as IN those
sections where child labor does not
exist. If We come to our own country
we have ample evidence of the in
furious eject Of child labor In IL re.
port made Il few yenrs back In New
Jersey hy the inspectors Of fartories
and Workshops il is stated TINT the
avcraIt. child hcroiu"s delicate. puny.
tsuornnt. and tia; 1T the axe OF thir.
teen the face las Il little old, worn
expression The children can no long
er play. rhey do not JOY it. They do
not care for school or training. All
their energy and vitality have been
sapped
But we need not go to the records
and reports for information. Turn to
your own children. See what Is need-
ed to train them. Suppose they we're
to be confined long hours ia dark walls
and close rooms. without leadership.
without instruction. without direction,
at mouotonous work. What would hap
pen to them? Think Of all your iov ing
care and training by the best teachers
In the best schools and all that IS
done to strengthen them Then think
Of that all taken away, and put your
own children in such places as these
child laborcrs fill. I-e3 the president
be as kind as he may and | want to
state that so far as my observation
goes the large majority Of the men at
she head Of cotton mills in my section
are kind and helpful to their children
and to their employees but in spite
of that fact you will lind ignorant and
pallid faces. detected countenances
appearance which Indicates sickness
and the lowest vitality.
The same New Jersey report to
which referred declares That 60 per
cent of the children twelve years OF
age had not heard q tlGa a;tel States
or Of Europe and @3 per eo3lt Of them
had never heard Of the Revolutionary
war If you wish information. seek the
places where children in their early
years are worked In your neighbor
hood and you will find the effect upon
their young lives"
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