Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-08
s. Lace Waists, Special, S3.Q8.

cannot have economic fruits. Stunted chill
dren make stunted citizens. And stunted
citizens made stunted state. All our ma
terial wealth would be dearly purchased at
the price of the labor of the children, and in
q few generations we would lose not only
that wealth but our national life. Hence
under the compelling demand of the new
industrial civilization, with its great and
growing cities, the new legislation for the
protection Of child labor, which is funda-
mental to the protection of all labor and to
the preservation of society.
1.-The District of Columbia Is not an indus
trial or manufacturing community, no large
number of children are employed and the
more serious evils found elsewhere do not
exist. But prevention Is better than rem
edy and we seek law which shall be a
model and shall take us out of the black
list of states and territories which have no
child-labor laws. The Commissioners have
once more asked Congress to enact Dill
drafted by them on the model approved py
your committee and are hopeful that it will
be passed at this session Of Congress, with
any amendments that may be deemed neces-
sary."
DR.. Adler's Address.
The chairman of the association, Felix
Adler. in the principal address of the after
noon. said
1.-THE emancipation of childhood from
economic servitude is a social reform of the
first magnitude. 1t is also one upon which
we can all unite. And particular ad-
vantage of it 1 should like to point out,
namely. that it is calculated to be the best
induction into the right spirit of social re-
form. that 1t will attune the community in
which 1t is achieved to favorable recep-
ton of sane and sound social reforms gen.
orally. Because if once 1t comes to be an
understood thing that certain sacredness
doth hedge around a child, that child Is
industrially taboo, that to violate its rights
10 70 fntyn nn a INC hQ
has a soul which must not be blighted for
the prospect of mere gain: II this be once
generally conceded with regard to the child
the same essential reasoning will be found
to apply also to the adult workers.
And there Is one additional word which
should like to say: 1t Is not enough to
shut the children out Of the factory. we
must also bring them into the school, and
compel parents. If necessary. to send them
to school: the movement for compulsory ed
ucation everywhere goes hand in hand and
must go handin hand with the child labor
movement A more convincing appeal than
comes to US from these two movements
jointly, the child labor and the educat ional
movements. In my judgment. cannot be con-
ceived of. And without the former the lat
ter cannot succeed"
Children in the South.
Rev. A. ]. McKelway. speaking of child
labor In southern industry, said in part:
1.-THE larger part Of the children enrolled
III tIlc CettSuS dS cHSdSSu IN Sdlulul Occupd-
lions in the south are employed on the
farm. being counted as wage-earners
through the operation of the tenant sys-
tenn. This IL not an abuse except as 1t tn
terferes with school opportunities The
number of children employed in mercan-
tile pursuits is Insignificant. The number
engaged in manufacturing Is large much
larger than the census indicates. Ninety
one per cent OF these are found in the four
cotton growing. cotton manufacturing
states of North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia and Alabama.
1T is rude awakening that has come
to our people. that the abolition of negro
slavery marked the beginning of white
child slavery, that our pet industry Is not
different in the south from what 1t was for
a hundred years in old and New England
an industry distinguished for long hours
and low wages, and cursed by the employ
ment of children on a larger scale and or
tenderer years than any other industry In
the world.
Conditions are just now at their worst
from the increasing demand for southern
goods the tempting profits of their manu-
facture and the pressing need for more
labor to meet the sudden and tremendous
expansion of the industry. But the spirit
of reckless commercfalism must yield to the
unanimous protest of pulpit and press and
the insistent demand OF the physician ard
the school teacher that the child must not
sacrifice health and education for the sake
of the pittance that In the wage OF his
tired and puny hands
Supplementary sessions are being held on