The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-13
INTERESTING MATTER
About Work of the National Child La-
 bOr Committee.

A large portion of the edition or March 4th of Charities Review of Local and General Philanthropy" was devoted to an account of the recent meeting of the National Child Labor Committee in New York City on Feb. 14-16. It says of this meeting, "The event of the month in New York from a philan- thropic standpoint has been the hold ing of the first meeting of the Ma tional Child Labor Committee"
 The membership of this committee '1s made up from among those who have been most prominently identified with the anti-child labor sentiment in their respective States. and 1t covers in its present membership sixteen States and territories"
 Among these members are Hon. Grover Cleveland, Cardinal Gibbons, Dr. Felix Adder, Miss Jane Addams. Professor John Graham Brooks. Alex ander J. Cassatt. and the Secretary of the committee, Dr. Samuel M. Lindsay of the University of Pennsylvania.
 The Southern members are Hon. Hoke Smith of Georgia, Dr. J. H. Kirk land. Chancellor of Vanderbilt Univer- sity; Hon. B. R. Tillman of South Caro- lima. Dr. A. J. McKelway of North Caro- lima, Hon. Clark Howell of Georgia, Ns B. Gaston of Montgomery, Ala; Hon. N. B. Feagin of Birmingham. Edgar Gardner Murphy of Montgomery. Dr. Neal l.. Anderson of Montgomery.
 The purpose for which the National Committee was organized and it's na- tional scope are clearly set forth by it's secretary. pr. Lindsay.
 ITO remove the evils of child labor and to work for the protection, educa- tion, and development of the children of the community whose parents are neglectful and irresponsible or are un- able to do for their children what they ought to do. appeals to a noble senti- ment in us all. To translate this sen- timent into wise and sustained action practical in character and productive of definite results. is a difficult task in any State or locality.
 Tt is one thing to arouse an interest for the child and to realize that it Is the greatest and most valuable eco- homie asset of any civilization; it Is another thing, vastly more difficult, to work out, step by step, a plan or pro- gram of public action. a scheme of legislation and an adequate system of enforcement which will safeguard and guarantee the childs normal develop ment in harmony with the true inter- ests of the State in the entire political industrial, and cultural life of all it's citizens. Both of these tasks are com prehended in the purpose for which the National Child Labor Committee was organized"
 In an interesting account of the proceedings which were published in the New York dailies, pr. Lindsay con- tinues:
 "At the first meeting. the program provided for roll call of leading forces that have been or may be ar rayed against child labor. Within the great body of citizens who make and represent each of these forces, there are progressive elements, and also conservative, and even retrogressive individuals, in large numbers. The letter of Cardinal Gibbons and the ad- dress of Bishop Mcvickar. at the open ing session, certainly struck the true note and gave voice to the best express sion which the church of every creed and all sections of the country, in its appeal to the consciences of men, de- mands-that also the voice of the little child shall be heard. If 1t Is mute and unconscious of the wrongs that are inn posed upon 1t, then the church, as the embodiment of the highest ideals of the race. must unflinchingly speak for 1t and, in no uncertain tones, demand consideration of the just claims of It's birthright."
 As ono of the leaders of the higher intellectual life of the South, Dr. J. H. Kirkland, Chancellor of Vanderbilt University. spoke for the school as another force interested in the pro- lection of the children.
 Perhaps the most interesting and pro- fitable of the series of meetings" says Charities" was the meeting on the se- doxy al affnn and meth ods" in the different sections of the country were discussed by the several speakers.
 Doctor Anderson of Alabama spoke as one intimately acquainted with the difficulties of the problem in one of the most important textile States or the South. Judge Lindsay of Colorado gave an account of the experience or one of the Western States, in solving some of the problems connected with child labork legislation. Miss Adams of the Hull House. Chicago, an authority of worldwide reputation gave an inter esting sketch on conditions in the mid dle West"
 Mrs Granger. of Georgia. spoke as Chairman of the Child Labor Committee of the General Federation of Woman's Clubs, with its 700.0 900 members all ready we'll aroused and intelligently studying and discussing what can be done to extend and strengthen the wall of protection that we must throw around the undeveloped child
 The last session was held in con junction with the Peoples Institute from whose forum So often comes the note of the new ethics of the larger de- into which we are growing, gave another opportunity for new and fresh appeal. not alone to the large audience made up of sixteen hundred or more working people. or even to the city and state of New York. which all ways lends a wiling ear to what is said at Cooper Union, but rather to the entire country"
 The addresses of the Conference are to be published in full in a volume which will appear as the May number of the Annals of the American Acad- emy of Political and Social Science"
 We reproduce in another column an abstract of the address of Doctor An derson on Legislation and Methods in