New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-18
MOTHERS CONGRESS ENDS.
Mrs. Kelly and Mrs. MuSsey Plead
for Protection of Children.
GFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

to be OF the most important of the whole con-
gress was that of Mrs. Florence Kelly. OF New
York. on child labor in the United States Mrs
Kelly began by saying that twenty States have
child labor laws OF some kind though many are
sadly deficient She spoke of the child labor laws
or New-York and of Colorado OF the Oldest
ana one OF the youngest States In the Union
ana the contrast she drew greatly TO the
encouragement of the older State She said
that New-York had ample protection for boys
unGer fourteen years old who did nothing and
VINO had homes. out for the 5000 messenger
boys or New-York the law is no protection
Whatever. For the boy under fourteen the penal
cOoe prescrioes a list of some sixteen kinds
or business houses and other places where he
must not go with strict penalty if he does But
and the but" what made the law Ineffective
IN her opinon-the messenger boys, twenty-five
Thousand in number. when discharging their duties
eOuld enter any OF these prescribed places This
IaW' she said, thus formed TO propagate
twenty-five thousand criminals. for she believed
that the duties of a messenger boy of a char
acter TO teach him to lie and steal and commit
crimes OF almost every character When not visit
ing saloons and disreputable houses engaging in
various gambling games. he was employing his
time reading vicious literature of the penny dread
ruI sort She believed that there must be a re-
vision OF the New York Penal Code in this par
tcular feature. Speaking OF the contrast between
the child labor laws of Colorado and New-York. she
SAID that those of the younger State are the finest
In existence to-day. for they afford protection to
all children under fourteen messenger boys and all
The law penalties the boy, the house which the
law has forbidden him to enter and the people who
sent him there This, she said. is really the pro-
lection the child needed.
She spoke of the effort she had personally made
10 nave children forbidden by law work at night
telling particularly OF the great glass works at
Alton, Ill, where $50 boys under twelve were
once employed all night For five years she drafted
bills for the Illinois legislature for five years
the glass works managers defeated them In 1903
q stringent law was enacted against the employ
fnene OF children after .. m. and children
IN Illinois work at night If under twelve. She said
that tho best laws against child labor in Colo
rado' Ohio. Illinois and New-York. snd there were
good laws in the New England States
DR.. Wiley. OF the Department OF Agriculture. fol-
lowed with one Of his characteristic lectures
adulterated food products and the Importance OF
pure food for children. warning against common
adulteration and preservatives that destroy health
UNIFORM DIVORCE LAWS.
Mrs Ellen Spencer Mussey. Ii. NJ. dean OF the
Washington College OF Law, made the closing ad-
dress before the congress tonight On the subject
of Uniform Legislation for Child Protection" she
said:
All the world on this great American continent
free and equal but there be equality with
birthright of every child and it Is the duty Of the
women OF this country TO see that they have it.
That means that there must be such laws in every
one OF the forty-hve States viii insure to every
10
utmost
have the protection of the law against the demand
Of business competition for child labor because 1t
is cheap.
It means that no child shall be deprived of it's
cation. and that there be laws making it COM
pulsory upon parents and guardlans to send every
the state sc0Oi u'' 1t mas fs'e''' '' u'H ''0
1t means that the State has right to brand
criminal child who is too young to be held
In law to the liabilities of civil contract, and that.
o to @ With noTs %ho hae
estray. and bring them back to their normal con-
dttion and make good citizens of them.
It means that the law must recognize 59 that
dams of their children and that the mother IS not
to be deprived of her duties and responsibilities
charge.
the wage Garner. her earnings shall De hers abso-
lutely free of debts and control of her husband
marriage and divorce in all the States 50 that We
shall not have the anomaly Of ceremony nun
all the consequent shame and misery to the guilty
1t means that hasty marriages should be impos-
sible for marriage is state as well as contract
''Know your own mind befors you assume such
FesP0nSiDnes Tor X99rseif ana GN9seqaent results
before marriage license could issue were neces-
the case Of the divorcee let no decree be made
final for one year.
It is necessary to go back to the States and work
Woman Should INFORM herself defnitey as to What
the laws are and what they ought to be- There
is lamentable ignorance on these points even
informed as to Greek history and the reasons for
That it is possible to accomplish much In the
line OF uniform Hesitation is shown by the sue
cess of the American National Bar Association in
securing the passage of laws governing the COM
SuG3 y no or paper Inc same
form State legislation to divorce laws but in
healthy public sentiment
The time to get legislation easily is before there
and SOrQiQ interests In ua
of our Southern States. where there had been law
putting the EN-, age limit for child labor at twelve
restriction removed so that childhood there has no
protection. and in OF the New En- gland States
the limit has been lowered from fourteen to thir-
teen years.
The most precious thing in the world to the true
woman is little child and in it's behalf she need
never fear to demand the attention of those who
making laws for the protection OF not only political
and business interests. but for the protection OF
There is a lamentable ignorance among women
is in their own state; next determine what ii
should be: then organize. first. educate public
ran an ed crusade gs for the needed legislation
mother had no legal right TO her own child and
the father could make testamentary disposition Of
int guardians Of their Children anq Ten mothers Tiers
ago the married woman In the Capital City had no
right as an unmarried woman Ten years ago we
We began with an appropriation Of $1,000 for free
kindergaTtens The last appropriation bill for the
Ten years ago the Juvenile court was unknown
now in Pennsylvania NewYork, Illinois. Colorado
the united work OF fathers and mothers as bless
Of better citizens OF 1ails and bigger school
houses We are still struggling for the needed leg
venie court. TO make school attendance compulsory
We are proud to report that the Senate had its
last session favorably reported bills both these
subjects and when you go home ask your Senators
We are proud that we leave this year the promise |
of public Fairgrounds for the children in the Dis