New-York tribune., 1905-01-08
In GLASS FACTORIES.
Many Young Liues Sacrificed an
Nesc-Jersey.

against thern For example in a recent official
Investigation in the city of Brdgeton. which is es-
peciaIiy noted for splendid school facilities.
leading educator told the labor inspector bluntly
that the boys from the glass factories were not
wanted IN the public schools Less recently an
other member OF the State department in quest OF
information concerning boys at work in the fac
tories received from truant officer in the same
city this short reply.
II don't know that that's any OF your business"
When this was resented, the officer added apollo
boys there was enough TO do TO watch the other
children in the city. and then he added:
Anyway the factory boys are not wanted in the
schools"
In the smaller towns particularly the factory
children ignored by the school authorities.
either through lack Of accommodation
count OF the control exercised by factory owners
who depend largely upon the labor OF children for
their profits Not infrequentiy the mill owners con-
troll practically the entire business of the town, in
clu6ng banks stores, the selection OF teachers and
81 has even been said. the choice Of ministers. In
such places these too often the theory OF the
State and the practical working of it's educational
system fail go hand in hand II is here that the
company store. restricted in a measure by the law
requiring all wages be paid in cash. still -four
lshes and forms an additional Of revenue TO
the employer. who may influence though he can no
longer compel the patronage of his employee
To most persons who have investigated child
labor conditions In New-Jersey the little workers
tn the glassblowing establishments have appealed
most strongly. 1t is here that the young boy
brings the highest premium. yet often receives the
lowest wages. The father with or three sons
from twelve sixteen years of age, be he skilled
unskiiled may obtain work about a glass fac
tory his contract is made 70 include the services
OF HIS young 1t is a mistake 10 suppose that
these boys ere, rule. the children of glass
blowers. AS rule the boy who finds his way 10
the glass factory is forced there by poverty
stricken. dissipated shftess or incompetent
a
stances by the sheer avarice of parents
40 TINE FOR REST.
To appreciate the lot Of the average boy in the
sless tactory he must be as he lives and
works Day and night. while the fires are on. the
factory is a scene Of ncessant activity, shift
relieving another about the great circular furnaces
where men and boys are crowded with barely room
70 DO their work. Speed is essential and from the
time the molten glass is dipped up on the END
of the blowpipe until it reaches the anneang fur
mace IL scarcely pauses for moment The boys
are employed ''snappers' or in carrying the hot
glass TO the furnace. and While so engaged have
not moments respite. They work in the glare
OF the furnaces until their shift is ended. when
they seek their homes or corner of the big ram
bling plants TO partake of frugal meal or snatch
q biz OF sleep. often at the close of night they
are too tired 10 90 home and sleep somewhere in
the factory. The delicate look Of many OF these
boys bellies their age, yet in visit to factory
not one viii be found TO admit he Is not fourteen
years old. which is the minimum age limit for
discharge; perhaps harsher treatment upon his re-
Next to the glass factories the textile industries
including the manufacture of silk cotton ana
worst examples Of child labor, In some of the
mills a large percentage Of the hands are children
fact that many OF these have been in the past, II
age OF employment, From single mill shortly
sT the bs RSz5ES were gI cbaeSed ahd In every in
stance false afidavits had been taken by their
home conditions of these Children and with hardly
exception the families We're found to be in cir
cunstances bordering upon absolute desltunoa iia
In one mill three different inspectors selected, a
SSSso me & - I ai11 4lTs f whom ai+l3ongb II
ehlloIen m inc tail5ts IN eg 49,, ~ y 1 @ bsreSeote5
and the others were only sc2ntlly clad. The house
w. SnnIg' oS ba Te meant t1 the depTivation of the
whole family. there being no provision by which
however, was produced TO show that the boy was
fifteen years Old though in appearance he seemed
no more than eleven or twelve.
Not infreQuently appeals are received 10 permit
Ger Ire iaNy no discretion IS ieff with the State
Department. In q case from Belvfdere recently
petition signed by members Of The Board OF Edu
ss6ng hst BOY 6e s S.owed 10 @ WORK & on oiI6 Ihe
refused
OLD BLOT OK THE STATE
For many years New-Jersey has had the reputa-
fion Of being hagrant volator OF its child la
Dor laws. In the general crusade against child la
" Dor some time ago the State was the object OF
stinging censurc Although Of the charges
proved somewhat extravagant, sufficient justin
cation was discovered result in q complete
vision OF the child labor laws in the face of
concentrated opposition the part Of the
ployers Of children. This not accomplished
II single year but was the elimination of
hard fought struggle II was followed by reor-
eanizeo department charged with the enforcement
that to-day New-Jersey puts, forth the claim. Of
nnakne an effort. sincere at least, 10 make child
AS legally defined to-day child labor in this
a
under fourteen in factory workshop. Either
the employer or parent is punishable, though
tain prescribed proofs q age. Including an az
s dat s e fs5e Se 3eoLs Sf B2e Is psee Se
the parents. The compulsory education law
lave by compelling attendance at school until a
child has reached the age Of fourteen II Is, there
thai age shall not work u factory at any time
he shall receive at least a certain amount Of edu-
cation 10 N him for his work ia life. 1t win be
go hand and hand Provided he attends nS5 sehoo 6
child under fourteen may legally be employed in
shop The enforoenent Of the factory lazy is vested
pulsory educational law is practically dependent
upon the local boards OF education and other school
The last factory census showed s042 children under
sixteen. or 3S Der cent OF Lhe total number OF
tries. These children are divided among variety
of pursuits. and there is scarcely important in
dustry IN the state but has It's share.
The glass and textile industries stand conspicu-
four hundred children discharged by their en-
ployers prior 10 September l. when the present
child labor law took effect 30 per were found
IN the glass factories Of South Jersey and 81 per
cent in the textile factories. large part OF which
shoe factories contributed L per cent and the
nsinder distributed among a variety OF
As regards the enforcement OF the compulsory
the smaller cities Of South Jersey and the larger
manufacturing centres in the northern part OF
truancy department that has done much put an