The Washington times., 1905-12-08
SEEK TO PROTECT
MINORS WHO LABOR
Committee Demands Law
for District.
BAR ALL UNDER FOURTEEN
National Organization Holding Second
Annual Meeting in Washington
This Afternoon.

The emancipation Of childhood from
economic servitude-which stunts tn,
body. dwas-fs the mind and spoils tn,
Spirits the aim Of the National Chill,
Labor Committee whose second annua
meeting begins this afternoon at tn.
New Willard Hotel
Prominent New York and Washington
mon and women viii discuss the variou,
phases Of the proposition that "chilc
labor is a menace TO industry. education
and good citizenship
The opening address will be made by
Commissioner Macfarland.
Two Sessions Today.
There viii be two sessions today. one
at D. m and the other at p. m.
The third session viii be at 3 D. m
tomorrow. and on Sunday there will be
a special service at All Souls Church.
conducted by the Rev. T. G. b. Peirce.
Child Labor in the National Capital
and Elsewhere will be the subject upon
which DIR. Felix Adler OF New York
and Charles 7. NeiIl. Commissioner Of
Labor, will speak
DIR. Adler is chairman OF the National
Child Labor Committee. which is now
stirring up sentiment all over the land
In favor Of the enactment of bill by
the present Congress providing for a
law upon child labor In the District of
Columbia. Three thousand copies of the
bill have been sent TO those Interested
in social settlement work in every State
of the Union. ACCOMMODATING it IS a
letter stating that the passage Of such
a bill regulating child labor at the Ma
tional Capital viii b. = great help 10
the cause in the rest of the country.
AT the present time the letter saws.
there is no law regulating child labor
in the District Of Columbia. Every 9th
er State and Territory IN the United
states has some age or time limit for
children's work except Georgia. Hawaii
Idaho. Indian Territory. Nevada. New
Mexico and Oklahoma
Bill for District.
The bill prohibits the employment Of
All children under fourteen years of age
during the time when public schools are
IN session. before a. m or after Z
p. IN. 1t also prohibits their employ
ment in certain undesirable occupations
at all times 1t requires a certificate
for children between the ages of four
teen and sixteen"
The violation Of these laws will entail
fine Of not more than $50 Al
continued violation will subject the Of
lender TO a fine of from s. to $50 day
everyone receiving this letter is re- |
inested to endeaVor 10 bring the child |
aoor evil TO the attention OF his Con- |
sreSsman or Senator and explain the |
necessity for legislation that will avert |
his menace.
Child Laborers.
The feature of today's session will be |
he address by Br. Felix Adler. pro
essor Of political and social ethics in |
Columbia University. and leader of the |
Society for Ethical Culture. His theme |
8 The Menace of Child Labor" He /
viii show that II was a hundred years |
'go that the first faint cry was uttered /
n protest against the enslavsge of Lon |
Ions pauper children. In the United /
States. at the beginning of 1903 there
we're 2G.po0 children under the age of /
weive working chiefly IN the cotton fac /
ories of the South. But since then laws |
lave reduced that number. though DR.. |
Adler Will show that the enforcing OF /
he laws is now the main difficulty.
The chief argument DR.. Adler makes !
gainst child labor evil is that the eff
ects are physical degeneracy. the arrest /
y mental development. and lack Of NOR
.hty exhibited by startling familiar
" with vice and its haunts. He fur
her shows that the work OF these little
hildren is often unnecessary. one boy
= fourteen years having been discovered |
LAYING for fourteen hours. when his
ather earned from IS to 81 a daT
Child Labor in the Cotton Industry of
he Southern States will be discussed (
oday by DIR. A. j. McKelway. assistant
ecretary Of the national committee
DE. McKelway is of the opinion that |
here wound % no child labor problem
o speak OF in the South except for the
otton mill. The work OF the farmers