New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-20
CHILD LABOR HORRORS.
Little Folk Of Three and -Four Work
I2 Hours Dag, Says Dir. Moran.

The abolition of child labor in England was the
work OF women according to the Rev. Francis J..
Clay Moran, who was one OF the speakers at the
Professional Woman's League Dramatic Day yes
terday, and the same work is waiting to be done
by the women of America. Mr.. Moran mentioned
Elizabeth Barrett Browning's cry Of the Children"
and book by writer known Charlotte Eliza
BETH having been two OF the most important
factors in the influences that led to the enactment
Of the English child labor laws.
My father was associated with Lord Shaftesbury
in the fight which led the passage OF these laws.
said Mr. Moran, land therefore I very familiar
with some Of the conditions which preceded the
legislation. My father rector of a large parish
in a mining district where little boys OF SEVEN
eight and nine went down into the mines before the
sun rose in winter and did not come up until after
II had set They did not take the girls but en-
ployed the mothers instead. They didn't know
how to control the explosive gases in those days
and there galleries running through the mines
with doors at frequent intervals so that when there
explosion OF gas IT would be confined TO a
small area These little boys used to sit in these
galleries all day long in the darkness and open
the doors the trucks passed. and these trucks
were drawn by women on their hands and knees. 1t
was the most abominable cruelty that ever existed
and Christian men and women did not see why II
should not be.
THE father of Joseph Chamberlain used to en-
plov little children fourteen hours a day at nall
making and it was the blood Of those little chill
dreu that made the nails so cheap. In tho cotton
factory districts babies used to be left at nome
while their mothers were work, and girl was
sent rclnd with treace and cordial TO make the
babies sleep When they were old enough they
went 10 the factory to pick threads. and from that
graduated into other branches of the trade. Yet
John Bright the peoples tribune. brought every
bit of influence which he had to bear TO prevent
the passage Of child labor laws and factory acts
The changes had to come by the hand Of women
Having told what the women Of England nad
done Mir Moran proceeded to point out some of the
things that were waiting for the women OF America
to 90.
"AH through the Southern States" he said,
children of three end four working twelve
hours a day picking cotton. They seem to think
this is good for them down there, and the owners
are Massachusetts, men, who have good laws in
their own state and don't what goes on In
the South. They are Just like their ancestors. who
imported slaves and sold them 70 the South, and
then blamed the South for maintaining the institu-
ton Wherever it is a question Of the dollar peo-
Dle's consciences seem 10 become scared with
a hot iron. and they cannot distinguish between
right and wrong. Men and women who believe
themselves to be brothers and sisters believe 1t
right that a fellow creature should give body and
blood, soul and brain, in order that they shoulc
make a little money"
The programme IN charge OF Miss Irene
Alderman, and others who contributed to IL were
Judge Thomas ". Pittman. who gave some theat-
ricaf "reminiscences: Charles T. Catln, president
of New York Chapter Of the Actors Church ALL
ance; the Rev Thomas H. SILL Miss Inez Crab
tree, Miss Thelma Pholan Mrs. Mary Dixon, Miss
Creole Creagh and Miss Gladys Dacre Hall.