The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-11-30

In preparing this paper, made mis-
take | might have avoided had | follow
ell my usual custom of getting at the
task early. This l did not do. | also
devoted a good deal of effort to collect
ing material. This / thought would be
a difficult part of the undertaking. But
when / got ready to do the writing,
found myself deluged with so large a
mass of material as to make the mere
editing of it, in proper manner, an i'm
possible task in the time left to me.
And may here say there is scarcely an
original idea in this paper. 1t is a col
lection of other mems ideas and more
especially extracts from state laws, re-
ports of committees duly appointed and
other official and semi-official authori-
ties
This topic of child labor may be con-
sidered from three principal points of
view: The economic, the moral or hui
manitarian and the physical. l have not
clearly separated and classified these
divisions, but pass from one to another,
leaving my hearers to draw their own
tions, in many cases. Nearly all the
state have legislated against the impro-
per use or allowance of child labor.
use the word "child" as covering all per-
sons prohibited from engaging in GER
tain occupations in the several states.
This age ranging from nine years in
South Carolina to sixteen in New York,
Massachusetts and some other states,
and a much greater age as to certain
employments. For example, minors
are prohibited from selling or handling
Intoxicating liquors as follows: In AL
i. aska, Connecticut and Georgia, all min
ors are prohibited: South Dakota and
Vermont all under twenty-one years
Massachusetts eighteen years, Maryland
and Texas, sixteen years; Pennsylvania
and West Virginia fifteen; Colorado,
Illinois, Wisconsin, and Wyoming four
teen years.
Following are the limits in which
children are prohibited from being oc
cupied in the callings specified as fol-
lows: Dancing for exhibition is prohibi
ted for children under a specified age in
ii, California, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis-
souri,, Montana New Hampshire, New er-
sey, NewYork, Rhode standard Wyoming.
Performing in theaters is prohibited for
children under specified age, in New
York and Rhode Island. In variety
theaters in Colorado and Wyoming, and
in theaters where intoxicatants are sold
or given away, in Colorado, Illinois,
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wy
oming. Singing or playing on a musical
= instrument as a vocation for children,
is prohibited in California, Illinois
Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri,
Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New York, Ohio, Rhode Island and Wy
oming. In the District of Columbia,
Kansas, Pennsylvania and West Vir-
ginia, these occupations are prohibited
only in the public streets.
Begging and mendicant occupations for
children are prohibited in California,
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Col
umbia, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Ken
lucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New
York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Porto Rico
Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia
and Wyoming.
Peddling or wandering occupations for
children are prohibited in California,
Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, (for
girls), Maryland, Missouri, Montana,
New Jersey New York, Ohio, Porto
Rico, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Wyom-
ing.
In Wisconsin, no female under eigh-
teen years of age, may be employed as
messenger by any telegraph or tele
phone company. There are also many
state prohibitions as to exhibitions of
deformed or weak minded children; the
employment of children in collecting
rags, bones, cigar stumps, or refuse;
employment for prostitution, etc., etc.
Twenty of the foregoing states and
territories have, in addition and con-
nection with the laws already referred
to, laws prohibiting the employment of