The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-07-05
Zion City Children no Longer
Allowed to Work in the
Factories of Kenosha
CLOSE DOORS
Claim Children Are Not Residents of
the State aud for This Reason eau
Not 8e Given Permits Under
the Wisconsin Law

BY the order of the State Factory
Inspector ID. .. Evans Of Racine, the
doors Of all factories ia Kenosha have
been closed to Zion City children, and
permits which had been issued to
! these children by the county Judge
nave been revoked and cancelled AS
result thirty children have been
thrown ont of employment and under
the ruling it will be impossible for
these children to work in Kenosha
factories.
Zion people residing in Kenosha
have raised a decided complaint
against the action Of the inspector as
it is claimed that some Of the children
are the sole support for aged parents
and that the pittance which the
children earned iii The Kenosha,
factories has aided materially in
keeping the wolf from the door.
These people IN the past and at
present are suffering from the lack of
the uecessaries of life and pathetic
stories are told iii regard to the suffer.
ing that will be caused BY the action
of the inspector.
Judge Slosson was seen this morn
ing and stated that he had little to
say in regard to the action of the IL
spector. He gave out the following
statement. 1T having been ascer-
tanned that permits issued to Zion
City children to work in the factories
of this city are not strictly proper, on
account of the fact that they are 1iv-
ing outside this county and state, ana
for this reason the laws of Wisconsin
do not apply, the permits formerly
issued to these children have been
taken up and cancelled by the factory
inspector.
In issuing these permits it should
be remembered that Judge S1osson
receives no fee for his work and the
spirit Of humanity was the only thing
that actuated him in the work. Many
| of the Zion children were brought to
Kenosha by their parents who are
also employed in the factories and
for this reason it was thought that
there would be no objection to the is
sue of the permits.
| Many Of the parents are1ready and
willing TO remove to Kencsla if
houses could be secured for them 60
live in but with the present congested
condition it is necessary for the
families to remain in: Zion City.
These men and women are not able to
secure employment al Zion and, Of
course, it is impossible for the chill
dren to get work there.
Only few days ago woman
dressed well and appearing to be of
the better classes appeared at the
Office Of the county judge. She had
with her a girl fifteen years Of age
for whom she sought permit. Il
feel ashamed to ask for thisSpermit, !"
the woman said, "but willJtel1 you
the circumstances. A few years ago
my husband brought his family to
Zion City, We had so1dsour property
and had $4,000 which we placed in the
Zion City bank. The money is still
there but we are unable to get any
of it. We are suffering for food and
clothing ard my husband is unable to
secure employment IN Zion City and
it is necessary for the daughter to go
to work.
The case is typical ofsevery case of
Zion City children who have been
employed IN the Kenosha factories.
An effort will be made to have the
matter taken up by the state factory
inspector and if possible the order
will be changed SO that the children
may return to work.