Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-06
CHILDREN AND LABOR.

The Iowa State Federation Of Labor
secure the passage of law prohibit
ing child labor. This organization, in
conjunction with several women's
clubs, made strenuous efforts in behalf
of child labor law at the session of
the legislature two years ago, but met
with failure. Since thatitime literature
has jeen sent cut at various times,
broadcast over the state, the object be-
ing to educate the people to realiza-
ton of the conditions that exist.
The aim Of the crusade against
child labor is a high one, though it is
true that strict law might work a
hardship upon some families.
The question of the effect of early
drudgery upon the after life of the
child who works when he should be
at school is an important one. This
phase is now being given considera-
ton especially by the State Federation
of Labor. In a recent circular, just
received by the Courier, an article by
Horace Mann is presented. setting
forth good reasons for the enactment
of some legislation to relieve the sit
uation. In view of the fact that the
legislature at the coming session will
be called upon to deal with the mat
ter, Mr. Mann's article is of general in
terest. 1t follows:
Children of 10, 10 or IA years of
age may be. steadily worked in our
manufactures without any schooling,
and this cruel deprivation may be per-
severed in for years, and yet. during
oil 10 N,io pl,,,, s,,r~
break occur to arouse the public mind
from it's guilty slumber. The children
are in their years of minority and
they have no control over their own
time or their own actions. The bell
| is to them what the water wheel and
the main shaft are to the machinery
which they superintend. The wheel
revolves and the machinery must go;
the bell rings and the children must
| assemble. In their hours of work,
they are under the police Of the neigh
borhood. Hence this thing may con-
tinue for years, and the peace of the
neighborhood remain undisturbed, ex-
cept perhaps for a few nocturnal or
| Sabbath day depredations The ordi-
nary movements of society may go on
without any shocks or collisions, as,
in the human system, disease may
work at the yitals and gain fatal as
cendancy there, before it manifests it.
self on the surface. But the punish
ment for such an offense will not be
RENTED because its infection is post
poned-it only awaits the full compile.
ton of the offense; for this is a crime
of such magnitude that it requires
years for the criminal to perpetrate it
in and finish it thoroughly in all its
parts. But when the children pass
from the condition of restraint to that
of freedom-fronl years of enforced
/ but patient servitude to that
1of independence for which they
have secretly pinned and to
which they have looked forward, not
merely as period of emancipation
but of long delayed indulgence, when
they become strong in the passions
and propensities that grow up spontan.
.eously. but are weak in the moral pow.
ers that control them, and blind in the
4 intellect which forsees their tenden
cies; when. according to the course
of our political institutions, they &c
by one bound from the political moth
ingness Of a child to the political SOW
ereignty of the man for the people
who so cruelty neglected and injured
them, there will assuredly come day
Of retribution''