The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-29
MIR CONFER AND THE CHILD LABOR
 LAW

LAW.
 For some time past Hon. B. B. Co., mer. candidate for Governor. has been bama that his record is clear on the question of child labor legislation. He doesn't like this subject to be brought up. either by Dr. Cunningham in joint debate or by any newspaper.
 The latest evidence of his sensitive ness on this matter appeared in the shape of an editorial In The Birming- ham News of the 2sth inst. It is auo- ted in full on this page. It is a let- ter addressed to Mir. Conner himself by Mr. W. R. Brown of Birmingham. Of course 1t could not have been given to the public except with the approval and assistance of MT. Conner.
 It will be observed that The News introduces the letter with an ailusion to a publication in The Mobile Herald to the effect that MT. Conner fought the child labor bill when before the Legislature" and The News regards MT. Browns letter as conclusive of the whole matter" careful examina- ton of Mir. Browns letter shows that 1t lacks & vast deal of being conciu- sive of the whole matter. Mir. Brown specifically confines himself to the fight on the child labor bill in the Legisla- ture of 1900. He does not say a word about what may have happened be- fore any other Legislature
 Now as a matter of fact the present child labor law was passed by the Leg islature of 1903, about which Mir. Brown says nothing and probably knows nothing. But there are other people who know great deal of what took place in connection with the passage of that law. Among them are on Child Labor in Alabama. That com mittee consisted of Dr. Edgar Gardner Murphy of this city, who was chair man at that time Judge Thomas G. Jones and Judge J. B. Gaston of Mont gomery, John Craft of Mobile. A. J. Reilly and Dr. J. H. Phillips of Bir- mingham.
 Some weeks ago when Mr. Conner first showed his sensitiveness on this subject by writing The Advertiser a vigorous communication in reference to one of it's comments upon his record, the Manager of this paper wrote to Dr. Edgar Gardner Murphy, then in New York and about to sail for Eu- ~n~o Far a vtatar,art nF hf~ rae0llnr- ton of Mir. Corners connection with the present child labor law. Dr. Murphy replied to that inquiry on April 27th, and authorized the publication of his letter whenever necessary. It seems that 1t is particularly apropos just now, when The News asserts that Mir. Browns lettek is conclusive of the whole matter" Therefore. Dr. Mur- phys letter appears in full on this page. The black type lines are The Advertisers, for the purpose of em- l phasizing Dr. Murphy's strong points It will be seen that Dr. Murphy re- 1 garded Mir. Conner as earnestly op- posed to child labor legislation in any form" and that he finally yielded any concessions with intense reluctance.' | Dr. Murphy points out the changes that l'had to be made in the original bill iT order to get it through, and ascribei these changes to MT. Conner and his as. sociates. Mir. Murphy characterize. MT. Conner as ''the most bitter oppo nent of child labor legislation" he ha! ever known. Dr. Murphy was formerly Rector of St. Johns Church in thil city, and is a man of the highest char acter, of very great ability and of na tional reputation. He is esteemed b. thousands of the best people in Ala bama as a true, noble. unselfish. gifted man.
 Isn't 1t amazing in the light of Dr Murphys statement of Mir Corners rec ord on the present child labor law passed at that Legislature. that Tn, Birmingham News should endeavor tt mislead the public by publishing let ter relating to his record in 1900, anC declaring 1t conclusive of the whol, matter?" And isn't 1t amazing tha MT. Conner himself in his speech a Selma should attempt to make tn, people believe that he is in favor o a child labor law7