The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-03-15
THURSDAY, MARCH Is, 1906.
PITY THE CHILDREN,

men so needless of the welfare Of their
fellow beings and of their State, so deaf
to the appeals Of humanity and 50 I'M
bued with greed that they refuse to
support the extremely moderate child
labor bill which is now before them.
This bill, which at first provided for
sliding scale which would at once pro
hibit the employment of children under
twelve years of age and would increase
the minimum age to thirteen years next
year and to fourteen years in 1903, has
been so amended that the age-limit
will remain permanent at twelve years.
That children less than twelve shall not
be taken from their cradles and put at
work which must stunt them in body,
mind and soul is all that is now asked.
The children have not been heard
from in this matter Even the most
hardened of parents have not come for
ward to protest against measure which
only seeks to give their little ones a
chance to makea start in life with sound
minds in sound bodies. The only oppo-
sition has come from a few greedy man
ufacturers who are wiling to rob the
cradles because by so doing they can
save few cents on the cost Of labor
Some of these men are in the Legisla-
ture and some are out of it.
There is law now on the statute
books which seeks to prohibit the en-
ployment of children of less than four
teen years, but it is dead letter, be-
cause there is no provision for any in
spection of mills, factories and stores
and the removal of those employees
who are under age. Although the
pending bill has been amended so as to
cut the age down to twelve years would
be better than the existing law, for it
retains the inspection feature and would
accomplish something. But it is under
stood that an effort is to be made. even
if it has not been accomplished before
this is printed, to emasculate the pend
ing bill by cutting out the section relat-
ing to inspections. 1t is to be hoped
that there are in the Legislature en-
Ough members who have the normal
feelings Of man to pass the bill in its
full vigor, and if the effective part has
been cut out to see that it is put back
again.
The evil effects of compelling or per
hitting children to work regularly in
mills or stores, where the surroundings
are frequently positively bad and are
never wholesome should be too appar-
ent to need any argument. Not only is
the practice to be deplored because of
the direct harm to the individuals in
volved, but because it is a serious men
ace to virtility and progress of the hu-
man race. We do not have to accept
mere theories on this subject, for we
have before us the experience of other
nations to guide us. In England, where
the factory system was developed long
before it was here, the physical deterio-
ration of the people, brought about
largely by the employment of children
for many generations, has become so
marked as to cause genuine alarm and
led to the appointment of an inter-dc-
partmental committee which reported
in 1904, the report, by command of
King Edward being laid before both
. houses of Parliament. In this report
is incorporated the following descrir
ton of average boy of fourteen in te-
tile district and his life:
"The hours will be long, ffty-fve per
week, and the atmosphere he breathes
very confined perchance also dusty.
Employment of this character, especial
ly if carried on in high temperature,
rarely fosters growth or development;
the stunted child elongates slightly in
time, but remains very thin, loses col
our, the muscles remain small, especi-
ally those of the upper limbs, the legs
are inclined to become bowed, more par
ticularly if heavy weights have to be
habitualiy carried, the arch of the foot
fattens and the teeth decay rapidly"
OF girls so situated it is stated.
The girls exhibit the same shortness
of stature, the same miserable develop
ment, and they possess the same sallow
cheeks and carious teeth At
an age when girls brought up under
wholesome conditions usually possess a
luxuriant growth of hair, these factory
girls have scanty crop which, when
tied back, is simply a wisp or rat
tail. "
Voters and mothers of Maryland, Sen
ators and Delegates, do you approve of