The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-13

courts have gone very far in the exercise
Of federal power.
We hold the injuctions shall not be
issued when there is adequate remedial
law. A man we hold shall not be sent to
prison except by his peers. We must seek
to avoid the evils of the federal iniunc-
ton"
Mr.. Mitchell was vigorously applauded
when he finished.
Child Labor Taken Up.
Samuel Mcclure Lindsay. secretary of
the National Child Labor committee, said
it was impossible to exaggerate the real
extent or the real evils of child labor He
believes that other forms of legal protec-
ton than absolute prohibition are needed
for the greater part of the 100000 child
rem between the ages of 10 and 16 years
now engaged in gainful occupations. Re
cent reports show that the numlier of
children in specially harmful occupations
is increasing faster than the population.
Mr.. Lindsay said the Beveridge-P Parsons
bill recently introduced i'll Congress would
cut the heart out OF the child labor evil
at a single blow He said it would be eff
feetively enforced and would encourage
the states to complete the work of get
ting rid of all children in industry under
IA years of age, and of protecting ade-
ouately the growing child until he is 16
Owen R. Loveioy, assistant secretary
of the child labor commission, spoke on
Child Labor in the Anthracite District"
lie gave summaries of reports from seven
mining borroughs containing an aggregate
population of 10000. with 1900 mine work.
ers. 2lG0 of whom were believed by the
superintendent of schools in these COM
muities to be under IA years of age.
The records of accidents show that
children under 16 years and non-English
speaking workers are the chief victims of
the hazards of mining.
Conditions In the South.
Ellison A. smythe. president of cotton
mills in South Carolina. declared that he
could refute charges against child labor
in southern cotton mills. He said the
custom in the south was to employ whole
families, and that unless the children are
employed the rest of the family cannot be
employed.
D. A. Tompkins of Charlotte, N. c., re-
viewed the conditions in the south. He
did not believe that child labor could be
done away with, through legislation and
probably would be worked out and solved
as had other serious problems.
John Golden president of the Textile
Workers of Fall River, Mass, stated that
when some four years ago he was COM
missioned by the American Textile Work
ers to study the conditions in South Caro-
lima, and he contemplated visiting GER
tain mill, he was warned from doing so by
the statement that the owner had sworn
to shoot the first northern man that came
down there interfering with his help.
Gompers Is Last Speaker.
Mr. Gompers. the last speaker said that
when he sent James Leonard to a number
of towns in Mississippi for the purpose Of
trying to make an investigation of condi-
tons of the cotton operatives, Leonard
was quietly informed that unless he left
the state at once, he would be escorted
by the police.
"One of the representatives, of the city
government believe the mayor" added
Mr.. Gompers, appointed a gentleman to
entertain Mr.. Leonard on the train on his
way to beyond the borders of the state
A resolution was adopted providing that
the presidents of the National Associa
ton of Manufacturers and of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor the General Fed
GRAFTON of Women's clubs. the National
Education. the American Economic assoc
citation. the National Association of
Charities and Corrections, and the Ma
tional Child Labor committee, be invited
to name seven members to act with a like
committee of the National Civic Fedora
ton as a commission to make a thor
ough investigation of the whole subject
of child labor in the United States.