The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-26
CHILD LABOR.

Evidence OF laXity in the enforcement of the
child labor laws in this state, which the Pawtucke
Central Trades and Labor Union deemed trust
worthy and conclusive, impelled that organization
al its meeting ON Monday evening last, TO adopt
resolutions condemnng the factory inspectors foI
failure to efficiently and adequately perform their
duties,
There appears TO be substantial ground for
criticism of the present system OF inspection under
which the number of children employed in mills
and other manufacturing plants is steadily IN
creasng instead of decreasing. as it would be rea-
sonabe to expect it TO do il the laws were vigor-
ously and mpartially enforced.
The laws are themselves admittedly made
quate, but even they stand a rigid enforcement
of them would unquestionably accomplish much
more than is now accomplished under them. Ger
tanly with inspection that inspects, inspection that
is something more than perfunctory performance,
Rhode Island would not be held up before her sis
ter states as the one in which there is employed a
proportonatey larger number of children under
the working age than in any other northern COM
monwealth
Probably there would be less ground for COM
plant by labor unions or by others desirous OF
the mitigation of the evil Of child labor if politics
were less patent in the appointment of inspectors.
AS il is at present, these positions are filled chiefly
BY politicians as reward for party and partisan
service, and so long as this system obtains there
be little hope OF any efficient and effective in
specton. Political pensioners seldom prove salts
factory public servants.
l. Ellery Hudson the chief factory Inspector,
who has for many years been an active Republican
politician, denies the charge of laxty in the en-
forcement of the laws brought against him and his
colleagues by the Pawtucket Central Trades and
Labor Union He insists that the law is beng as
vigorously enforced as it is possible to enforce it
with only three inspectors to visit the 1900 mills
and other industrial establishments in the state.
Nevertheless his denial will not be accepted
by the public as satisfactory in the face OF the IN
controvertible fact that the number of children
der the working age employed in mills and factories
shows steady and disturbing increase
No doubt those interested in this subj ject drew
their own conclusions on reading in the daily news
papers recently that while Mr.. Hudson was making
an inspection OF one OF the mills III the PawtuXet
valley, a number OF children apparently under the
working age, but who are nevertheless regularly
employed in this particular mill, were enjoying a
holiday and were seen playing about the village
streets.
Possibly this was only coincidence, but it
would seem to suggest to Mr.. Hudson the wisdom
OF preventing information of his intended visit
reaching the mill management III advance.
In the course of his manifesty weak and habby
denial Mr. Hudson says: "If there is any specific
charge that the Pawtucket unions can make against
any factory or employer they have only to file If
with the inspectors so that we may have something
definite to work upon. and we will proceed to rem
cdy the condition according to law. SO far as
can find in the newspaper report OF the meeting OF
the Central Trades and Labor Union at Pawtucket
no specific charge against any manufacturer is
made, and have received or heard nothing con-
cerning the matter except through the news
papers"
This is the acme of faulty and absurdity.
What Mr.. Hudson asks is that members of labor
unions do gratutously the work which the state
paws Mr. Hudson and his assistants ample salaries
10 perform
He has heard no Specific charges" against
any factory or employer he says. Why should he
wait for specific charges from organized labor or
any other source? 1t is his business and that of his
assistants TO discover infractions OF the law and
frame specific charges upon which the guilty can
be prosecuted and punished.
That is what the people pay him and them to
do If Mr.. Hudson and his fellow inspectors can
do nothing toward abatng the evil of child labor
until specific charges preferred by other per-
sons they are manifesty unfit for the positions
they hold and should be promptly replaced by
others who will make an earnest aud effective en-
deavor 10 end an abuse that is seriously imperng
the health and future well-beng OF the young and
bringing dscredt upon the state as well.
COURAGE AND COWARDICE