Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-15

child labor Is found In the main, are usual-
" on the top fioors-frequently on the fifth.
Inc employers claim that they have moro
accioents m connection with the elevators
tnan from the operation of the machinery,
out the freight elevators could be guarded
SO that the employees might be transported
safely TO the spinning rooms when going
70 work IN the morning and at noontirne.
The use of the elevator should be given TO
all employees on the upper floors because
the age limit does not exceed twelve years.
ana no young girl between twelve and six
teen years should be obliged TO climb sew
eral flights OF stairs
AT the entrance of mill located In a
large town the immense crowd OF dinner
totere who carry lunch TO the members of
the family employed there, indicates the
need OF lunch room. In smaller way
that need was also evidenced at a mill In q
large city where some OF the weavers were
observed eating their luncheons. which were
placed on the looms. and one boy was sit
ting in the wash sink next to the window
eating his midday meal and reading a
newspaper. The desirability of introducing
rest rooms In the mills was made plain
when girls were found sitting upon the
landings of the staircases waiting for work
But IT may be generally stated that the
mills visited are unusually sonitary, COM
Portable work places.
Home Life Of Operatives.
Miss Beeks In her report goes at consider
able length into the home life Of the opera
tives In the mills. and says that as a rule
the people are distinctly improved by COM
Ing into contact with the industrial life OF
the towns; that it is better in moral tone,
the life more sanitary and the general con-
ditions better than they have been used to
before.
She discusses child labor at length. and
says that the tendency among the mill
owners Is to discourage it, though there are
still some states without child labor or
compulsory education laws. In conclusion
she says:
One OF the greatest needs is the creation
or pubic sentiment In favor of the modern
legislation required, which at the present
time is advocated and understood principal
ly by the employers. Generally speaking,
the agitation has been promoted by we'll
meaning but misguided theorists who have
not acquainted themselves with the con-
dltions under which the people work OF
the business management and financial
problems of the mills. Compulsory educa-
ton Is the first essential. AS this means a
considerable increase in taxation. public
sentiment will be required for that one re-
form more than on any other.
THE legislation needed In South Caro-
lima Is:
Compulsory education. with provision
for truant officers;
Factory inspection to strengthen the
child labor law.
Amendment of the child labor law to
increase the age limit from twelve to four
teen years
Birth registration: and
marriage license law.
with the exception OF the last two sub
tects listed the requirements are the same
in Alabama. and in Georgia even the child
labor law Is yet to be secured.
For the present, the cotton mills are In
dustrial training schools well refugees
for the unfortunates. Too much praise can
not be given to the mill owners who In
spite of the unfair critics, which has been
made. are not only, giving food and shelter
and an Industrial training to the illiterate
descendants of the first Inhabitants Of tho
colonies, but, through their welfare work.
are a great civilizing influence and are
steadily raising the standard of citizen
ship