The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-27
equipped mind, and the blessedness c
a lifo of larger usefulness.
Mission Of a Child.

"4AS0AOIl VI q Clild.
1t is unspeakably sad when we fail
to see the mission of the child. He
is the messenger of God to bring light
into the nome. This very dependence
upon us is the power chat is to de-
stroy the self-spirlt by arousing to ac-
ton the latent ministry Of service
within us. Alas for our progress when
we forget the oraclcs of God! "T'le
children ought not to lay up for the
parents. but the parents for the chill
dren" III Ger. w., 10 Yet we have
forgotten them! The child has come
to be valued because he is CONNER
cial asset. The "dinner-t oter" is a
familiar figure in our day. The father
who takes the dinner pail to the chill
dren who support him in his idleness
is so common a citizen-save the mark
that when some genius struck the sit
uation off in a homely doggerel. ali
the nation Joined in the chorus--ss
Everybody works but father,
He sits around all day" si'hiN
A song of that type depends for its
popularity on it's aptness. 1t was a
palpable hit because it struck re.
sponsive chord. The parents, 1 sub
nit, are cupable in this matter, as are
the capitalists.
l know that these are cases where
the childs wages are needed to keep
the home together, (but such cases arc
in the minority. We must ever seek
to do the greatest goodyto2thei greatest
pumber. "a'
Now, strange to say, it is at this
portland the strongest, too that the
advocates of child labor can advance
that the case for child labor weak
ems, totters, and falls. The economic
justification for child labor is a fai-
lacy. From the standpoint of the
parent child labor is an economic fall
lacy. When child is taken away
from school while young, lie is simply
condemned for life to the lowest com
mercal status. He can only do what
can do no one gets we'll paid for doing
His earning capacity is permanently
crippled. Moreover a sufficient supply
of child labor lowers the wages Of
adult labor. This is the inevitable re-
suit So the parent is doubly in his
own light in making his child work.
He destroys tho child's ultimate earn
Ing capacity; he curtails his own earn
ing capacity.
on the part of the capitalist, child
labor is a financial blunder. What
makes the American workman the SUI
perior of all competitors? His intelli-
gence. What makes American goods
command the markets of the world. ,
They are the product of brains. Now,
If the American workman is not edu-
Gated If his intelligence is not trained,
If, in other words, he Is not sent to
school when boy and kept there d
reasonable length of time, II child la
Dor continues. the standard of Amerl-
can goods will fall, the demand will
fail and the shrcwd. far-seeing capi-
talist Will be sheltering under the
benefccnt wing of the bankruptcy act.
From the standpoint OF the capitalist.
child labor is an economic falIacy.
urge this point at this length because
the pockethook argument is the only
kind that appeals to some people, and
it is final with most of us,
Child Labor Threatens.
child labor threatens ls with worse
calamities than financial loss. 1t aft
fects the family. A wrkmano ought to
receive "A fair DAYS wage for fair
days work. Affair wage Is enough to
slpnort a family. The father is the
Wngr,rarncr That is old-fusllioned
but true. Admit child labor, establish
it, and You decrease adult wages.
some work can be done by children,
and they arc employed because they
arc cheap. If there arc many chill
dren in the family, they are bound To
80 to work to support themselves.
When each child supports himself that
is species of indIvidualism
The tendency is to disinteglate the fam
ily, Jimmie supports himself, Emily sup
ports herself. Father supports himself
mother and the baby. Father does not
got enough to so round. DO You see the
Significance OF that state OF affairs? lhs
self-fespecting nottingham says such
conditions arc unbenrable refuses u
n:-trry, or the result s--race suicide, enid
labor makes for the dsintegration of the
family.
Itmakes war on the rights Of the child
1t initiates against the happiness Of the
child by depriylng him Of the privilege
Which Is his of having aaplnv age. u
also PLAYS havoc with his intellectual at
thnment by cheating him OF his best
years for lenTning rudimcntary things
enid labor is robbery. 1t wrests away
the rights Of the child.
dare say 1t is true-,I am willing to
confess it'll look Mt most matters from
the standpoint Of the preacher. Child
Labor Is q dreadful menace to the king
dom of God. Children age too rapidly,
lose the lnnecence of Childhood too ulilchly,