Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-09-30
In Maine School Law None
too High, SaysRoscoe Eddy
Speaks as Representative Of
the State Federation Of Labor.
Is Confident No Maine Legislature
Will Lower School Age.

ceved by the Kennebec Journal:
Editor Kennebec Journal.
i have been reading with very mucn
interest in the past fortnight the
newspaper accounts of the meetings
called by State superintendent Of
Schools Smith for the instruction and
benefit of the school superintendent
Of the State and have noted that Hon.
George f.. Morrison of Biddeford,
inspector of factories, workshops,
mines and of quarries has been coll-
slant attendant at and prominent
participant in these meetings. | have
not, however, been able yet to learn Of
his entering the discussion of any sub
ject save one and in that his cOnten-
ton has constantly been that either
the school age law should not be en-
forced at all or else be so reduced as
to harmonze with the factory law.
There are a few facts that l wish to
bring out in regard to this matter, so
as to prevent, if possible, the local
supervisors from being befogged by
the plausible statements of Nh MOrri-
son. First by way of explanation /
will state that my knowledge of the
situation and OF the events leading to
the enactment Of the new law last
winter did not come to me in any
roundabout manner as / have been a
member Of the Legislative Committee
of the State FEEDER ltion of Labor DUR
ing the past two sessions of tie
Legislature and all Of my work has
been in connect IN with laws of this
kind. During tie last session the
state Federation worked vigorously,
in company with others, TO achieve
the passage of the present child labor
Jaw. The reason Tor our action in THIS
matter is found II the fact that long
before the comm, 1cement OF tie last
session we filed a complaint with the
Inspector Mr.. Morrison and Governor
Coh5, because Il e then existing Law
was not being enforced. AL a meeting
att which Gov. Cobo, Mr. Morrison and
a representa- tive " The State Fedora
ton we're presenl, Mr.. Morrison ad-
niitted that he could not ENFORCE the
law IS it. then WAS. His exnl,l.atiOn
was accepted and it was gre d upon
then and there that, If pos DE. { new
law should be passed by .a. Let:isld
ture which should Re stronger and
capable of enforcement. La'ar, when
we went before the Legisl ,ture or the
matter we found nearly Al! 70 be in
favor If the bill. Nj fMcGrison, who
seemed as enthusia 50 as any was
Instructed Il. .are ri 8eof uch a bill
as WIS needed Mane~timt 5 he told
me that the child labor lsw now in
force was from the office Of the At
tornry General of Maine nd that it
had been very careful drafted.
compared with othsr law and con-
sidered from all directions and that
there was no question, whatnT'er about
the law being soun,i.
From my point Of view = seems OK
tremely simple fer Mr. Morrison t.
talk Of getting an opinion from At
torney General Hamlin, when, as Il
matter of fact, he got the bill from
him. j presume that Mr.. Hamlin
knew what he was about when he pre-
paredF that bill COR had itR. prepared
quite as well ;5s Mr., Morrison, or the
people it y pfSsN1ned he nay be re-
while ne travels: over the
ssate and adytness arguments urging
that the chiIdrenSbe taken from the
schools and pkafed in the mills. There
is.But one cHss of people who wish
this to come asoet and that class COM
;pNtses the factory owners. Mr.. Morli-
son says 'that5the child labor law con-
lhicts with the school law. He will
find in course. of time. that q lot Of
people will coahiet with him in regard
to the matter and will 50 to some
lengths to back their opinion.
The State Superintendent Of
Schools saysl that he1invited Mr.
Morrison to go with him in order to
give those ie attendaaee upon the
meetings a better idea ofthe child labor
law. A we'll meant invitation, doubt
less, but it seems to me a mistaken one
as most every, one has got the i'm
preston from heading Nj, Morrisons
explan&tfon th4t the child labor law