The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-01-26

a mans work for child's pay. Here
are his words as given in the news
paper reports:
"The men and women who come
from the ranks Of child labor into our
almshouses and hospitals, together
with those youths who, having passed
the period of childhood and not yet
having arrived at maturity, stand idle
in the market because they will not
compete at the wages, with the labor
of little children, and cannot compete
with the more exacting labor of adults,
and that larger standing army Of work.
less men whose places in the factory
have been taken by little hands that
can tend the almost human machines,
and yet command (nark, now, COM
MANDY only child's pay for mans
work." etc.
That is what the "civilized" nations
are doing with their children!
We have in the United States GER
tain vast organization Of men and
women the several groups passing I'M
der different specific names, or de-
nominations, but all protesting the
same general moral purpose which
| might, if it would, emancipate this
rapidly growing army of tender little
slaves. But as the enslavement Of the
| defenseless children has gone forward
under the eyes Of that organization, it
manifestly has it's sanction. For a
power that Is able to prevent crime
| and does not is, at least negatively,
! responsible for it.
To whom, then, shall these little
slaves look for deliverance? o Cod! to
whom shall they appeal? Will no one
hearken? Is there no organization of
! men and women in all the civilized
world that will espouse the cause Of
! these defenseless little victims Of hu-
man greed?
Only one generation ago our fathers
waged prolonged and enormously de-
structive war to free the men Of
another race from bondage. In behalf
! OF the negro the press and the pulpit
| numbered, and millions offered their
| lives in ransom!
But who today will present the
cause Of the army of toiling children"
the enslaved offspring of the heroes
Of 1860?
! Another bumper crop!" But the
|
body soul-quenching lock
step Of the factory!
1.-The country is prosperous beyond
anything the world has ever known!"
But the unknowing little victims Of
commercial greed toll on in the body
wrecking, oul-quenching lock step Of
| the factory!
I'VE have become a world power
| and have captured the markets of the
! world" But "angelic childhood" Ian
guishes in the appalling treadmill Of
the factory!
"Our wealth Is beyond the dreams
of avarice!" But, o God in heaven;
| look in pity upon the little human
creatures for whom we will not spare
an unearned crust!
"Our schools are the pride of our
| splendid civilization" But for whom
are they? Not for the long lines Of
| little slaves who tread the dreadful
round under the overseers lash.
Is there no one to hearken? Is there
| no organization Of men and women in
all the world that will answer the cry
| of these innocents?
There has been no effective help ex-
tended to Enthusiastically none. On
| the contrary, the per cent Of their
numbers to population is rapidly in
| creasing-that of the girls faster than
| that of the boys. One cotton manu-
| facturer recently even asserted that
"the machinery Of this industry is es-
pecially constructed to accommodate
| the height of children 10 and - years
old!"
How deliberate as fate, how remorse-
| less as hell, the sordidly calculating
| greed of this commercial juggernaut
| that rolls it's iron wheels over the
| quivering bodies Of '"angelic child
| hood"