The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-10
MINISTERS CALL
FOR BET TER LAWS
Question Of Child Labor in Nir-
GINA Discussed by Rev. ].
c. Cranberry.
RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED
Annual Conference to Be Asked
to Take Matter Up at Next
Meeting.

lect of a valuable paper read before
the Methodist Minister'S Association
yesterday morning by Rev. j. c. Gran
berry, pastor of Asbury Methodist
Church, Manchester. The discourse was
heard with deep attention by the as
sembied ministers and at the close,
after some discussion. and n number of
questions which showed how thorough
~ interested the pastors We're in the
subject series of resolutions were
adopted looking to the enactment of
more stringent chld-labor laws.
Mr.. Graubery's paper developed the
fact drawn from reliable statistics,
that more than 100000 little children,
practically nneducated, are working
daily in this country. These chill
dren,'' said the minister "toiling.
darkened. dangerous are being thrust
into the American future. for the child
sinned against becomes anti-social,
hating the society that deprives him
of his sunshine. We of the South
must face the appalling fact that the
awakening comes already too late to
save whole generation of children.
The depreciation of our racial stock
has already begun; a certain recog
nized cotton mill type has already
been produced, with an illiteracy sur
passing often that of mountain coun-
ties of which we hear so much.
Conditions in South.
Referring more particularly to the
problem of child labor as 1t especially
effects the South. Mr.. Granbery sketched
the conditions following the Civil War
and the rise of a new industrial sys-
TEN in the South, passing on TO the Pc
riod when the TIDE again turned to
manufacturing. The figures showed
that in 1904 there We're twice as many
cotton manufacturing establishments
of all kinds as in lHoO.
you see that at the basis of child
labor is covetousness," Mr.. CRANBERRY
continued AT the root of this evil is
the love of money. There are three
parties to it. The first is the employer.
Child labor is cheaper than adult Ia
Dor, and that is about all there is 10
Il from his point of view: the health.
happiness and welfare of the little chill
dren do not seem to enter into the case.
The parent shares the responsibility
for the crime. They make the most
diabolical discovery that the child has
a wage-earning capacity and with
these wonderful visions of few dol
lars the child may bring home at the
end of the week. all else is eclipsed-
the possibility of the child's education
and larger usefulness and blessedness.
And so we witness a reversal of the
human relations, misunderstanding
of the function and mission Of the
child. Sut that home is cone an in
calculable harm when the child Is val
ued as a commercial asset.
And sometimes we see that grotesque
sight, that monstrosity, the head of the
No
porch. or as the ..dinner-toter," taking
the pail TO the children who support
the family.
employers and parents share the
responsibility for child labor with a
third party, the most powerful OF all,
and that is the public. The public that
tolerates the crime must assume its
part of the responsibility for it. Pub
lie opinion is the ruler in America, but
the giant is asleep, now about half
awake
Under present laws in Virginia no
child under twelve may he employed in
any manufacturing. mechanical or min
ing operations. No female or child
under fourteen years of age may work
in a factory or manufacturing estab-
lishment more than ten hours. No
child under fourteen years and over
twelve years may be employed in any
manufacturing. meghanical or mining
operations.to Work between p. NJ. and
I A. NJ.
The paper goes on to analyze these
laws, and TO show, tho standing of
Virginia in comparison with other
States, and developers the fact that
large number of States have much
more stringent laws for the protection
of childhood. and that twenty-three
l., ,ls-N, E,l,sN& 4
attendance laws for the years below
the employment limit. In conclusion
Mr.. CRANBERRY made strong appeal for
the passage of fourteen-year- old child
labor law and for prohibiting work
by children under sixteen who are
under size or who cannot read and
write, and prohibiting the employment
of minors in dangerous occupations.
Resolutions Adopted.
at the close CT the address the fol-
lowing resolutions were unanimously
adopted by the gatheD.ng of Methodist
pastors:
i, Resolved, That we look With shame
and abhorrence upon the labor OF de-
fenseless little children in our rae
tories: that without committing our
selves as TO the respective spheres OF
the Federal and State governments IN
this regard. we indorse and stanc
ready TO cooperate with every agency
for child labor reform, and we espe-
cially commend the National Chile
Labor Committee whose headquarters
are In New York City.
2. Resolved, That we urge upon on,
next General Assembly the enactment
of advanced child labor laws, such as
shall be equal to those of any State II
the Union. Especially do we Insist
upon an age limit not under fourteen
and more adequate provision for. en-
forcemsnt.
3. Resolved, That we recommend u
the annual conference one special sun
day be set aside in the coming confer
cnce year as Child Labor Sunday, OF
which our preachers shall all be askeC
to present the subject to the people II
special sermons; and that, apart from
this, we seek, as occasion offers. TO civ,
!, publicity to the facts regarding thii
evil. and 10 arouse public sentiment 70
the speedy day of its destruction,