The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-02-05
EVIL EFFECTS
Of Child Labor Indicated
in Sunday Sermon by
Rev. Edwards.
PLEA FOR CHILDHOOD

Rev r. w. Edwards, of the Calvary
Presbyterian church. preached very
Interestingly yesterday morning on
the subject THE Present Evil Effects
of Child Labor" His sermon was in
part as follows:
Jesus knew heaven and came TO
make earth like it. He is deeply con-
cerned for the children. He raised
his voice in their defense. He an
nounced principles for their protec-
ton. We ought to know what lsI
happening to the children of the ma
tion along industrial lines. We are
interested in the killing of seals,
and trout and infected cattle, and or
chards, and we ought to be for the
welfare of children. The treatment
given to children affords the best
test of the standard of society. We
are graded with Russia and not with
England and Germany anu France
and Switzerland in the matter of child
labor. Child labor is an injustice not
only to the child, but it is unjust to
the future of the family, and to the
community. 1t is a menace to indus,
try, and education, and good citizen
ship, and the health OF children.
| "The evil effects are seen in the
physical condition of the child. The
body is weakened, enervated, and 1T
becomes incapable of doing either in
childhood or in manhood what is ex-
pected of it from it's capability. A
good stout body and framework counts
in the financial makeup of the human
being. The muscles of the average
child attain only a certain amount of
strength and capacity for work, at
the age Of 13, and the muscular fiber
contains a large per cent of water, and
consequently the muscles are tender
and immature. Imperfect muscular
development may result in curvatures,
deformities, weakness, predisposition
to disease; and these with unsanitary
environment, inhalations of dust, i'm
pure air and noxious gases, injure the
child.
play is the natural condition of
childhood, but the play instinct is
crippled in mill, factory and mine, and
vital stamina is repressed. Child
bread winners become men too soon,
and a man too soon becomes a small
man 1t is not wise to grind the
seed corn.
Another evil effect is seen in low
mentality and inferior moral develop
Iment Child labor does not tend to
the best preparation of life. Children
have the right to be well born, well
nourished, well developed in body, and
a well trained mind and moral culture.
Work that requires quickness, precis-
ion and nervous strain is not for the
child in its early formation. We must
mot crush the child's spirit with man.
hoods toll.
TOO many become vicious because
Iof their surroundings and companion
ship. They are schooled in profanity,
and intemperance, and the salacous
story because of the abnormal atmcs'
IpheTe.
Another evil effect is seen from the
economic condition of the system pre-
vailing. A lower rate of wages falls
to the adult from the competition OF
child labor Wages tend to drop to
the child standard Child labor gives
announcement to the idleness, extrav'
agance, and profiigacy of parents who
livee unnecessarily, from their off
tspring, The love of money is the
root of this as well as other evils
Child labor if not curtailed will re
veal itself in race suicide and ma
tional degeneration. The child is
above dollars and dividends: Wha
we do for the protection, education
and training of the child is an accom-
plishment for the race. We can pa,
too high a price for our industria
progress"