The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-11

well as of the head. There must be agricultural and industrial colleges, and, above all, schools in which there can be elementary preparation for agriculture and industry. In the south there is a popula- ton peculiarly fitted to profit by them, population which has been generally re- ferred to as 'poor white" a population of splendid capacities. and almost purely of the old motive stock, which simply lacks the opportunity to develop a degree of industrial efficiency unsurpassed else where on this continent.
 Southern Interest In Children.
 Tt is a matter for congratulation that there is such a steady increase of interest in the southern states In everything per taining to children. This has already markedly shown itself, and I hope will still more markedly show itself in the future, in warning against the evil of child labor in factories. The factory is a very poor place indeed for a child; indeed, per sonally l think the factory a poor place for a woman-certainly for q married woman. or for an unmarried woman for more than q very few years. In any community organized on really healthy lines the average woman will have quite enough to do in her own home, whether she is rich or poor: and nowhere else can she do work of such value to the nation as a whole-and by work. l mean her housework, her work housewife and mother, and not so-called 'home indus tries."s As regards children, it is as es- sential to look after their physical as their mental training.
 Government Safeguard of Children.
 There is increasing need that the well fare of the children should be effectively safeguarded by governmental action; with the proviso however, that this action ch ha al Ui a spirit of robust common sense: for philan- thropy whether governmental or ind- vidual, is curse and not blessing when marked by a spirit of foolish sentiment talty and ignorance. Such governmental action is merely one inevitable result of the ever-increasing growth of our com plex ndustrialism. Decade by decade 1t becomes more and more necessary that. without sacrificing their individual inde- pendence, the people of this country shall recognize in more effective form their mutual interdependence, and the duty Of safeguarding the interest of each In the ultimate interest of all We have inher- ited and developed a superbly self-reliant individualism in this country I most earnestly hope that it will not be lost, that it will never be exchanged for deadening socialism.
 Increase In Accidents.
  chanical and manufacturing operations means a corresponding increase in the number of accidents to the wage workers employed therein, these including both preventable and inevitable accidents. To the ordinary wage workers family such a calamity means grim hardchip. As tne work Is done for the employer and there fore ultimately for the public, 1t is a bit ter injustice that 1t should be the wage worker himself and his wife and children who bear the whole penalty. Legislation should be had. alike from the nation and from the states, not only to guard against the needless multiplication of these ao- cidents, but to relieve the financial sui fering due to them. Last winter Congress passed a safety-applance law which marked a long stride in the right direc- ton. But there should be additional leg slation to secure pecuniary compensation to workmen suffering from accidents, and when they are killed. to their families. At present both in the sphere covered by na- tional legisla tion and in the sphere cov- cred by state legislation, the law in too many cases leaves the financial burden of industrial accidents to bc borne by the injured workmen and their families: and workman who suffers from an accident either has no case at all for redress or else must undertake 3 suit for damages against his employer
 Compensation for Accidents.
 As a matter of fact there is no sound economic reason for distinction between accidents causeds by negligence and those which are unavoidable. and the law should be such that the payment of those