The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-24
Beveridge Urges Wisdom of
Child Labor Law.
BRITAIN'S ENFEEBLED ARMY
Pitis BILE Picture of Little Ones Toll
ing i'm Factories and MInes-AfR-
dHvits showing the Fearful Ex-
perienceS of Young Boys on the
Coal BreRkers-TO Continue To-day.

which he introduced some weeks ago.
He expected to take the floor shortly
after the Senate convened at noon. but
the debate on the salary increase amend
ment prevented, and il was nearly 3
O'Clock when he was finally recognized.
In consequence he was not able to con-
clude before adjournment, and will re-
sumo to-day at ] o'clock
As a part Of the preparation for his
speech, Mr. Beverage had a very large
collection of books and pamphlets on his
own desk. and the two adjoining it on
either side. His audience was not large
as the proceedings before his speech
had tired cut the galleries When
he commenced TO speak Secretary
Taft was chatting with Senator Dick. of
ohio, directly behind him. The CONVEX
sation evidently disturbed Mr. Beveridge
for he turned and, with a noticeable
flush on his face. remarked that if he
was interrupting the talk he would cease
The party broke up Immediately, and il
was MT. Tafts face which flushed then
Mr.. Beveridge's bin was first proposed
as an independent measure. but later was
reintroduced in the form Of an amend
ment 10 the District appropriation bill IN
order 20 give it a parliamentary adYan-
tage and iRsare "a vote upon It at this
session OF Congress
At the outset Mr.. Beveridge asserted
that according to census returns. 100000
children under fifteen are now employed
of whom 700 600 are engaged in work other
than agriculture.
Child labor on the farm is good" said
the Senator This bill does not strike at
that II strikes only at child slavery in
/ factories, mines, and sWeatshops.
The Senator asserted that the census
figures did not give the complete returns
and that there were many communities
where children under three years Of age
were employed. He submitted exhibits III
the form OF photographs afiidayits and
statements from editors and officers Of
the National Child Labor Committee show
ling the extent Of child employment and
some of the conditions surrounding it.
Jane Adams, of Hull House. Chicago,
was quoted as having observed children
. i've years Of age AT work in cotton mills
of the South.
what this meant 20 the future Of the
nation is before us in an example which
has startled the world-the deterioration
Of the British people revealed by the BOer
/ war When the forty millions who in
habit England Ireland Scotland, and
/ Wales were called upon 10 furnish an
/ army TO meet $500 Boer farmers IN South
Africa. an average of 30 per cent of all
recruits were rejected for reasons Of ply
steal and nervous iHfeFiOrity The in
I spCCtOT general reports that from 40 10 60
per cent were unit for military duty
Under size, narrow chest, bad teeth, de-
cdved nerves. bad vision. and all the 9th
Ct e-fdences Of race inferiority. were the
causes Of rejection.
EnEIand's Poorest Army.
"Of those that were accepted for mill
tary duty. . per cent were Immediately
found unit foT service. OF the remainder
who got to the field, a large number were
incapable Of actual operations in battle
OF those who could so TO the firing line
large number were quick and easy vic
Tins Of enteric fever. The British in
South Africa fought with the ancient
British pluck. which is the last thing 10
decay: but IL was the poorest army that
this wonderful people ever sent 10 the
held-grotesquely inferior compared with
that which any other first, second. or even
third class nation can in month rally to
its cOl0rs to-day.
"Tne situation was a world scandal and
/ Parliament appointed a commission 20 in
/ vestigate the causes OF the decline Of the
/ English people. I have the report. The
cause q Euglands pitiable insufficiency
In the BOer war runs back a century and
| a quarter when the modern factory of
/ England was established One Boer in
the field was worth dozen British sol
diers.
Mr.. Beveridge declared that the States
acting separately, cannot pass a uniform
law which would be uniformly enforced
in all the States. Even if il could be ac-
complished it would take at least a gen
Grafton. and in the meanwhile the sys-
tematic murder of little children and the
systematic deterioration Of American cit
liens would go on.
Boys In the Mines.
Mr. Beveridge presented the affidavit Of
owen R. Lovejoy, assistant secretary Of
the National Child Labor Committee
telling of incidents which he personally
Investigated. Among others he told Of
boys on the breakers For example.
Michael Lutosky. twelve years old had
been working two years; John McLaugh-
lin. fourteen years old. had been working
on the breaker five years; John Thomas
who had began work rs "A breaker boy at
nine years; Joe BartoUsky. torn TO pieces
by explosion, began work on the breaker
at ten years; Peter Swambury. whose
arm was caught in the belt Of the scraper
line Of which he was in charge at the
breaker. and torn out at the shoulder.
began work at twelve years of age This
. g. II
under fourteen
Mr. Loyejoy described what the
breaker Boys work means-''to sit bent
over a stream of coal. which pours out
a cloud Of dust so thick that the light
cannot penetrate il; TO be responsible for
the exact separation from the coal OF
all slate and rock. depending often en-
tirely on the sense of touch; to endure
the incessant rattle Of deafening gigantic
machinery; to suffer the sitting summer
heat and clouds of smothering dust I'm
winter. 10 be conscious that - loss
/ stands behind with his stick or a small
! piece Of coal 10 prompt to duty if =
baCkaChe induces a moments forgetful-
ness For nine hours a day these little
/ fellows toll in the breaker. A five-minute
/ visit TO such a breaker will coat the
/ lungs and throat with a black dust, which
I tWenty-four hours Of the pure air e.lt-
not clear from the mucous Innings.
At this juncture Mr. Beveridge an
/ nounced that the remainder of his speech
would be delivered to-day. There is much
interest in the constitutional phases II
the question which he will present
Carter VIII Score Hitchcock,
/ senator Carter, Of Montana, will speak
/ to-day in criticism of the policy of Sec
/ rotary Hitchcock in the conduct OF the
! General Land Office His line of ATTACK