The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-01-26
The CHILD TRIBUTE TO THE FACTORY uUGGERNAuT
BY ONLY JOHNSON.

Some years ago heard the late
Bishop Joyce preach sermon in the
First Methodist chruch at Chattanoo-
ga, Tenn. The bishop possessed great
personal magnetism, and his oratory,
always impressive, was at times ferv1d,
impetuous, electrifying. had heard
him preach before, have heard him
since, but on this occasion, he rose to
a. climax In a soul-stirring apostrophe
to childhood" that time has not, nor
ever will, hope, efface from nv mem
DRY.
"Chidlhood!" he exclaimed; then
paused, and leaning far over the pull
pit, his right hand outstretched and
gazing over the heads Of the congre.
cation. he articulated slowly, dn tones
that vibrated with suppressed emotion,
angelic childhood!"
And the heart Of every hearer throb-
bed great Amen
On August 16, 1905, Owen r. Love-
Joy, secretary Of the national child
labor committee, speaking at the con-
vention CT the International Associa-
ton of Factory Inspectors in Detroit
But who will present the cause Of
the army Of toiling children? Who
will array the pale faces and crippled
limbs and hollow chests and dwarfed
intellects and moral fatigue of these
little laborers to plead for them?"
Not only Mr.. Lovejoy but many 9TH
ers have been pleading the cause of the
children for years past. But in spite
Of this, and notwithstanding the beau
tiful tributes to angelic childhood"
from many a pulpit and, to quote
from Mr.. Lovejoy's speech, "despite
| the efforts to reduce the army of work.
ing children in America, during the
period from 1880 to 1900, while the
population Of the country Increased
only so per cent, the number Of boys
from 10 to Is years of age engaged in
| mechanical and manufacturing pur-
number Of girls between the same
ages and In the same class of indus
tries increased $50 per cent.
angelic chdldhood"-a beautiful sem
timent.
Sentiment. Just that-sentiment
The birds are singing in the rustling
tree tops, the lambs are skipping in
green pastures-but the children of
men, the young of human kind, are
YEARLY, treading the soul-killing lock-
step Of the factory.
angelic childhood" Weep, angels,
at the pitiful spectacle!
When we were little children our
elders used to horrify us with tales Of
Hindu mothers who, as a religious rite.
lung their offspring into the Ganges
river. MIR. Lovejoy says: 1.-THE sum-
martes of. working people and of acct
dents, In the few states that give these
totals, will show the grew
some fact that the factory child is two
and one-half Of three times injured for
every injury to an adult"
What wicked creatures the Hindu
mothers were! But then, what can be
expected of a heather?
True, the Hindu child suffered for a,
moment only, and then suffered no
| more forever.
We, who, thank God, are not as the
heather are, fling our children into
the factory. There they do not die; at
least, not so speedily-except occa-
sionally, when some tired little boy
stumb1es into the whirling wheels, or
some paid little girls hair gets caught
in swiftly running belt
The civilized nations have put a
stop to the sacrificing Of Hindu chill
dren. What are they doing with their
own? What, forsooth, ought a thrifty
commercial people to do with it's as
sets? Throw child to the crocodiles!
Why, bless you, here in America ten
year-old girl (she will work cheaper
than a boy) is an asset of incompar-
able value. She will spin more cotton
than man, and will work for a frac-
ton of his wages.
Listen further to Mr.. Lovejoy. He
admits frankly that the child will do