The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-20
Virginia Branch Of National
ldLabor Association Formed
at Meeting Here Yesterday.

A local branch of the National Child
Labor Association was formed yester-
Gay afternoon at Sanger Hall. following
an address BY DR.. a. j. McKelwny.
OF Atlanta. Ga. one of the secretaries
OF the organization.
DR.. McKelway made an effective ap-
peal for the passage OF laws prohibit
ing the employment of small children
In shops and factories. and ne brought
home his point with number OF tell
Ing illustrations. He pointed out some
OF the economic conditions that have
sections OF the country in the enact
ment OF laws for the prevention of
child labor. declaring that effective
legislation involves many different ele.
mcnts, including the child, the parent,
the employer. the official and the COM
munity.
Laws for Virginia.
In the long run. he said. the effec-
tiveness Of the law depends upon the
conscience of the community as a whole
far more than upon the parent and the
employer. acting together. The sched-
ule OF laws to be worked for in vir-
ginia Is this:
To prohibit labor by NIL children
under fourteen, as against twelve
under the present law.
TO prohibit labor by all children
under sixteen years of age who
do not measure sixty Inches and
weigh eighty pounds.
Y" prohibit the employment OF ali
children under sixteen year. Of
~ no
write lcgibly simple sentences In
the Esngltsh language.
To prohibit night work md NIL
work which !. dangerous to life
and limb.
The Rev. w. j. Maybee. secretary. 81
me Children's Homo Society, spoke
briefly Of his experiences among tn,
ililserate and orphan children OF Vir-
slnla, and of the large number Of
cases which have come under his OBJ.
servation. where children at q time
when they should be In school are
being made to work to support lndi-.
gent parents.
serious Problems.
The Rev. Dr.. James Buchanan, SUI
perintendent OF the Associated Chart
ties, spoke of the work as it appeared
from the strictly charitable Viewpoint
speaking OF the illiterate white child
OF Virginia as one of the most dam
Eerous problems before the state. The
naturally bright boy unable to read
and write. and unframed in any
method Of making his living. and With
natural talent lying dormant. Is des
tined to become either criminal or
n oafer and a charge upon tho Com
monwealth," hes,declared. "He is not
able to compete with the negro and
the foreigner IL unskilled labor where
only plain muscle is demanded, Eff
teen hundred white families are more
or less dependent In Richmond. We're
they educated they would be large
asset to the State"
An organization was formed rs tn.
Virginia Branch of the National Child
Labor Association, with an executive
committee, Of Fifteen, as follows: Hon.
Eugene G. Massie. chairman; the Rev.
James buchanan, D. D.. secretary; Mr..
G. o. Saville, Mr.. George b. Davis, Or.
w. w. Gillette, Mr.. g. e. Cooke, DR..
S. o. Mitchell, DR.. William 2. Dcdd, at
Ashland; the Rev. James Cannon, Jr,.
of BlackStone; the Rev. T. 7, Mc1Tad.
den. n. D., the Rev. w. ]. Maybee, p,
d., Mr.. a. r. Clarke Hon. James 3.
Doherty, Hon. ], p. Eggleston, Jr. and
Mr., Charles Hutzler.
The committee will be calle'l to-
gether by the chairman In short
mr. I 7 4 (. IA