New-York tribune., 1907-03-03

for IL two more years be spent in school, and
algebra and kindred studies he taken on. the
same Will be OF no avail If no practical use can
be found for such requirements in the lines they
have chosen for bread winning 1t VIII De worm
while also to recognize the fact that the chloren
VIII the sooner become self-supportlhg anu
incidentally aid the poor parents in maintaining
the younger children Of the family
Besides If the present school law prevailing
hereahouts requiring children TO attend sch0oI
regularly until they become fourteen years olH'
is not enforced. what reason is there to suppose
that IL the attendance age is raised 10 SlNteen sixteen
years the law would be enforced any oetter:
In my opinion, the latter plan would De much
more difficult TO carry out
Unfortunately. this is an age when boy ls
almost compelled TO become an oppoEtui.sSt .S ne
cannot look forward even il endowed with good
mechanical gifts. TO becoming an apprenuce 10
a trade in which he may reach general prom
cheney We are made aware OF thls az every
turn. The processes Of manufacture to-day call
for boys and men who can show eXpertness al
some defined speciality: mere automatons VINO
turn screws. pull levers or see that machlne
does its work. All the more need then TO give
the ordinary boy a chance 10 get in line for what
IS TO be done. AS to the extra bright boy. es-
pecially one who has good family packing ne
can remain at school for an indefinite time.
Now for a word on the school question.
believe that a great responsibility rests upon tne
school authority. municipal and parochial. in the
breaking up OF the habits Of absenteeism and
truancy There Is no strong, earnest effort to
abolish those pernicious habits. The matter
should be taken Up at once. Many or the scnooi
people I'm seeking to excuse themselves WIZ tel
their delinquent children and warning them that
they violating the school Law, but the school
authorities do not bring the law TO bear against
the parents. which they should do. They must
be brought to realize that the mere enacting OF
a law is OF no avail IL the law be not enforced.
And this brings to mind an incident OF which
heard recently through friend. as having Oc-
Cured in a village in the province Of Lorraine.
a part of which became German territory after
the war with France in 1870. A farmer there
had been warned BY the authorities that his son
had been allowed 70 absent himself from school.
The farmer did not heed the warning. and a
result the burgOmaster clapped him in jail for
two days. Then he knew better.
I know the plea that Will be forthcoming; the
pa rents are so poor generally that they cannot
pay a fine. but il that is TO govern, then amend
all laws generally. that they VIII not apply
10 poor people. I write SeclinSly on this sub
ject because il is plain enough that the ranks
Of 'hoodlumism' and vagahondage are filed
from among these young delinquents from the
schools. Therefore. while the children are very
young. say at eight nine years Of age strong
pressure should be put upon Ignorant or care
less parents and the future welfare or the chill
dren safeguarded.
which magistrates can aid or thwart Justice. It
seems nowadays as if. when a delinquent parent
such as l have mentioned Is brouShc before
Judge police magistrate. the official becomes
impressed with the idea that he IS there as an
exemplar Of how not to do IT. AS soon rs the
facts in the case have been set forth the fatne"
| and his scared boy are waved OFT with the tritc
| remark: You can go now. and don't let me End
| you here again. And that is all. and the of-
/ fender goes away feeling no YFmArt Af the law
| for his evil doing. AS 10 the cNmpiaiilan- in tho
case it is doubtful II he will s69p be eager to go
! through another experience OF tSRt sort.
| Near the beginning OF TINS arScle I spoke of
the point Of view OF different peoISe on the c!.ild
labor question. II is bur sair thataI should give
miae and will confne myself as closely as pcS-
sible TO a consideration of The be,tcrlnent Of the
conditions. In states where fourteen years has
been established as the minimum age, wouIl
allow that requirement TO remain, for reasons
| have given. Then let the earnest friends Of the
children, through representative societies, set
out to ascertain the practical working Of factory
ana child labor laws in states where great
changes for the better have been brought about
after years Of trial and experience, and where
old and young have been benefited Such has
notably been the case in Massachusetts, New
York. New Jersey and Illinois. but the good work
has by no means been confined 10 those states.
Let the inquiry take up such details as the birth
registry or children and the evils that result
from noncompliance with the law by physicians
and others; the best means Of securing supple
mentary evidence OF age following 4 sworn
statement OF the parent; the most rcablo
method or getting at the correct age OF children
born in foreign countries and TO what extent
the general government can aid In THAI line: the
most effective means of punishins employers
who violate the child labor laws: as to :he ex-
tent TO which punishment should be metei out
10 parents or custodians Of children who present
false evidence Of the age OF the same; the extent
TO which previous attendance at school or educa-
tlohal quallhcation should form prerequisite
10 the issuing Of a certificate OF availability to
work; the hours Of labor for children by the
day and by the week. and also as 90 night y orlC
by them and the reasonable scrutiny as 10 the
physical ability Of a child TO work in a factory.
such details as have mentioned. and others OF
importance. should be examined into by per-
sonsl going ia and out among employees in fac
tories seeing school authorities and those luali-
fed 10 issue certificates for employment, fac
tory inspectors and others. Nor would Il bo
amiss for the committee to enlarge the scope OF
It's inquiry so as 90 embrace the codes OF Great
Britain. France Germany and Switzerland. To
take advantage Of the experience Of others is
the part of wisdom.
A comprehensive report on this important sub
Ject from strong committee could not fail to DO
Of lasting benefit. for 70 might well serve as a
model upon which 70 enact new laws in needed
localities and at once become available as n
lever in the hands of the phianthropic societies
OF the country in their efforts to secure better
laws I'm all parts.
view with anxiety the result Of the
effort that is being made to limit the hours OF
employment Of children working in factories
who are under sixteen years old to eight hours
day. Allowing full force TO the argument that
II bricklayers or plumbers have but eight hours
for days work, children should he equally
favored. still there are economic conditions and
very important ones which must he reckoned
with. Take, for instance, the operations in the
textile industries which require that children
and adults should work side by side. or at least
simultaneously. If the boys cease work for
the day at o'clock in the afternoon. the men
who are working with the boys or dependent on
the process handled by the lads must also quit.
AS a result, the boys and the men both produce
less, and consequently will receive less pay.
There Is an alternative which doubt will sug-
gest itself. namely, to employ children in
textile industries who are under sixteen years
OF age. AS before stated. I am strongly against
such proposition. Besides. the changes pro-
posed might seriously affect the employers Of