The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-01-10
FEDERATION LAUDS
NEEDED REFORMS
Stockton Convention Takes
Emphatic Stand Against
Employment of Children
TREE BOOKS WANTED
spEcIAL pIspArcH no THE cALL.

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL.
STOCKTON, Jan. $50 far the de-
alterations OF the convention of the
State Federation of Labor have been
marked by the utmost harmony, only
one subject having been touched upon
which, il not adroitly sidetracked.
would have opened up a disquieting
breach. The matter in question was
a dispute between the sailors and the
longshoremen and the delegates from
these organizations saw the wisdom
Of settling their troubles outside the
conventions thus averting the threaten
ing trouble.
OF approval upon many proposed re-
forms, among them being a child-labor
law, a demand for free textbooks in
the public schools, woman suffrage,
against the open shop. against women
engagin, in the liquor traffic, against
Guiding Asiatics from public schools
attended by white children and favor
/ ing a law 10 safeguard the lives OF
structural iron workers.
Many other questions were taken UP,
but the foregoing were the most i'm
portant II was thought that the
State might profitably employ as many
\ factory inspectors as game wardens.
! and a resolution was passed asking
the Legislature to give heed to this
matter. It was claimed that lie we'll
being of the rising generation was as
/ important TO the State as the protec-
ton OF wild animals.
Much discussion was held over the
proposed child-labor law to be pre-
scented to the Legislature A number
I Of the speakers declared that It was
4 highly reprehensible to allow the
/ Christmas vacation Of any child to
4 be taken up in department stores.
4 Delegate Richard Cornelius made an
impressive address on the subject. as
! did other delegates. Walter Macarthur
said:
TELLS OF CHILD LABOR
/ ton IS to enlarge the features OF the exist
/ ING child labor law. passed by the last Leglsls-
ture and now being e1ectually enforced by
State Labor Commissioner Stafford. The law
prohibits the employment OF children I'M
der "A years Of age. The proposed BIZ
would prohibit the employment Of persons under
! is years, and women. for than eight
/ hours IN any one day thus extending TO those
classes OF labor the benefit Of the shorter
workday; already in general operation. among
ure would prohibit the employment of women
and children al night-a feature amply justins-
Die; The harmful effects Of labor during the
period naturally required for rest and recrea-
/ ton and the deleterious effects OF night work
feet these ects being nowhere mo orr
and more lamentable than among women and
children. Possibly certain details Of the hill
now before us may be open 10 discussion, but
there is no room for debate concerning the
chief purpose Of the measure whether consid-
cred from economic, a social or a moral
standpoint.
The committee agrees with the proposal to
eliminate that clause Of the bill which sus-
ponds its operation during a certain period be-
fore and after the Christmas holidays: obviously
there Is much force In the statement that the I'M
restricted employment OF children during the
holiday season is a mockery of the holiday itself
and a qualification Of child labor legislation
This convention should declare for lecislation
which shall give force and meaning to the in
stitutions Of patriotism and religion By aSol-
ishlng the prevailing customs of industry which
make these institutions the occasion of adding
TO the burdens of those already overweighted
with the cares OF life