Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-04-24
American Women and Child Labor.

dir ike me.
James w. Foley.
$3.50
American Women and Child Labor.
The American woman, so far, has not
greatly desired to enter politics. But, in
a disinterested way, she is the most en-
thusiastic worker for the public good, in
social, municipal. and national questions.
in the world. And she is especially in
terested in children. All over the land
there are child-study clubs. children's
hospitals, homes for friendless children,
library workers for chldren's needs, and
sum settlements where children are
gathered into classes and clubs; and of
all these things women are the life and
soul
There is, however, a big. necessary ma
tional movement, concerning the very life
and safety of American children, of
which many women know absolutely
nothing. and yet in their help is most
urgently needed. The national child labor
committee has long been appealing for
the cooperation of the American woman
in securing to AN children in the United
States THE right to childhood" and in
opening the schools, on one hand. and
closing the factories, the glassworks, the
coal breakers. and the stockyards, on
the other, to the hapless little children
who have no protection from premature
toll and stunted lives. If the American
woman responds to this appeal, the cry
of the children VIII cease. And already
in some states, the response is beginning.
In New York, the women's clubs are
holding fine meetings, crowding to hear
the speakers of the national committee,
and sending a chain of circular letters
from club to club, till all sign them and
forward them to the legislative commit
tees. In Illinois the women have secured
the passage of a first rate child-labor
law and the appointing of a first rate
factory Inspector. With their backing,
the inspector has gone ahead and en-
forced the law until not a child now tolls
IN the Chicago stockyards or factories
1t has been abundantly proved thar
women can thus protect the children of
their state or community. What remains
% be proved is how many OF them will
join IL the movement.
The national child labor committee
has such women as Jane Adams, Mrs.
Sarah Plate Decker Lillian Wald. and
Florence : lelly among it's members. 1t
Is working nowadays to get associate
memberships among the women of every
state in the union If any reader of the
Bazaar wishes to become an associate
member, or 40 know more of the work
IN any way, all she need do is TO gather
In two or three women of her acquaint-
ance and together send two dollars to the
national child labor committee, 103
East Twenty-second street. New York
city thus entering the group of women
as a Local league" To this league the
committee in New York will henceforth
send pamphlets, leaflets and all sorts of
information for study and discussion.
II the league desires a lantern lecture.
so as to get the neighborhood or the
sunday school interested. and can pro-
vide lantern, the committee will send
MIL e.nF S,E rr-,w
some state near at hand. with no charge
except travelling expenses, and give an
excellent lecture
Single associate memberships, with
the same privileges, cost 81. But there
IS a way of direct influence which only
costs cents, and is also greatly de-
sired by the committee. That is. that
each woman who is interested shall find
OUT what child labor bills are before the
state Legislature, and write a letter to
!ef congressman or state senator, urg-
ing their speedy passage A postage
stamp IS the only expense for this, and
~ y may give the deciding vote to a bill.
Inc influence of the women of a state
u IN urging the appointment of a good
factory inspector, and backing him up in
ms enforcement of the law, is another
point quite as important.
lrst. to inform herself as TO the laws
Heedeu; then to use her personal effort
suCH ldNS passed IN neF OWN
etdte' third, to back up the enforcement
VI lhese laws by capable and honest in
Spectors-here are the things that the
fAAeFlcan woman can do. In Congress,
.ast year, three child labor bills were in
Igduced-one regulating the labor of
Cuhdfen IN the District of Columbia, as
model for all the states to follow, an
99lner Tor the establishment of "chil-
gren bureau" in the department of la
Dof' a third for investigation as to the
sOuqltlQn of woman and child workers
10 the United States.
, Inc child labor question is a vital
"uu large question. Every woman
LIQUID know about it. Every woman
uvuiu use what powers she has to pro-
'cct and help chi1dren.-Harper's Bazaar.
Boarding House Life.
Even the generally despised boarding
+.ouse = not without cheering cOmpensa-
uohs' 10 be sure it isn't home. but we
amt all have homes; and it has some
hasn't -
" course, as a mere matter of money,
ouiig5sses writer in The Delineator, |
CoAd take a small apartment and main
an u i1r rot more than | am paying
tsle But other considerations hold me
*.SA; When my housekeeping friends
vSli narrowing tales of difficulties with
iTi@lus' am glad that | have none. When
see how the responsibility Of a home
teSlers them, | am glad TO be free and
iInoependent just because home-making
r ~ 70 strong a charm. will not let my
Sg! I'll, oe drawn into its engrossment now,
T TLiie owe all my energy to other work
o4iess 1 can have strong, kindly. com
S se{.-t woman to keep house for me and
1f4eVe me of all care except such as ]
loose 10 take. housekeeping is not for
r.e. such woman as 1 need can com
lana a high salary, and that / am not
yet able to pay.
Ike the degree Of companionship
tSs5afi9g house life affords. Most of the
''Ls am too busy to be sociable. When