The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-08-22
CHILD LABOR PROBLEM
DISCUSSED All FARGO
CONTINUED from page - 4

= ~ 2. ~ :
/ Continued from page -
state. The period OF childhood lis
shortened instead Il Of prolonged. Il The
child from being blessed incun-
sbrance, becomes an industrial asset,
to come In. competition with. the
father in the labor market of the
world. The consequence is, that the
wages of the father are decreased on
account of the low wages paid for
child help. And still we have fathers
and mothers who insist on putting
their loved ones to work, never real
izing that they themselves are the
cause Of more than One-half OF the
reductions In wages that occur in our
mines, factories, workshops and stores.
Hardly a day passes but that have
calls from parents in. Minnesota, in
sisting that we allow their children
to go Ito work. Boys and girls are
exposed to all kinds Of atmospheres
and unwholesome conditions. They
are chained day In and day. out to
factory machines; sealed up in tene-,
ment sweatshops; hidden -: way in
dark mines; confined in offices and
turned loose in the street. and from.
: the product Of these conditions we
grow men and nomenclature citizens
Of the United States. Can any parent
look with pride upon himself when
he knows that he has not only.
blighted his children's happiness and,
taken away their school days, but has
mortgaged the future men and Wo-
men ofsthe enation Observation-Disclosures aat
Manual Training Schools. -',
In discussing this part Of my ad-
dress to you will endeavor to tell
you something about the manual
training and trade schools which I
have visited in this country. That
this question has it's friends and enc
mics in every community there seems
little doubt, for 1 have found great
difference of poinion. But shall tell
this intelligent body Of citizens of
Fargo what I. think Of manual train
Ing from my standpoint.
That the manual training school is
subject that is agitating the people
Of the whole world there can be little
doubt. :, The school, authorities are
studying the question:, and most Of
them have come to the conclusion that
manual training in our public schools
would be a great: advantage to the
pupils in every community. I stand
for these schools for what good I
think they will accomplish for. the
children Of our nation and the bene-
fits that may be derived from them
for the sons and daughters Of every
labor1ng man in the world. J. have
reached this decision from lang and
thorough study Of the" subject and I
have come: to- the conclusion that
manual training is. the best for: the
boys and girls whe have to earn their
living as tradesmen or mechanics.
Organized labor has been the advance
guard in the education Of the public
as to the great evils Of child labor.
Then, why should it not take UP the
proposition of manual training in our
public schools and educate the people
OF this nation along that line, the
same as it~has on child labor. =:
S.:s.4.labor's Motives Unselfish. :: -.
Did the organized labor forces put
up this grand fight for the children
OF America from a selfish motive or
because they thought they were fight
ing for the benefit Of mankind, for
the future men and women, of the
country. It is my belief, that it was
for the benefit Of humanity and not
from any selfish motive. Then. if 1
am right in my position in that re-
gard: I would ask: What does or
ganized labor propose to do with the
| boys and girls the we are taking out
| of the mines, factories workshops and
off the streets of our cities? is it
| not the intention to- send them to
school? Then, If we are to send them
| to school, why not have schools In
which they can learn how to use their
physical as well as teir mental abili-
| ties. IT, they use their hands thew
are bound. to Sc their brains. School
statistics show. that only 80 per cent
OF the pupils that go through the
highest grade, Of the primary. school
ever attend the high school, and that
less: than. 10 per cent of tose who
attend the high school ever attend
te university. If such is the case.
and we have no reason to doubt the
! assertion Of :: the: school authorittes
then surely there is something radio
ally wrong with our school system
today, and believe that what we
need is more Of the kind of methods
and teachings that will appeal to the
child. We all know that there are
thousands Of boys and girls who will
never be able to become, educated
people from the standpoint of a liter
ary education, but some Of these chill
dren can be educated in mechanical
trades Or other yocations so that they
would be better, able to take their
places among the toilers of this coun-
try, and be successful artisans and
mechanics, and be able to make better
bread winners than they can today
by going into the factory or work.
shop. They are. put there to learn
the trade and never get the oppor-
tunity to do, anything but attend to
the duties of the workshop and fac
tory ;that Is what they are paid for
and the Industrious foreman or pro-
pr1etor keeps, them there from sunr;sa