Evening journal., 1908-01-29
Wednesday, January ao, 1908.
CHILD LABOR AGITATION.

II Wis of child labor were wildly portrayed
IL bv several city ministers last Sunday, tpat
dav having been set apart by the national COM
inittee as an occasion for considering TINS lnpoi-
tant subject The national committee, which IS
conducting campaign for abolishing child labor
requested that cergymen should speak upon the
subject in the hope of arousng people to the ili-
effects OF the continued exploitation OF children
Most of the religious denominations have joined
in this campaign, speaking in no uncertain tones
against the employment OF children. FOR many
wears labor unions throughout the country nave
opposed child labor. Prominent statesmen, IN
ciuding Senator Beverdge, OF Indiana, who IS
oarticularlv concerned in the movement are de-
voting their time and talents to campaign OF
education with the object OF securing national ana
State laws that may lessen the evils OF child
labor.
The movement has made progress. It will not
down Many States have child labor laws that
are enforced with more or less strictness But
thousands Of children still work when they should
be at play or school, and there is much to be ac-
complished in their behalf by the humane persons
who recognizing the child labor evil, are dong
their best to abolish it.
The child labor question has a moral, an eth-
ca land an economic side. Children are the future
citizens of the republic, future wealth producers
OF the country. Therefore, from an economic
point of view it is incumbent upon the nation to
have its citizens strong and sturdy, capable OF
doing their part in every branch of industry.
Without question the exploitation OF children
in mills and factories is not conducive to their mo-
rality. Ethically, the employment of children is
wholly wrong. Their employment is an infringe
ment upon their rights in civilized society. De-
prived of pleasures that naturally belong to them
in their childhood how can these children become
good citizens love country, life in which means
to them, from their earliest recollectons, mer-
ciless grind and toll for existence9
AS they grow older and begin to comprehend
life as it is, what must be the thoughts of the un-
fortunate children as they see other children en-
joying those pleasures OF childhood and those
happy days while they the unfortunates, are
doomed TO a life that saps their vitality, stunts
their proper development and too often wrecks
their bodies, sending them to premature gravesl
Why this slaughter of the innocents? 1t is
simply a sacrifice to the Moloch of modern in
dustry which so far as it relates to children has
brought about abnormal industrial system that
is permitted to continue because of indifference of
lawmakers and a lack of proper grasp of the
subject by the public Modern industry demand
ed first, the service of men, then it commanded
women, and finally it reached out its capacous
NAV for children as its prey.
The old economists declared that the sole object
OF industrial progress was the accumulation of
wealth, the making OF material things, and every
was to look out for himself in the distribu-
ton Of this wealth. This idea that the sole object
of even industrial life is 10 accumulate wealth,
is responsible for the working OF children. But
in this day more humane, more ethical view
IS taken. We consider along with the accumula-
ton Of wealth. its proper distribution, and we
consider the Individual welfare of the citizen of
a community. We believe in larger view of
life. Great wealth in a nation does not mean, as
many enormously assume, we'll being or
happiness among a people. 1t does not follow
that the existence Of great wealth that this
wealth is distributed among the people according
TO the principles Of enlightened justice. Huge
wealth which a nation gamers from the
labor of children and the labor of l-paid, under
fed worknen is tainted wealth that should be de-
spised.
1t should be the purpose of government in this
age TO protect the masses of people and the care
Of children should ever be an uppermost topic
with legislators.
Much progress has been made in this kind of
legislation, but thousands OF children are still
chained to the juggernaut of modern industry.
To strike the shackles from the little
ones and give them some of that light and life
which benehcent Creator intended they should
possess, is the object Of the movement in opposi-
ton to child labor.
GRAFT GASES 7 NTpENrhJcUT xThNrrh