The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-06-25
CHILD LABOR
IN KENTUCKY
Report Of Chairman Of Inter.
national Committee.
Read ut State Meeting of Federated
Clubs Held in Paducah-Shows
Fedcrations Work ON I'M
portant Question.
LAW WAS EFFECTIVE MONDAY

Mrs. James A. Leech of Louis
lville' chairman of the Industrial and
lChild Labor committee OF the State
Federation of Woman's clubs made
the following report in the annual
meeting here June Is, through
Miss Caroline Leech. Mrs. Leech
was sick and unable to attend and
the report is given to show the fed
eration's work on the important
Question OF child labor, made peril
nent through the going into effect
Iof the new law. on Monday.
Madame President and Members
of the Federation:
Your chairman of Legislative work
Iwill report to you the victory which
has put our State on working level
with the best except that we have a
ten hour day and some laws restrict
the time 10 eight hours for children
under IA years.
1t was decided that the Federation
workers would not present a bill OF
their own. but would cooperate with
the Kentucky Child Labor Associa-
ton In its work. the women on that
board being all Federation mem
bers.
From the beginning, only one
point which did not finally appear In
the bill, was questioned by YOUR
chairman, so all this work has been
harmonious. Working for the same
end, IL is wise for us to continue our
Incorporation with the Kentucky
Child Labor Association as we have
done with the Consumers League
which faithfully stood by the guns
while your chairman was laid aside.
/ wish especially TO thank the Of
ficers of our Federation for system
attic and persistent encouragement
and work for the Child Labor BIZ.
over which We rejoice today.
The clubs OF the state have had
standing committees which have held
open meetings. distributed literature
and written letters without number
TO our state legislators.
The visit Of Mr.. Loyejoy to Louis
willie in December aroused so much
interest that many who had been in
different came openly into the camp
OF the life savers
We are also grateful to have had
the presence OF Mr.. Chopper. this
districts agent for the National
Child Labor committee and q. Is a
special pleasure to have this oppor-
tunity for expressing our mead OF
praise weel-earned by your courage
Gus Senator (Wheeler Campbell)
who stood so faithfully for the wo-
men and children last winter
The sheaves We bring today have
been ripened and gathered By many
hands. Besides our workers. the
newspapers of the state have stood
nobly by the efforts TO save the
children The ministers from their
pulpits have done fine work. The
many clubs for social service have
spread the gospel. Some OF the co,
lege students have chosen this sub
ject for their addresses. The quiet
home circles have discussed the ques-
ton and helped to make public sentl-
ment
The Factory Inspectors have done
their duty well and report fewer fac
tories or shops. willing to employ
those below legal age.
The Juvenile Court with probation
officers and the truant officers Tor
schools. are all such cooperative
agents that it is impossible to tell
where our work is separated.
The members OF this committee
whose last reports ! have not been
able to gather have in their indivld-
ual way done splendidly Thirty
legislatures are TO meet next winter
and all we can do to arouse favor
able sentiment in the whole country.
Will be Of great service.
When the Child Labor Bill in the
District of Columbia came into Con-
gress our clubs and many individuals
sent letters To our two senators. and
various congressman. Your chair
man enclosed a synopsis OF our bill
to all Of them making the plea that
they should stand by a bill for the
District Of Columbia, that their own
constituents had passed
In the House of Representatives,
the unprecedented result followed
the discussion of the bill, Of a unanl-
nous vote on "A roll call. The OPP
position IN the senate by few mem
bers has resulted in the loss OF the
bill for this season II is our duty
to help force this fight next winter.
But believe a new note struck
has not only done much for Ken
lucky but reaching all the states
through an unlocked for field.
When the people are neither ignor-
ant of child labor nor Indifferent to
it. the question will be settled, our
problem now being to reach the
largest number in the shortest time.
| Last October the Protestant Epis-
copal church, through the influence
of Bishop Green of New York passed
a strong resolution urging its mem
bers to work for the suppression of
child labor. Your chairman then
determined to use her best efforts
Ito narsuadp other religious hndiae IN