The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-11
STATES DUTY TO GUARD
GROWING GENERATION
Worthless Parents and Mcrccnary
Employers Wrecking Hundreds
Of Lives - Declaration OF
Dependence Necessary
Now, Or. McKelway
Declares.

ton, their training and the
- evil OF driving them under
steam pressure at the wheel,
when their frail limbs and bodies are
too weak to stand the terrible pun
ishment and strain, the general session
Of the National Conference of Chari-
ties and Correction at st. Paul's Church
last night aroused the public to the
Importance OF more adequate laws to
protect the growing generation from
the marciIcss and merccnary demands
OF industrial life.
Three speakers, natives and residents
of the South. first championed the cause
of compulsory education, and then at
tackled the employment of children In
cotton mills, where they help to pay
dividends and give leisure and comfort
TO lazy and worthless fathers. The
broad statement that iliiteracy would
disappear from the South II these
young people could be dragged from
spindle and loom and turned over to
the care OF teachers was made.
Some of the Problems.
DR.. A. ]. Mckelway, OF Atlanta, as
.istant secretary of the National Child
Labor Committee. who discussed Child
Labor and Citizenship said that there
was a time when q Declaration of In
dependence was necessary. but that the
dgy hal come when a declaration OF de-
pendence by the children of America
uas needed to save them from ruin
Professor W. II. Hand. of the Uni
ycrs!ty of South Carolina, and Miss
Jean Gordon, factory inspector OF New
Orleans, pointed out the Imperative
demand for compulsory education.
while Miss Jane Adams. of the Hull
House settlement in Chicago. urged a
modification of the school SO that
the child could be taught TO dominate
his machine OF labor and could be I'M
pressed with the relation OF his studies
to the work which he will later per-
form.
The interdependence OF the varying
themes was so clearly impressed upon
the audience, which crowded the
church beyond the point of comfort,
that there was touch OF human In
terest throughout the appeal resulting
in a more definite understanding OF
conditions as they exist to-day. Though
deploring the child labor evil. there
was a tone of optimism in the ad-
dresses, for 1t was shown that good
and substantial results have been ac-
complished by the enactment Of laws
to limit the age at which the young
may be employed in factory and mine.
Ruin Lives for Curtains.
To some the talk of Miss Addams may
have been disappointing, but not SO
to members OF the conference. familiar
with her efforts and strong OF belief
in her sincerity as humanitarian.
With one Illustration she emphasized
the sin and the misguided policy OF
parents who would waste the life of
their offspring-who would sacrifice
them to build modest home and buy
lace curtains. She pleaded for manual
training and a closer relation between
school labor and its effect upon the
ability to earn wages.
Though not on the program. Mr..
Owen Lovejoy, secretary of the Ma
tional Child Labor Committee. aroused
fusal of the United States Senate to
adopt the child labor law prepared
by his association for the District of
Columbia. and then commencing the
House of Representatives for passing
1t without amendments. He asked the
conference to use it's great Influence
to induce the Senate to concur with
model law which could apply to and
be enacted by the various States.
Race Question Again.
AS on former occasions, the race
question loomed up in the discussion
OF compulsory education, Professor
Hand denying that it would give the
negro an advantage over the whites
In lifting him above the stage of IL
literacy. Miss Gordon, who submitted
more concrete evidence in support of
this view. or denial, claimed that in
New Orleans the negro and the Jew
are not to be found in factories and
department stores, that work. fell to
'syour little white-faced. shrunken-
chcsted, curved back white Christians.
while tho Jew and the negro boy We're
at school, well-nourshed and waxing
strong in tho glorious Southern sun
light.
To-day the conference will enjoy that
same sunlight, mingled with the breeze
that sweeps over the James. AS the
guest OF the city it will go by steamer
to Westover. Tonight the general
session will be equal in Importance to
all, for 1t will deal with the subject of
pubic health, the principal speakers
being DR.. H. w. Wiley, the govern
ment's pure food expert, and DR.. Bev-
erly Warner, OF New Orleans, who will
discuss the negro's outlook for health.
No-Applause Order Failed.
Miss Frances Curtis, OF Boston, pre-
sided as chairman Of the committee on
children last night. The program was
changed. and Professor Hand who was
called home, was introduced as the
first speaker. Miss Curtis asked that
the audience refrain from applause,
but there was hand-clapping at tho
conclusion OF every address.
Professor Hand contended that the
need OF compulsory education laws N
+ the South Is evident from the fearful
" large percentage OF filliteracy amons
the white children and the whites OF
voting age. as we'll as the large nuns
her OF children not In school. 1T II
evident. too" he continued, that the
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