The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-06-09
Class LEGISLATION.

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Demagogues with political ASPIRATIONS ana
poor people being carried of by their 1eet
by their protestalions have had much 10 say
of laws representing the labor OF poor folks
children in cotton mills. While this class
legislation was no doubt born OF political or
extremely innocent parents, yet 1t Is true thai
many unthip king people with the best pos
sible notions have Joined in this hue and
cry in the effort to deprive poor folks OF some
of The rights and privileges which are guar
anteed to the richer and more independents oil
their neighbors.
1t Is alleged tbs, work in a cotton mill In
lures the child If done before they are four
Teen years of age and If they are forbidden
until they are fourteen TO do normal LABOR
but in the next breath there is a demand
that they 60 to school. fit Injuries a poor
mans children TO work, what effect does the
study of books nave upon the undeve'oped
mind.
Men, like this editor, who really know
very little about training other peoples chill
drsn are ever ready TO advance their theories
and to call for laws TO govern children IN
cotton mills. We believe that manual labor
and mental culture shout not be strangers,
and mat the child should develope mind and
body at the same time.
As a child should not be required TO study
for twelve hours q day, SO he should not be
rec uired 10 do manual labor twelve hours a
day.
AS q child may probably study for part OF
the day, We believe be may protitably WORK a
part of the day.
But q child should be allowed a time to
play. whether daily, weekly or otherwise Is
not for US 10 say.
To require a child 10 remain In idleness
among several hundred other idle children
Is conducive to the forming Of bad habits.
Leaving out of consideration the resulting
money benefits OF labor nothing is worse
than enforo ed idieness. :
And laws 10 restrict parents OF poor chill.
dren in the management OF their W chill
dren is paternalism run mad, and q gross
wrong to the less powerful part Of the COM
munlty.
While 1t may be right to prevent corpora
lions from the incidental abuse Of children
by long bours Of labor, yet 1t is not proper TO
l~egislate against the family. The control OF
q man in the government of his own children
in a cotton mill is quite another thing.
If you think class legislation against poor
people is right, then these poor people should
nave the right TO assemble and through their
Representatives, TO demand that the children
Of the rich should not be allowed TO 60 bare
foot or that they should not have more than
ohe hole in their stocking &c. As labor ia In
furious 10 the poor. SO is automobile or horse.
back riding Injurious to the rich. Should
poor reople not have the right 10 prescribe
the proper exercise for rich childrep?
II rich folk may regulate the work Of poor
mems children should not poor men have
the right to demand such legislation as
would requisite The sports Of rich rep's Chi
drep? Dancing may be Injurious. Why not
regulate rich mems children In the dance
halls? Why not l~egislate on the subject Of
roller skating.
In a country like this class legislation is
obnoxious and vioiative Of the principles OF
our form OF government, and mrst be repul.
sive 10 the better sentiment of the people
What would you think II rich mems chill
dren's fishing excursions were regulated by 8
law.
B 1t is the mill that should be looked after,
and not the parental control of the children
While the mill may be very properly de-
nied the right TO have children work, unless
regulations, yet there is a more serious mat
ter than child labor that needs attention.
The health and the morals Of a great aggrega-
ton of people needs intelligent care. The
ventilation OF the mill is Of importance.
The home association is Of the first and
the greatest Importance. By what right In
moral or in common justice can q mill allow
a six room house to be occupied by different
families TO the number of seventeen. which
number may include men, women, and
children OF both sexes. OF all ages.
If idleness Is the DEVILS workshop, what
should we say Of the enforced idleness Of
several hundred children in a mill village,
varying in age all the way down from four.
teen.