Evening journal., 1909-03-13
OPPOSES
CHILD LABOR LAW

The Central Labor Union Of, Whining
ton, has sent a communication to the
House of Representatives at Dover. an
nouncing its disapproval of the present
child labor law. The full text OF the COM
muncation, a summary of which has al
ready appeared in THE EVENING
JOURNAL. follows:
To the Speaker and Members of the
House Of Representatives Of the state
of Delaware Dover, Del:
Gentlemen: In the public press we
read that the bill to amend the child
labor law is before your honorable
body.
This executive committee of the Cen
trail Labor Union-the authorized voice
of the Central Labor Union between meet
ings-desires to say that the Central La
Dor Union OF Wilmington, Delaware. does
not approve Of the present child labor
law. In our surNment the one thousand
dollars per year appropriated for the pur-
pose of inspection of factories is practi-
cally thrown away. This Central Labor
Union offered, by request, certain amend
ments TO the present child labor law. They
were given to the present factory in
SDtckOF. .lnioAkn MS attorney.
The amendment offered by the Central
Labor Union provided THAT the inspector
of factNies should receive Twelve hun
dred dollars per year; that the factory in
spectov be empowered to name a woman
as assistant factory inspector; that the
salary OF the woman inspector should be
seven hundred and twenty dollars per
year; that she should be a woman thor
oughly familiar with factory life; that
the inspector of factories should have an
office in a public place in the city of
Wilmington; that the office be open daily
from a m to p m. that the factory
inspector publish reports monthly In the
public press; that the factory inspector be
provided with a contingent fund from
which office rent, printing, railway fares.
etc. be paid; and that the State inspector
of factories and his assistant be required
to devote their entire time to the work. -
The State inspector OF factories to-day
receives but one thousand dollars per
year. he has no woman assistant. The
need OF woman in the work is obvious
Out of the one thousand dollar appro-
rriation he must conduct the office, pay
all expenses and live. hence the inspector
Of factories must necessarily look upon
the duties of his office as aside line"
The present inspector is interested in
two other forms Of business Doubtless II
is necessary so to do In order to live. The
State of Delaware should take as much
interest in the welfare of the boys anC
girls OF our State-the future fathers and
mothers as it'd oes. well, say in a parad,
Of the militia. or in the protection Of
swapping turtles; but does it?
-Four thousand eight hundred dollars u
appropriated for a parade in Washington
one thousand dollars is appropriated tS
safe guard the children in factories. lie
the State appropriate sufficient money tC
carry on the work of factory inspection
properly. let the inspectors be those VIII,
understand and are interested in the fac
tory children. let the law be mandatory
that the state factory inspector and his
assistant shall give their time exclusivel,
to the work. DO that, or abolish the Of
fec.
The present factory act is a farce. Tn,
money is wasted. Divorce the factory ac
from politics. or defeat the bill entirely.
The Central Labor Union is disguised
with city statesmen who oppose all chile
labor bills in the interest Of ignorant dol
lar-chasing parents. We arc also disgust
ed with those country statesmen. who, II
the interest Of special privilege and th'
canning factories, oppose all child labo
4 bills But we arc also opposed to th'
scheming. ward-statesmen who are eve
ready to turn the child labor law or an!
other law into a political job. Make tn
child labor act general. Take Il out o
/ the hands of political heelers. Give TO Il
proper appropriation. Appoint TO the in
spectorship those who understand and ar
in sympathy with the factory children. o
abolish the act.
The State will not permit parents
whether actuated by ignorance or greed
to abuse a child in ordinary affairs TIL
state owes a duty to the factory child AT
also to itself. Perhaps the Legislature o
Delaware will in its wisdom. refuse L
listen to this Central Labor Union on tn
child labor law. as II has refused to lis
ten on several other bills. SO be It. w
register our plea for the factory child, an
we appeal to the future.
Very sincerely yours,
The Central Labor Union of Delaware
by the Executive Committee-Thoma
Taylor. president: Lewis L. Goodles
secretary: John NJ. Dorney, chairman
legislative committee.
Wilmington, March 10. 1909.