The newspaper., 1909-06-11
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unfolding be like foretaste OF the kingdom OF heaven
The tragedy OF it all stands out bare and ugly. To
kill child slowly with poison is crime; and is 1t
not also crime through the greed OF some employer
to kill child slowly by destroying all possibility of
the development OF the higher physical, mental and
spiritual part OF his nature? The farmer has sense
and enough not to put the burden OF labor
his immature colts. Shall our industrial life
for the beasts of the field than for the little
for whom Christ died?
From the ranks of the poor have come some OF
Americas most noble men. Yet a Lincoln or a Gar
field, born under the conditions OF today might have
had his chd-life destroyed in sweatshop. mine or
factory
Greek general beaten in the field. offered
peace II he would give one hundred children hos
tages His to the ENJOYS who came de-
manding peace, was quick and decisive: 'Never!
annihilate first! Go tell your general he may have
five hundred men, for know their worth, but
man knows the power the gods have hidden in
child''
Two American homes before us, home
OF love and peace and comfort. The children gather
about their mother in the evening at the hreside
with minds and hearts strengthened and enriched by
the power Of mother love. Tomorrow with the
smiles and good wishes OF loving parents they viii
race merrily of to school. From the other home
other children dragged up from their mean little
pallets OF straw, to have their meagre breakfasts
poured down their throats. then to be rushed off to
the mill to toll amid the roar OF machinery for eleven
hours day. After long cheerless day they return
drearily to their poor narrow il-smelling homes
tired often to partake OF their scanty suppers OF
spoiled beef and dry bread, and drop down their
rude beds or the floor to get little rest to pre-
pare them for the work OF an endless tomorrow.
The employers OF children are SO hypnotized by
their greed for gold and self satisfied with their
abundant possessions and material comfort that their
minds dulled and deadened to the OF
sbty for Others. They do not hear the cry OF little
children, realize that child labor means phys
cal wrecks, ignorance. vitiated tastes, moral de-
generates and criminals.
In the most crowded market OF London there
stood day a slip OF girl upon the curb stone
waiting the thousand vehicles to by that she
might the tall policeman took her by
the hand, and with his other hand uplifted stopped
the traffic of London for the sake Of child There
may have been some grumbling and cursing on the
part OF the teamsters but to have driven careessy
the chid's body would have been to create a
riot And so II busy traffic be stopped for brief
moment while conduct the child along its ap
pointed way let the traffic stop For the child means
more to humanity than any material gain. Selfin-
erest cannot withstand the universal interest in the
welfare of the child. America at least has begun to
realize this and through the influence of Theodore
Roosevelt many earnest people met this year at
conference. which tends to have far reaching In
fuence
great Frenchman once said OF the alphabet
..These twenty all good things
that ever be said, only they need to
he arranged" To complete the truth OF this state
ment should have added all the bad things WELL
And so 1t is with the children OF nation. Capable
OF expressing the good evil in the world It Is
matter Of arrangement, that Is opportunity and
environment whether the children Of the future becom
physical, mental and moral degenerates or stronge
and women When the responsibility oil this Ii
fully recognized and employment Of children under
fifteen years is forbidden throughout this great
try the nation realizes that the demand for the
children is the highest patriotism and enfods every
child within it's protecting arms. then and not till
then will II be possible to look with confidence
toward the future, unashamed and unafraid.
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