The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-02-07


s Perhaps L may be safd eve do be-
tieye In such lsaisIasion and lin its en-
foreemnt, but how can We bring ~
about 7r We IlsknoM that public opin-
lon 10 ineffective unless N some way Ii
Is concentrated upon definite things, at
definite times through definite means.
n u there Is one thing which we Of
this generation may be said to have
learned, ills that only through orsan,-
za:ion can we bring about great re-
suits. We have mIsuted our knowf-
edge and Rave accomplished muen
evil as we'll as good, but the fact re-
mains unehsllenged that organization
Is necessary III we would be effective.
Through Well Known Organizations.
Now In focusing public opfn ion upon
Inadequate legislation. or ncn-enforre.
ment Of laws bearing upon'the children
Of the State, we have several organ H.
itions ready to our hand. The Con.
tuners League will help US, because
Z goes carefully into the conditions
Under which articles are produced. an d
AN speak with authority upon num-
,ers employed and upon the condi.
lions and effect of employment; the
child Labor Committee can help, for
Is business la to 1nvestiate the exact
.tatus Of our children; the Trades Un.
ems can help, for the matter Is one
with which they have actual expert
.nee; the Church should help, think,
n the name. of the Muster, who said,
whatsoever causes one of these little
mes to often c, 1t were better for him
hat milestone were hanged about his
ieck and he were cast into the depth
IF the sea" Most of all, |, believe, the
Homen's Federated Clubs can help,
Tor they are united and wasting no
inc over petty differences, and they
:re, theoretically, at least. unrestricted
~ lines of class or occupation, and, as
We are tcId by many men of wide OBJ
tervation and study, their organization
second to none in practical efficien-
".
Certainly | do not need to pay any
ribute 10 this organization In this
'laee, fer single glance at the Year
Book of the Woman's Club of Fair.
mont shows that 1t Is fully alive to its
opportunity; that 1t exists not simply
, provide aesthetic or social or intel.
eetuaI pleasure, but that, in addition
these, it is aIIying itself with many
'orees that make for. civic and social
,ctterment.
Appeal to Woman's Club.
Consequently, it is particularly to
The Woman's Club of Fairmont that l
would appeal. and ask IL t. marshall
'ther organizations to help it, first in
thorough investigation of the reasons
Why SO large a proportion Of the chill.
iren Of West Virginia Is growing up
n ign ORANGE, and then In a united Ef.
'ort to create for them new and better
conditions.
1t Is necessary to emphasize first the
Investigation, lest we be like the
White Queen in Lewis carroIrs
Through the Looking GLASS;" with
reads full of ideas without Knowing
what they mean.
Not Simple Question.
And this is really no simple question
o be settled by off.hand Legislation
nd fervent enthusiasm in enforcing II.
FOR instance, we all know that LONG
nenths Of idleness are dcmoraIizfnq to
! child. and that he had much better
le employed In some sorts Of industry
than allowed to run wild. But what
tort, and for how long at timer How
long may he work out of school hours,
nd at what sort of work7 Certainly
We shall all agree that injurious en-.
1foyment should be differentiated from
lon.in furious. and that the problem is
'ne of rational regulation and not of
,rohibiticn. Preferable to any indus.
rial employment, of course, is the use
our school houses throughout the
:unmer as we'll as the winter season,
ind the giving time then to certain
phases of manuel training and nature
work.. Garden plants and sewing and
ordered play may, at very little ex-
'enset give the child its coveted actfv.
ity, and at the same time keep II with.
the pleasant, helpful environment OF
school,.
In this sort of an investigation, OF
course the results ct the census, the
1ata '-iready gathered by the Nation al
child Labor Committee. the consum.
ers' League and any kindred organfza.