Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-27
CHILD LABOR EXHIBIT
ASAN0BjECT LESSON
National Committee Seeks to
Secure Legislation to Bet
ter Conditions.

Though tho number of persons who
have visited the child labor exhibit. which
is being held under the auspices of the
national child labor committee at 1928 G.
street northwest. has been comparatively
small up to the present time, those who
have seen it have expressed themselves
as deeply impressed.
Pictures Of the horrors of the coal
mines, with their fathomless darkness,
where lone boy. fourteen years Of age
or under, opens and shuts gate at each
trip Of the little cars carrying coal to
the outer world; of lads of tender years
upon whose faces are plainly written
hopelessness and despair; and again boys
Of twelve and thirteen years MANNED for
life by having their hand or arm caught
In dangerous mill machinery which de-
fective laws have permitted them to op-
crate, form an instructive object lesson.
Objects Of the Association.
1t is not only the bad physical effects
of work on the children that those in
terested In the movement are trying to
overcome, they say, but the bad moral
effects as WELL There are large numbers
of the pictures which show boys between
eight and ..i f.lteen years Of age with eiga-
A bulletin placed in one of the rooms
shows that Of one hundred young boys at
work, seventy-eight We're. not forced to
by home conditions, while fourteen OF
them WERE The remaining eight used the
money they earned to pay for their own
clothes. In another case where fifty boys
had been questioned. 1t was shown that
four OF these bought their own clothes,
four had need of their money at home,
what they made in any manner they de-
sired. which It was declared was often
in gambling.
Hours Of Toll.
In the industrial states, where a large
percentage OF the boy workers are in fac
tories, they earn very small wages and
are often compelled to work for ten
hours. There are thirty-five states in the
Union in which boys under sixteen years
Of age may work more than eight hours
day. In thirty-three states children UNI
der sixteen years Of age may work at
night. Not only is the legislation in sew
eral Of the states defective, declare those
in charge Of the exhibition. but in sew
eral Of the states which have good laws
appropriations for the enforcement of the
laws are not available, and consequently
the laws are often not observed.
One picture shows boy of perhaps ten
years who was taken from school on a
sworn statement Of his parents that he
was too delicate to attend. Yet he was
placed in a coal breaker, where he was
forced to work nine hours q day in air
thickened by coal dust.
There are no special sections where the
evils of child labor exist, testify the bull
Ietirs. but in almost every state i'm the
Union there is need of better legislation.
The movement is to conserve the health
Of the growing generations, ''and," 1t Is
argued, ITO conserve natural resources
and not the generations which are to use
Them
Proposed Plan Of Action.
One plan by which tho evils of child
labor may be overcome. assert those
Interested in the movement, Is the "schol-
arship plan" BY this plan the parents
of the children who are in need Of
money are paid as much as the child
could earn. and the child is sent to
school. There are comparatively few
of these cases, according to the data
shown; most Of the money, particularly
where the small workers are residents
of large city. is spent to crafty their
own desires, or the proceeds of their
labor taken home and used to buy or
naments. pianos and other luxuries.
The home Of one small worker Is
shown to be about as fine as any pri-
vate residence in the same city.
The exhibit will be open between the
hours Of II am. and 10 pm. until Fri
day next. Miss Elizabeth Mem. Din
widdie, who is in charge, has invited
every one interested in child labor to
visit 1t. No admission Is charged.