Evening journal., 1910-02-07
DISCUSS THE
CHILD PROBLEM
Several Speakers at TOday'S
Session Of the Ministerial
Union

a number Of women were i'm the audi
tnee that filled the lecture hall Il St.
pauls NJ. Z. Church this morning at
the public meeting Of the Ministerial
Union. Miss Margaret Sherman cf the
Consumers League spoke of the present
child labor law first enacted in 1908 in this
state. Tho large percentage of nliteracy in
Delaware had been somewhat reduced
since this law was made. 1t was expected
10 amend the law at the next session Of
the legislature, to have an hour day for
boys under l6 and girls under IS. 10 pre-
vent employment OF minors I'm dangerous
occupations and to allow certain excep-
lions for children under "A 10 be employed
out Of school hours at outdoor occupations
that would not hurt them.
The Rev. Hubert W. Wells. chairman.
thought it was time sociological speakers
stopped apologizing to business interests
Tor what they said. Children employed on
the farm were as badly OF as those in
shops and factories-only we saw more
OF these and felt their emotional appeal.
while few realized the lack of care of the
farmer in dealing with hardships on the
farm. Fifty or seventy per cent. of child
'abor, investigators said. was due to the
childrens choice They preferred It to
school.
A. r. Spaid. speaking of hlndrances
20 tho enforcement of the truancy law,
said that the use they had been able
TO make Of the law was not entirely
satisfactory but was beginning. Par
ents were given a three days notice,
and If the child did not appear, the
matter was placed before a magistrate
and a fine administered. The officers
found drunken mothers and so much
cigarette smoking that il was surpris-
ing the teachers got any results. The
cigarette law could be enforced m a
minute if the parents cared. Country
BOYS had worse conditions than city
\ boys tO-day IT the superintendent
tries to improve anything the politi-
Niang try TO throttle his efforts.
Or. George w. Twitmyer said the
city schools were I'm better condition
than the country schools. but were
hampcred for lack Of money. There
were only so truant children stll out
for illness and helping support theii
families The chief difficulty is that
FNOnie nave an lNtE Aldl TINS lIudnl
law enforcement is in some way con-
nccted with the aristocracy and thai
the superintendent is tho arch-dis-
turbcr Of the peace. He paid a higl
compliment TO the commendable WORK
Of tho police force I'm this enforcement
and thought II well they were choser
aa truant officers since they knew
families and their conditions so well
Ile agreed with Superintendent Spait
that it was a crime to send children
from the public schools 10 the i'm
dustrial schools. although he praised
highly the way the girls school wal
conducted.
Dr kellogg asked for protection O
children from unjust disgrace. assicia
tlou with older criminals, and publicity
FOR proper supervision of children OF
parole; and for court supervision %
the adults who created juvenile De
llnqucnts. Delaware has none of thes
things.
Horace 6. Eastburn spoke of tn
Juvenile court law which would he pro
posed for the coming session Of tn
Legislature. 1t provided for courts
Juvenile judge, paid probation officer
and volunteers, also committees to visi
institutions where children were com
mittcd.