The San Francisco call., 1910-11-15
WELFARE LEAGUE
Will NOT RECEDE
UphoIds Mrs. Porter in Cotton
Mills Controversy Over
Children

OAKLAND. Nov 1.-THE Childl
Welfare League Of Alameda County a
its regular monthly business session
this afternoon issued the following
statement:
After investigation by Oakland School
Attendance Officer Shane. Probation Of
fcer Rress snd Z committee Of The Childs
- welfare league. the league declared that
The statement OF Mrs. John y. Porter, sec
rersrv Of the league. at the october meet
ing. that many children under IA years OF
age employed at the California cotton
mill is justified by the appearance of the
children. Mrs Porter simply stated the fact
fin her remarks at the October meeting
without placing the responsibility
We End that these children and their
reren+s claim that they are over Il years
Of age doubtless with the desire 10 Sc
cure permission 10 bring money INTO the
family funds, ana that the California cot
ton mills are very scrupulous IN permitting
no children 20 work without the required
age and schooling certificate from the school
We believe that the responsibility for this
condition lies, first upon the poor. ignorant
and usually foreign parents OF these chill
5ren who wish them 10 quit school and
earn money early; second. upon the lack OF
sufficient safeguard in the law as TO the
issuance Of such certificates. and, third,
large vino scQuiesce in this condition
We believe that the remedy lies In: First,
Trade education in the public schools, that
ch ldren may not find them unreal and long
10 stop school before completing heir
education Second. supervised Fairgrounds
in everr neighborhood that the children
may have Wholesome use for their leisure
time. and, third. the amendment OF the
law governing the issuance Of such certi-
hcates
The conditions Of the issuance Of such
certificates should be- First. satisfactory
proof that the child is Il years OF age. the
parents mere statement. not 10 be considered
satisfactory IN the absence Of other proof
where the child appears 10 q school prinei-
10 ! "a
Of doubt TO be referred for q determination
10 the superintendent aud attendance officer.
Second actual need II the family for the
wages ~ the child applying Ihlrd, pnyslcai
fitness Of the clLd 10 he evidenced by normal,
growth end health. Fourth. completion by
the child ~ al least the nith grade IN tne
public schools or itS equivalent. Fifth.
al such certificates to have attached TO
them a small photograph with physical
description Of the child 10 prevent sub
stimtIons and transfers Sixth. no certih-
cate to be issued unless employment IS
actually waiting for the child applying, ana
any certificate 10 become invalid IL the
holder Is idle for more than three months
We believe that work Itself is not harm.
ful 70 children when not INITIATING against
the child's play or education. We favor
the extension of vacation certificates, in
ending Saturdays and holidays
Mrs. Porter startled her fellow mem
bers last month in her discussion o
the child labor problem in the loca
mills. and exception was taken to he
statements by William Rutherford, su
perintendent Of the East Oaklan'
plant Of the California cotton mills
The action this afternoon was takel
TO support Mrs. Porter. and commit
tee was appointed consisting OF Mrs
Porter. Mrs Elinor Carlisle. Mrs
Charles Barnes Bird, Christopher Rues
and Mrs. Nellie Nelson to confer wit
City superintendent Of Schools ]. "
McClymonds as TO the legal aspects o
the question and suggestions for bet
tering the present system.
superintendent McClymonds and J. F
Allicott, principal of the Prescott
school, were the speakers of the after
noon.