The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-06-23
8 HOUR DAY RECOMMENDED
Physical Condition of the Children
is Now Guarded but Lack of
Schooling Closes Door TO the OPP
portUnitys

Joseph D. Beck, state commissioner
of labor and industrial statistics, has
lust finished study of child labor in
Wisconsin, having investigated the
cases Of 5000 children, including more
than 200 cases from Kenosha. He
embraces his conclusions in the follow
ing recommendations which he has
sent to Gov. Davidson:
/. Broader discretion in the refusal
Of state permits
Q Broadening of the system of pub
lie instruction-especially the extern
sion of all phases of industrial educa-
ton.
8. A maximum working day of
eight hours for children which Wiscon-
Elm must adopt if she would overtake
the state of most progressive labor
legislation
4. The requirements Of a minimum
number of years of school attendance
before a permit can be issued. In
this respect also, Wisconsin lags be
hind other states. n
8. stricter responsibility on the part
Of employers for the physical and
moral environment of the children they
hire.
g. A more vigorous enforcement of
the truancy law.
cover 5000. children working on
permits were investigated in their
homes schools and places of employ
meat, said Commissioner Beck,
substantially complete records were
secured for two-thirds of these, and
the investigation is therefore based
upon about 1000 cases
The physical welfare of these child
ZEN appears to be we'll guarded in most
directlons--so well, in fact, that the
physical consequences are the least in
furious Of the results Of child labor in
this state. Most of the injurious and
dangerous occupations are prohibited
for children under 16 and hence physi-
cal injury, whenever it results, is due
70 the fatigue of protracted labor. 1t
ID clear that the strain of ten hours
a day in active labor, and journeys on
foot 10 and from work over distances
frequently two miles or more in each
direction must be serious drain up
on the energy of children of tender
years, Notwithstanding these hard
ships, there appears to be an improve
ment in the general health of children
after they have been employed for a
time, presumably due to the increase
in comforts which they are able to
buy.
The intellectual consequences how
ever, present much graver problem.
Twenty per cent of the children had
gone to work with less than seven
years Of schooling and nearly forty
FIVE per cent had less than eight years,
ability to read and write being the
only requirements other than age.
Nearly seventy per cent of the
children went into factories, while full
" lightweight per cent of these took
mp occupations which involved no
future prospec-a of any kind; less
than half Of those engaged in retail
stores and shops and in errald and
messenger service derived any educa-
tional advantages from their work.
Apparently not more than one-fourth
Of all the children at work were oc-
cupied in labors likely to contribute
to their future progress. The simple
routine of tasks of most of the factory
children are detrimental to mind and
character and the work of not a few,
both in and out of the factories, is
positively demorahzing. Moreover the
Inconsistency of employment of most of
the children is commonly overlooked,
but is really grave problem.
Serious social consequences are
involved in the future of the child
worker The premature ending Of
the child's schooling, The exhaust n
Of its nervous and physical energy,
the mental arrest resulting from ex-
cessively mechanical tasks and duties
calling for no serious sense of response
bility, and the moral and social in
juries resulting from such work ali
unfit lie child, whether boy or girl,
for future citizenship or helpful social
intercourse,
I'm return for the fatigue, the oc-
r-sional danger. the mental arrest.