The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-01-13
Lab<>v in West Virginia
discussed by E. N.
Chopper.
In Advance Advocate in
Which He Discloses
Practices of the System
in Glass Industry.

The manufacture of glass is confined
10 the no!ihern and western portions of
;hc state and the factories may DC rough
" separated into three divisions; those
that make window glass, those that mako
east aud rolled glass, and those that
make bottles and tableware. The max
ing of window glass involves much heav-
lrr labor IArn the making of bottles or
tableware, consequently this branch of
the industry makes no draft upon child
labor, and this is true in 4 lesser degree,
perhaps, OF the cased and rolled glass in
iustry. In the manufacture of bottles
and tableware, however, great many
young children, both boys and girls, are
employed. These children work in both
tine blowing and packing rooms.
Around the tanks and pots of the blow
lng room, young boys work, waiting up
On the blowers, the pressers, and the
hnishers. The boy who opens and closes
the iron mold for the blower is known
as the . holding mold boy;' the one who
stands beside the presScr receiving tumb-
lcrs from the large mold OH little tray
and placing them Il little table at his
side, is, in his own phraseology, the
- ketchn up boy the boy who seizes
these blown or pressed objects with a
long IRON lod and holds them in the
flame Of the glory hole for Il few seconds
before handing them to the finishcr, is
known as the 'sticker-up boy;' the one
who takes the finished objects from the
tnIsher to the annealiug oven, is known
as the carringin boy
These boys, in the majority of cases,
are employed on the alternating weekly
shit, working nine hours daily, the time
beng divided into two periods OF four
and Il half hours each, with an intermis
Stun between of one hour The day shift
begins work 4 a. m, and quits Mt n
H. ana the night shift usually goes to
WORK at 7. III. and quits at t a. IN. In
most OF the factories, the force which
WORKS during the day one week works at
N'ght during the following week, alter
"atihG week IN and week out Ibis is n
particular bad arrangement. for if mokcs
regularity of sleep and meals impossible.
""d yet every mother knows the neces-
SHY OF sH'h regularity at the tender age
"t ""rh MANY of these boys are en-
"o!'L In a conversation with a man
VII" worked on the alternating shift, he
was asked whether this weekly chance
"'l any had effect upon him; he is a fully
"H' ""I!-bullt man, yet he re-
f'''"' eS, indeed. l am not tho man
'''''' was year ago; then L WAS strong
ana healthy but this shift of dav and
Ign ""F" IS slowly knocking me out. -
II ''is system mas such an effect upon n
strong inHn, what must pe its effect unon
Young ard uudeveloped bow.
here Is NO provision in the law of
west Virginia requiring proof of age of
'".''E'n employed in any occupation
o'"'' 'han coal mining. The child labor
9''"IIE states that no child under
-'"''''a years OF age may be emplovcd
.'"'''- any part Of the term in which the
.'''.' N'.l''".S ot the district in which he
"7. B" session, but during the va
- .'" i,'i't the law lowers this age
'''','. '' i"e!vc Years for work in fac.
''.'' workshops and storcs.-and TO ba.
'''''' 'H &H other occupations save
'"e new compulsory school at
''..i'Hrr '.N raises the limit to fifteen
.''' wont y-tour weeks of the wear.
Is Do" E"4uiremcnt of proof of
,'S.' -'s@ "..' if there were, there is ON.
'.- 'T..i'-, IN edition to the truant
t.o IS charged with the en-.
-.-..'a.'t at tho law over the entire
So. .'"seGIcutIy. violatior- &C com.
n..r. 'oiii-
conversation with the manager of
.-7 IHr'"ry in Which ten bows were
"l" seemed 20 be between twelve
g.. ." years old, and who were
,r '- "fter 'he public schools in
a.''' begun their annual session
~ l think a boy is not fourteen
prepare typewritten state
'-'e effect that he is fourteen O,
.... "i'e MS parents sign it, This
Els opinion, relieves him of all
'''ilF and throws the Iau1t upon
MIS- The law does not require
'H's; he gets this signed state
''"se ha knows he does wrong ir
T"ung children, and instinct
F I" protect himself from posi-
'.. 7'4u"nccs.
7''ic manager said also, g A pooc