The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-10-19
MANY GO IN STORM
Bad Weather Does Not Prevent
Ladies From Meeting Their Dis
trict President-Mrs. Happ
Not Present.

Saturday. Oct. Il, was a special
day with the Saturday Club. The
meeting was held at the home of
Mrs. Julia Blain. on east CAIRO
street. Mrs. Richard Elbel of
South Bend who is president of the
State Federation of clubs fer the
18th district, was at the meeting.
and spoke of the work of the Fed
Grafton and of the coming session to
he held at Indianapolis on Oct. "A.
The work that Is taking attent on
now IS what Is known as the Par
ent-Teacher movement. 1t simply
means the union OF effort by par
ents and teachers for the moral and
social life OF the children. The open
ing Ct school houses for gatherings
of the children. where amusements
and entertainments are arraneed
ttat Will give the boys and girls an
opportunity for enjoyment under
proper restrictions. in place OF
assembling in places of doubtful
character. and where there Is no
restraint
1t Lad been arranged that Mrs.
Wm. Happ. of the Progress Club of
South Bend was to be with the Club
and read a paper that she had pre-
pared. A death In her family pre-
vented Mrs. Happ coming. but her
paper was sent. and enc Of the men,
hers of the club real it. The The
rain of SATURDAY afternoon prevent
ed some who had been invited COM
ing to the meeting, but about 10
hrayed the elements, and felt paid
for tie effort.
Mrs. Happ's paper is entitled
effects of Child Labor-Physical,
Mental and Moral" A question
from the introduction will serve to
give an idea of the import of the es-
say. She says: Civilization is a
constant evolution toward the truth.
Truth is the agreement between a
perfect thought and its object. Ma
tions are born and live. each an en-
bodiment of its idea of truth. Ma
tons die as they fail to recognize
and adjust themselves to the truth.
Each in its turn carries forward to
its successor some near approach to
true perfection. Nations at best
are only masses of individuals. Up
on the greatness of the individuals,
their approach TO the perfect, rests
the greatness of the nation. To
test national greatness we test the
merits of the individuals of the ma
tom The author goes on and
shows that Child Labor as conducted
in many parts of our nation can
only tend to dwarf and stunt the
physical development of the youth.
How the mental faculties must like
wise become deformed and diseased
with the afflicted body; how the
moral life is also affected. These
children grew up to know and realize
that they have been robbed of some
thing--not of material wealth. per
haps. but of health, intelligence and
spirit They do not fully compre-
bend it all, but they grow to hate
everybody, are suspicious of those
in authority, and at. war with all
that tends to elevate and upbuild
The question comes, Why should
they not? They understand that q
system of industry and state OF
society has brought this about. The
author says "no need of importing
anarchists, for we are breeding and
rearing them on our own soil from
our own blood at the rate of 100000
recruits every year.
The question of Child Labor is 6
live one, and so soon as public
opinion-the will of the people
shall demand it our legislators mus
pass laws that will regulate and adj
lust conditions so that the life Of
the young shall be safeguarded ant
given proper environments, that vii
insure future generation of mer
and women whose physical. menta
and moral condition will vouchsafs
to us 2 nation that shall not die be
cause it has failed to recognize ang
adjust itself in this matter.
The Saturday Club should brins
other speakers along such lines OF
advanced thought to our community
snd give opportunity to others tt
learn of these conditions, and thus
will the public be informed of the
facts, and when fully informed there
is no doubt but laws will be made
to prevent the wasting of the lives