United labor bulletin., 1911-10-26
TYPO MAN ANSWERS
STATISTICIAN CROSKEY
Discussion of Labor Laws and
Their Benefits as
Enforced
(By L. D. Hosman.)


is the person who knocks. because
knocking is criticising, and criticism
begets change. Mrs. Sarah Platt
Decker, in Denver Express, Tuesday,
October II, 1911.
Inquistive Edwin, receiving pay under
the name Of Richard E. Croskey, in
series Of frantic and over-excited shrieks,
wants to know why, and why, and why
the legislative committee of Denver
Typographical union No. 4e, failed to do
something which Richard thinks it, for
some foul and Interior purpose, left un-
done.
Holding the place of state statistician
probably accounts for Mr.. Croskey as
suming the attitude of a human interro-
cation point. He wants to know. That's
his business-sometirles- will try to
relieve his nerves by answering MS
queries.
Firstly, Richard desires TO know. in
order that he may sleep well nights,
why the Child Labor bill was not listed
among the heroic achievements of the
professional bleeders and martyrs in la
bors cause
The Child Labor law was not put for.
ward by the labor lobby exclusively as
a labor law. Many good people With
humanitarian motives claim the Child
Labor law as their own. some of them
being people of wealth. That these lat
ter originated the Law merely attests the
fact that the milk of human kindEess
flows in the breasts of the entire human
family. Its flowing is stopped only when
seen to be detrimental TO the material
interest of any person or group OF per-
sons in society. Many persons sympa-
thize with the laborer in the ditch, the
machinist at his bench. the printer at
his case OF type, but they do not sympa-
thize with them to the extent of refusing
to accept dividends that have their
source in the labor of those with whom
they sympafhize. So with child labor.
People who do not exploit child labor
can afford 10 sympathize with children
people who exploit children believe that
is their God-ordained privilege.
4 man who sends his child to the fac
tory. mine or beet field does not do so
because of desire to debase and de
cause his wages viii not permit him. 10
support his family; consequently his
children. as soon as they arrive AT the
age where they become useful TO some
capitalist looking for cheap" labor. have
got to go 10 work to help provide for
the family wants.
The Child Labor law says that child
cannot go to work under certain age.
without n permit. A permit from whom?
why. from some MHost
dwarfed and crooked intellect causes
him to believe the present capitalist or
der of society is the finality of human
progress, and that by enforcing the viii
of our economic masters tby winSing a
law violations). he is looking out fol
No. /.
The Child Labor law DEGREES one
thing the law of self-preservation de
crees another. For a parent. purely
from necessity, to say that le-year-old
child is 10 requires mighty struggle
but the conclusion is forced that, il some
of the youths selling newspapers. run
ming errands. doing light work of vari-
Gus kinds in stores. factories. etc, are
10 years old. the struggle has been made
and necessity conquered over truth, or
thar the physical development of some
children is very backward.
Labor leaders can get all the glory
they want ont of a Child Labor iaw. but
II is sad commentary on modern so
ciety that it tolerates a condition where
ny the father of family cannot provide
for those in his charge until such time
as they arrive at the age of full mental
and physical development.
Did any labor" lobby ever contem
plate enacting law that will give TO
each worker the full product of his la
bors They wouldn't even think of it,
History relates that as far back as
Queen Elizabeth of England children OF
immature age were worked in night and
day shifts-those of one family who
worked daytime getting out of bed -
make room for those who worked nights
And centuries after. the foremost labor
leaders of Denver. who are always de
manding something now" have evolved
no solution of the labor problem other
than preventing children under 10 years
going to work without a permit" from
the ruling class, whose appointees are
charged with the enforcement of Tabor"
and other laws? II a labor law conflicts
with the interests of the capitalist class,
so much the worse for the law.
Witness the state of New York. The
10th annSal report of the commissioner
of labor of that state OSLO. pages 31-S2)
says:
Last year the percentage of Illegal
child labor in this group for the three
cities (Buffalo. Rochester New York;
was 51.4 This year 1t is i9.1. - IN
QUEENS AND RICHMOND COUNTIES
EVERY CHILD FOUND AT WORK
WAS EMPLOYED IN VIOLATION OFF
LAW"
And capitalism knows no boundaries,
Mr.. Croskey
The cheerful Richard would likewise
desire to know why. oh! why the com
mittee did not mention some miners