The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-12-28
Barton and Minister Issue
Statements to Explain
Some of the Features.
tWheeling IntellIseucer.l

leagne in this state. are at variance
IS to the possible value of such a,
organization as a means OF protecting
-the youth of school age. Following
the interesting controversy that ap,
Ipeared exclusively in these columns
Yesterday the state labor commits.
sioner and the reverend gentleman
from Barboursville take further issue
on the subject, as follows, which will
serve a double purpose, that of &C.
quainhng the yeomanry OF the situa-
ton and establishing in measure
the claims made by both parties.
Mr.. Barton's Statement.
Sir: Ny attention has been called
to an article appearing in the morn.
ing's issue of your paper headed
Child Labor Laws Are Grossly Dis
regarded" Il
Ny purpose in replying IS not in
defense of myself, but to say that
the labor commissioner had no par,
in the child labor laws OF 1911; nor is
the contemplation of the bill that the
labor commissioner should enforce
this enigma.
My purpose only is to defend the
school authorities wherein they have
been accused of gross negligence OF
the enforcement OF. not the child la
Dor law, but the school law. 1t is
universally known that West Virginia
has the best school law in the union,
in that 1t is compulsory. The state
has made provisions for its mainte.
nance and its enforcement. In all
parts OF the state find the school
authorities active in the enforcement
of the school law. The school law
has precedence over what is known
as the child labor law, inasmuch as ii
is more comprehensive.
The article attacks the truant Off
Ger of the Wheeling dlstrict-a man
of character and a religious gentle
man long identified with Sunday
school work; a, man we'll known for
his efficiency and trustworthiness.
am also writing to defend the EN-
, ployers Of labor OF our state: they
have been GhaFged. by the article
with resortiig TO criminal methods
in the pursuance of the manufactur-
ing and business interests. have
long been associated with this class
OF people; Llnow them to be. not VIC
lators, but law1abid:ng citizens. 1t is
not their purpose or intention to vic.
ate any part Of the child labor laws
They are more Interested in the wei.
fare, morals and education of the
little ones than are the paid agents
OF what is known as the Child Labor
League.
Some time ago / noticed an inter
view appearing in your paper by one
who subscribed himself minister
! in which he stated that the mining
business and manufacturing interests
of the state we're grossly violating
the child labor law. want to say
to that minister, that If he knows
no more of theology than he knows
of the violations of the child labor
law, his flock will be in great danger
of wandering into the path for thc
goats.
There are some children at work
that are under fourteen-perhaps
eight or ten in the city of Wheeling
who are the children of very poor
and distressed widows. They arc
there by permits issued by the schou
authorities or myself, as the law pro
vides.
In the new child labor law the la.
Dor commissioner is not considered
in its enforcement am glad of it,
It is bencatR the dignity of a com.
missioner of labor to force poor
hungry children out OF the factories
and workshops and send them bacb
to the poor widowed mothers who's;
cups are already full to OVERLOOKING
In closing, will state that the com.
missioner of labor is not hostile L
the society known as the Child La.
Dor League, but rather welcomes 2
helping hand in the care of these
little ones. but insists that it:
agents must be truthful in their state.
ments. Nv. BARTON,
I State Labor Commissioner.
The Rev. Mr.. Ganbery's' Statement
sir:-on my way to the train this
morning observed in the mornin,
paper an interview with me, ii
which l discuss our child labor law.
and the manner of their enforce
ment. Tho Interview is authent!,
and my position is in general cor
rectly set forth, with one modifica