Evening journal., 1911-02-14
PLEAD FOR
WEAK ONES
Committees Ask legislators
for Laws Protecting
Women and Children
SUBJECTS INTEREST
THE LAWMAKERS

City Council chamber was crowded
last night with prominent men and
women Of the city at the hearing Civ
en- by the legislative committee 10
those interested in the bills regarding
child labor. and protection Of WON IN
i'm industries. Senator Thomas NJ
Monaghan presided, and Representa-
tiyes Moore, Gormley. White and
ellis we're the other members pres
ont.
Miss Margaret Shcarman, president
of the Consumers League, eNplaine1
the proposed bill to limit the hours
of work for women, and TO regulate
the conditions under which they shall
work. She spoke of the helplessness
Of the women, who had to submit 10
hardshlps imposed upon them without
means OF helping themselves.
Mrs Florence Kelly. general secre-
tary Of the National Consumers
League who has had years of eX-
perience I'm studying women at work,
/ all over the world. gave forceful
| address on the subject. saying she
| had seen as bad, and some worse con-
ditions in Delaware factories as in
any State in the Union. She referred
10 the Supreme Court decision decla~-
ing it TO he the duty Of every State
TO pass legislation restricting the
hours of working women TO ten hours
"A day.
W. n. Barnard, Jr., a member oi
the Delaware Child Labor Committee
read the proposed child labor law
providing protection 10 children OF
tender years from dangerous occupa-
tions. limiting night messenger worl
to adults, and asking for birth regis
tration, and birth certificates based on
documentary evidence.
Peter j. Ford was then called upon
and after paying high tribute to the
work of the Consumers League SPOKE
from personal observations OF thu
hardships endured by women employ
ed i'm factories Mr. Ford said tina
as a matter of business. nc had founI
a ten-hour day paid the employer bet
ter. as his workers we're not so tire,
and worked better. Mr.. Ford sal,
the spirit of liberty and sclf-respec
on the part Of the workers who's
rights were looked after meant NOR
efficiency on their part.
Superintendent George w. Twit
myer emphatically urged the legis
lators to pass the bill for the protec
, tion OF the children. and affOr
b them a chance Of education. saying
, Heaven help the State that is in
different to the welfare of its chill
. dren" He said that IL was the back
ward children, o. the children who's
home environment was most unfavol
r. able who we're anxious to leave schoC
q early aud go TO work aud they weT
o just the ones that needed the schoo
G He said that the parents who cOnsit
o cred their young children should hel
o support them, were wrong He urge
e upon the legislators that they coul
K do no greater service to Delawai
s than by giving the children chanc
Il George B. Miller made the closin
y remarks. appealing earnestly on b.
half of the bills presented.
III The legislators made no comment
but they took numerous notes.
- A delegation headed by Howell
"a England presented bill to the legi
,, lators following their discussion {
y the child labor question providing q
- appropriation Of $4,000 for n
y Smythe Monument Association to
~ used I'm the erection of the mOnumel
- 10 the late General Thomas Smythe.
- Following the discussions the Iegi
lators expressed themselves as bcir
h in favor Of the appropriation an
promised support for the bill.