Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-01-26
CHILD LABOR IN NORTH DAKOTA.

FRIDAY, JANUAHT 20, IS'E.
CHILD LABOR IN NORTH DAKOTA.
There is being held at Louisville,
KY, the eighth annual conference OF
the national child labor committee.
The gathering is considering the espe'
cial relation of child labor to educa.
ton. 1t is expected that the confer
ence will not have assembled in vain,
and that more progress will be made
toward securing the elimination of en-
ployment of children during the years
when they s sH s 81 An school,
There Is a certain pathos in the
sight Of children toiling to earn
paltry pittance which touches the
heart.strings in every human breast
and arouses low, mournful strain OF
pity that sweeps on and on until 1t
reverbrates throughout the length and
breadth Of the land. 1t creates a yearn-
ing to meliorate, if possible, the
social coalitions which make neces-
sary labor of boys and girls of tender
age.
To the majority of citizens Child
labor" conjures up. vision of dark
and grimy factory walls. murky ate
mosphere, clouds of smoke and SCOT
belched forth by the towering, au.
stere chi1neys through which the sun.
light, sent by God toehless and cheer
mankind, is seldom able to penetrate.
We seem to see busy shops, poorly
lighted apd miserably ventilated; we
hear the hum and buzz Of machines,
that whine and growl, and hungrily
clamor to the frail toiler, Feed me
some more, feed me some more;" We
imagine hordes of little ones, some
of whom have scarcely learned to lisp
their baby wants, clutching the hand
Of brothef df Sister and toddling into
gloomy workrooms, lodging hurting
belts, shrinking from angry words Of
foremen, budding before iron mon.
'sters which they must feed, and feed,
and feed, working feverishly for fear
they will be fired and will lose the
few pieces Of silver needed to pur.
chase bread and clothes and fuel.
The conditions that cause the EN-.
ployment of children of immature
years are manifold. The desire of the
employer to have work done at min.
imum cost, the loss of life in count
less industrial accidents which rob-
hundreds of families of the husband
; and father whose duty it was to pro-
vide for his loved ones, the greet Of
ignorant parents, who send their chill.
sdren into the mills to add a few
more dollars to the family Golfers. all
contribute to the causes of child labor.
Upon first thought person would
scarcely imagine that in this great
state of North Dakota, whose vast,
windswept prairies are bathed by
silver dewdrops, and caressed by gold.
en- sunbeams, where the air is pure
and fresh, where opportunity turks
in every coolie and ravine, and peeks
at the newcomer from behind each
hill and butte, that children are be-
ing forced to devote to toll days and
weeks and months which shouts be
spent within the school room. Vet
that is deplorable reality.
The inspector Of rural and graded
schools. Mr.. Mcdonald, in his travels
through the state, has discovered
scores upon scores of cases where
young men and young women, some
of whom arp in, there teens, others
TN their twenties, are practically
obliged to work on the farm. In many
instances the parents. are reputed to
be among the most substantial land
holders OF the community, are proud
owners Of pure bred and pedigreed'
stock, attend agricultural gatherings
to learn how to care for their horses,
cattle and hogs. but neglect their Owl
children. Would that they were gifted
with foresight and might see the folly
of their ways. Child labor is not con-
fined to mills and factories. It 10 to
be found . North 4Dakota homssteads.
The future of this state depends