The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-10-22
PRESENT CHILD
LABOR CONDITIONS
Subject of Interesting Talk at
High ONT Woman's Club
Delivered by Hon. W. II. Swift,
OF Grcensboro-Nhat Labor
Committee Is Doing
Especial TO - News and Observer

High Point, Get. 19.-The Woman's
Club of High Point was fortunate in
having Hon. w. II. Swift, of Green's
boro, with them yesterday after
room. and for a delightful half hour
or more he gave a most interesting
ak on the present child labor condi-
tons IN our state and of the work the
North Carolina Child Labor Commit
tee Is trying to do. In emphasizing
the latter point he said: The North
Carolina LabOr Committee is seeking
TO do that which is best for the chill
dren of the State. The names of the
men who compose this committee is,
/ take it, an absolute guarantee that
nothing radical will be undertaken,
or even cO~untenanCed. In addition to
the names OF our own committee, [
desire 10 cali attention to the fact that
at the meeting where our program
Was outlined, there was present by in
Nitation Of the Child Labor Committee
c.eNen prominent manufacturers of
North Carolina, and that our program
was decided upOn by the unanimous
vote OF manufacturers as we'll as the
approval 81 the Child Labor Commit
tee. The Workof he Child Labor
committee and OF those who are act
ing with 1t is planned in order that
TWO thlnSS may be accomplished. First
We want to have a law forbiddine the
employment of boys and girls under
sixteen years OF age at all night work.
ana likewise OF women; second, we
want the State to create an inspector
or inspectors whose duty it will be to
see nat child labor laws are enforced.
Night Work Harmful.
AS TO the first, [ take it that most
men agree that all night work is
harmful even to strong men. It is ev-
ident, therefore, our boys and girls
ought not to be placed to all night
work, thereby weakening themselves
mentally, unduly e~xhausting them
selves physically, and as must appear,
TO e%ndanger their moral character.
Most mill men with whom l have
ak agree that night work for chill
dren under sixteen years Of age should
be prohibited. They say likewise that
women should not be allowed to b.
employed at night.
In regard to inspectors %(knowing
that what ! now say must be said with
absolute certainty, | now say to you
that the present child labor laws OF
our state are being violated in hum
dreds Of instances every work day. I
d. not unduly criticize our mill men.
] have seen many instances of marked
advancement and / have talked with
many, but all admit hat there is but
little enforcement"
The members Of the club were de-
lighted to have Mr.. Swift with them,
and after his address the following
resolutions were adopted by a riSing
vote:
The Woman's Club Of the city Of
iilgh Point, desiring to do all in its
power To serve not only the city OF
High Point. but the entire State, and
wishing to declare it's position upon
any question concerning the welfare
oi childhood, adopts the following res
buttons:
/. That we approve the action OF
the North Carolina Child Labor Com
mite" in seeking TO have enacted sucf
laws IS will give better protection tc
children.
,. That we favor a law forbiddins
the employment of boys and girls un-
der sixteen and of women at all nigh
work in mills, and shops, and manu-
featuring establishments
;. That we favor uch inspection
by State paid inspectors as will give
tull enforcement to all child labor leg
lSlatiOn.
4. That we ask club women Of 9th
er cities and all good citizens to joil
US in the work of providing bette
protection for the boys II girls o
our State.
,. That a copy OF these resolution
be sent by our secretary to the Secre
taIleS of every other WOrnan'S CLUB 4
\Orth Carolina with the request tina
such clubs join with us in pushing for
ward this movement. Our secretar
VIII request such clubs to notify us 0
any action taken.
s. That "a copy of these resolution
be sent to the High Point EnterprlS
and the state paper with a reque
that they be published.