Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-11-06

| they VIII engage.
The speaker closed by referring to
the necessity especially in manufac-
| turing centers of paying larger atten-
| ton to the development of plaV-
grounds and other means for provid-
ing for the social activities of Young
people.
| Mr.. Smith was followed by Hon. J.
| +. Connolly, who spoke on THE Gains
of the Year He said:
| The Gains of the Year.
| Considered from the viewpoint of new
| legislation, the gains OF the year are
at first thought disappointing. only tive
| changes having been enacted. \ care
fnl consideration, however. reveals a
| more hopeful aspect. AT your Saco
meeting Of one year ago. recommends
ed the passage Of n law that Nould I,re-
Vent the employment of minors not IT.
ted physically for the work required OF
| them. School superintendents now
have the authority TO refuse certificates
| to such ehiidren-and the Labor De-
partment officials have power - revoke
| the superintendent certificate. if SANE
toned by the school physicians.
| 1t is no longer permissible for a
| school superintendent To allow a.
| year old boy or girl, who is unable to
read or write to Work in mill or fac
| terry on the promise of regular attend
| ance at an evening Scholar admir-
| able change, relieving a situation tnat
| was hindering the evening schools in
| the progress of their legitimate work,
| and doing away to some extent with
| the pathetic spectacle of a yeung child
| being compelled TO attend an evening
school after 10 1-2 hours confinement
in n factory ar mill.
Under the 1913 Statutes. school sun
! erintendents have greater discretionary
power than before, and III the broad
exercise of this power lies our greatest
hopes of real gain in the battle against
child labor. While there is yet a slight
doubt of authority to be soon cleared
up by the attorney general, there IS
little question but that leading sup
| erjntendent is entirely within his rights
when he rules as follows
| list No child under Is years, unable to
| read or write, shall be allowed to work.
Ind While it is permissible to allow a
child to work, who is II years OF age;
! and under 10 years and can read ana
! write simple sentences, l shall refuse
certificates to children of that age who
have not completed the grammar school
1 course. unless it is proven that the FAM
| lily is in destitute circumstances
| Bird. ] shall revoke when necessary Il
| certificate previously granted before the
! superintendent had discretionary power.
| one mill in the jurisdiction Of this
superintendent. on Dee /, 1912. report
| ed 80 children ID years Of age, and -
l .bfl 1 Of a. a frtfpiI.
| of Nov. l, 1918, shows nine children IA
wears of age and 50 children Il years Of
age, a reduction of the 14year old
minors from AZ per cent to per cent.
A superintendent in another town is
| applying more stringent rules than
| formerly, and while the result is not
vet so apparent it is noticeable that
| in The jurisdiction OF the two sGperih-
tendents noted here there are absolute
IL no children under IA years ana
| three months AT work.
When YOU consider this short analy-
sis of the situation, also the fact that
the Labor Department officials must
accept the school certificates, you Will
realize the great responsibility restinG
with the school superintendent. your
orcanfza tt5ns in the mill oenters should
encourage them and strengthen them
To resisy the opposite influences.
| JUS. at This time | wish to say tna'
the Labor Department last summer
made n careful canvass of the l4-Seai
old minors at work on June 18th, pay
ING particular attention To home con-
d;tions. aud it may be safely said tha'
from a financial point of view, 81 pei
cent have absolutely no excuse Tor pc
inc. ottf If school. 1t is possible unuei
orr present law to create system Via
viii .sompare with many of our pro-
aressiye states; failure to DO TINS VII
hnt hasten the coming of l5-yeaf aS'
limit. with hardships to the 20 per cent
That we may now safeguard.
nelieve that just at this time ther'
10 an awakening necessary aihohp
those who believe as you and 90 Oh
This anastion of child labor. Massacho'
setts IS. today. putting into eiect
child labor law far in advance perhaps
of any in the nation and already you
may hear the deep-seated rahipie loi
.reneal." And the cry is far-reachins
from the stock holders and dlrecsofs
who see visions of reduced dividends
the agent that Fears loss of stahdlils
With his directors in the reduction oil