Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-30
ATLANTA UNIONS
START WAR ON
CHILD LABOR
Better Laws Demanded State
Wide Appeal From PuIpits on
May 81 Is Planned.

Declaring the present child labor
laws of Georgia woefully inadequate,
the Atlanta Federation of Trades has
begun campaign for reforms, and
as one Of the steps in long cam
paign plans a Statewide Church La
Dor Day on May 81.
At a meeting of the federation
Wednesday the following resolutions
were passed:
Whereas the laws of Georgia are
lamentably deficient in the matter of
properly conserving the human EN-
ergv of the State because of the lack
of proper child,-labor statutes, and
the Inevitable result is deterioration
Of the sturdy middle class stock
which has always been the bulWark
Of civilization and which has fur
nished in all ages the defenders %
human liberty; and
Better Laws Demanded.
Whereas humanitarian and moral
c0nsiderations no less than reasons
Of state demand that the children of
he Commonwealth of Georgia be
given at least the same opportunities
that are accorded the children Of
other States, that they be not de-
H.
an education and deprived of the Or
binary pleasures of youth by being
forced TO go to work at the very
threshold of childhood; and
Whereas long hours of drudgery In
mill, factory and store unfit those
thereto condemned, by the careless :.
ness of the State and the greed of
man, to join with their more fortu-
nate brothers and sisters in the wor-
ship of the Creator in such manner
as they see fit, and consequently are
often more ignorant of the truths and
beauties of the Christian religion than
are the savages of benighted coun-
tries. Now, therefore be it
Resolved by the Atlanta Fedora
ton of Trades. That we do hereby
pledge ourselves and our constituent
locals to enter upon campaign hav-
ing for its purpose the passage by
the Georgia. Legislature of child labor
laws in consonance with the enlight-
ened spirit of the times, the dictates
of wise and Just humanity, and the
teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, whose
particular care was the we'll being Of
the children.
Women Urged to Help.
Resolved That we beseech the
churches of Georgia to proclaim Sur
day the 31st day of May, 1914, as a
day 70 be devoted to consideration Of
The childlabor question, the prea cE-
ing Of sermons upon the inequity and
nIuity of the present laws on the
statute books of Georgia, and in other
ways TO call upon the Most High 10
soften the hearts and enlarge the un-
Outstanding. of the legislators of the
state that Sthey may consider and
speedily pass humane and just laws
governing the labor of children III
mill, factory and store.
Resolved, That we call upon the
splendid aggregation of women COM
prising the various clubs leagues,
federations and circles of Georgia
having for their object the proper de-
velopment of socioromic forces, the
physical betterment of the race, and
the fostering of the moral forces CT
the State to join with organized la
Dor in a crusade to secure better,
fairer and more humane laws than
now govern child labor in the Com
monwealth, both by enlisting the ac-
tive cooperation of the various
churches and prevailing upon the leg
lslators of the State to heed the de-
spairing walls of the crucified chill
dren Of the poor and release them
nun lHelF present cruel DOHudSe.
Publicity Is Sought.
Resolved, That the executive COM
mttee of the Georgia State Fedora
ton of Labor is hereby urged to at
once take up the matter Of making
said Sunday, the 31st day Of May, a
Pentecostal outpouring OF supplica-
lion for relief of the oppressed chill
dren of Georgia, by notifying all ia
Dor organizations and members there
Of TO begin at once the agitation of
The question that the true sentiment
of the people of Georgia may be made
manifest to the members Of the Leg
stature thereof.
Resolved, That members of this
federation take the matter of these
resolutions up with their respective
locals and endeavor to secure the pas
sage and publication of suitable res
olutions and in other ways aid in
awakening the public conscience to a
realization of the conditions and the
necessities of this great economic and
sociological problem.
Resolved, That all newspapers of
Georgia are requested to print these
resolutions and to give such aid in
promoting new and humane laws as
a. 4 L l. A -.