Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-11
STATE IS FAR
BEHIND IN
REFORMS
Votes of Women Would Bring Ad-
equate Factory Laws, Declares
Leader, Here for Rally.

Miss Jane Adams, first vice presi-
dent of the National Suffrage Asso-
citation and the principal speaker at
the great suffrage mass meeting
Wednesday night at the Atlanta The
alter. is particularly interested in the
suffrage movement in Georgia. by
reason of its close relation to the
greatly needed child labor legislation
In this State.
Miss Adams and her party ar
rived from Birmingham Wednesday
morning and went to the Georgian
Terrace. With her were Mrs. James
Lees I4aidlaw, Of New York; Mrs.
Stanley Mccormick, OF Chicago; Mrs.
Catherine Ruutz-Rees. of Greenwich.
Conn. and Mary Ware bennett, of
New York.
There are two things TO be consid-
cred in advocating proper child labor
laws and their strict enforcement in
any State not so equipped" said Miss
Adams.
Georgia Far Behind.
First and foremost. there is the
duty OF the State itself to its chill
dren. Next. there is the obvious in
Justice Of penallzing, as it were, other
States more advanced in such legisla-
ton BY permitting a sister State to
compete with factories employing a
cheaper class OF workers
These are intensely practical
views. Georgia. I regret to say. is
among the States farthest behind,
both in child labor laws and in means
of enforcing such as it has; in fact, !
am informed that Georgia practically
is without provisions for enforcing
child labor legislation.
Statistics show. too, that 81 per
cent-sav -third-of the cotton
mill employees are under 10 years Of
age. That is, indeed, a matter for
serious consideration.
Suffrage Remedies Evil.
Now, what effect would equal SUI
frage have on this situation?
81 can answer that best by referring
to the States where suffrage has been
achieved. 1t invariably is the case
that among the first legislation sought
by enfranchising women, the problems
of child labor and compulsory educa
ton have held high place
Naturally, IL is to be assumed that
the same would he true in Georgia. I
am sure you will find that the most
earnest workers for these causes in
the state to-day are the thinking
women And why not? Is it not
natural that the women of State
the mothers-should have the well
fare of its children nearer their
hearts than any other thing? This is
matter Of history but. better than
that. it is a matter of nature,
Compulsory Education.
81 understand too. there is OPPOSE
ton in this State to compulsory edu-
cation legislation That is regretta-
Bile. because compulsory education
goes hand in hand with child labor
laws The one is positive, the other
IS negative. and they are In large
degree interdependent
when child under II or IS years
Of age is not permitted to be put to
work. the obvious alternative is to
send IT to school The converse is
equally evident In some States a
large amount of discretion is af-
forded by the working of both laws.
II the child is not at work. it must
be in school, up to a certain age. The
discretionary provisions Of such laws
make II possible for children OF more
than q certain age TO work, II the
welfare Of the family demands IT,"
Guests at Luncheon.
Most Of the morning was taken up
with an executive meeting of the sur
frage board I'm room 30. 225 at the
Georgian Terrace. At | o'clok Miss