The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-16

When I found that the voice of the people was for the measure l obeyed their voice. It was not a question of my interest, but that of the 150.0oo people who now make Greater Bir- mingham It was all right to give the Hon. Jere King the silver tea serv- ice. He did valuable work. But Is it fair for Greater Birmingham to stand unconeernedly by and see me punished for the full accomplishment of that great measure which is now conceded to benefit so many thousands of peo- pie and thousands of interests?
 Child Labor
 "On the subject of child labor and child labor protection in the cotton mills, Alabama is in advance of all the southern states which have cotton mills. The Conner legislature raised the age from 10 to i2 years and re quired that all children between 12 and l6 years old shall attend school eight weeks in the year-the only compulsory educational la win thes state-and no child under 12 years old shall be in or about a mill The Conner administration further provided that the full execu- tion of the law should be under the inspection and in charge of a state Of fieer, pr. Oates, with full authority by law to carry out it's every intent of supervision and protection. There ara in Alabama 100, 900 child laborers; nearly all are on the farms less than 2500 work in the cotton mills and these latter, by law. are all over 12 years old, and are the only children in Ala a- bama who have any sort of state pro- lection and supervision. or have any sort of compulsory education The Avondale mills at Birmingham have less than S5 between 19 and 16 years old. the average pay of whom is 75 cents a day. made in by-weekly pay ments, no commissary being attached. Child labor is not created in the cotton mills. but by the wolf at the parents door, And what brings the wolf at the door today more than ever other cause combined is the curse of the liquor habit Governor O'Nears ad- ministration which is now backing ATr. Henderson and attempting without ref erence to the people to name him for governor. has done more to bring ne- cessity to the parents door. to bring back the accursed wolf of drunkenness to the door of parents done more-yes, a thousand times more. to create child la bor than every mill in the state com bined; and l charge MT. Henderson in his brutal picture. showing me with a whip lash driving children into the mill. to substitute himself. with Charle
 
 of necessity, which is the only power that can drive the free white people of Alabama. They, and not the mills. create the problem of child labor. The state has been progressing along this line for years, and will continue 10 progress as the condition of the peo- pie themselves improve.
 Settling Miners Strike
 ..lt is urged that all working men Nnfa 1 m with and settled the miners strike in 1908. My duty as governor was to preserve order, to see that there was no open season for homicides in Ala bama, threatening with idleness and want every man in this district who had to work for living. Human life and property interests became the sport of rioters. Trains filled with innocent passengers were fired on and assas- sination was added to murder. This lawlessness l suppressed and suppressed l 1t without shedding one drop of blood giving peace order, industry and pro | tection back to these people. our fel- low citizens, and safe conditions back to business l will do it again should | the need arise. Whenever a reign oi | llawlessness shall show itself, whenever conditions such as confronted us here ] shall arise, whether in the crowded city ] or the remotest country district, would see that the state stretches over peace ful and industrious men and women the strong arm of its protecting power Compare the strike history in West l Virginia, Michigan and Colorado, ir their horrible and destructive details | with the bloodless, successful strik, settlement in Alabama, and the many 1 peaceful. prosperous years to every l condition of labor and business since and then ask, What will Mr. Tender son do? He has appealed to a bas' method when he holds out to the la boring men the promise of noninter ] ference in whatever they may choos to do in the name of strike. He i. surely mistaking the spirit and habi of mind of our working population witt this base appeal. You may well ques- ton the wisdom of putting a man who makes such an appeal for votes in youl place of highest power This is the same man who betrayed his office when h, surrendered the rate compromise to tho Louisville and Nashville railroad. anf betrayed his people when he struck tho bargain with Charlie Lewis as the bel tolled for midnight in the Nashvill, | l,a.&,, fer