The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-09-07
CHILD LABOR

launch and carry to successful termt-
nation an issue of this sort. The
men back Of these mills are not Citi-
zeus over whom the opprObrium OF
questionable methods may be lightly
cast; they have earned and hold the
respect of their community. Further
more, if the law prohibit the employ
ment Of child labor in one locality,
the parents who subsist on tine earn
ings of these children will seek an
other where unmoIested the fruit Of
the children's labor may be enjoyed.
Two great factors in the problem, the
employer and the parent. stand firm
against this innovation, and a third
the child, is ignorant of any other
status in life, and like the patient OK
rebels not; but the fourth and great
est factor, the humanitarian who fore
casts the future of the child and the
state, discerns with horror the result
ant ills, and is driven with ceaseless
energy in this erection.
Continual overwork and brain faG
are incipient forerunners of disease,
both mental and bodily. Given an
unhealthy soil, the seeds of evil flour
ish apace. Early weaned from child
ish pursuits and pastimes. with the
normal and persistent demand for
pleasure and reCreat ton, these prema-
ture little men and women, whom
circumstance has robbed of their
rightfu inheritance. eagerly seize what
ever presents itself in alluring form.
Questionable resorts, with the allure
ment of music and dancing, soon suck
in these little old men and women. And
the mill owners are not unmindful of
these pitfalls.
There are model factory towns,
equipped with club room, gymnasium
and properly conducted dance hall, as
well as night schools. but, alas, these
are not universal. Oft the cotton mill
is located in the thickly populated
sections Of cities. Their staring win
dOws blink at one from the congested
district Of Atlanta near the railroads.
Crowding Of machines is one Of the
menaCes to personal safety of en-
ployes. This in some instances has
been alleviated, and sufficient floor
space devoted to the machines which
opera tives feed and tend: but in many
factories So many machines are crowd
ed into small snace that an operative
is forced to stand almost immovable
day in. day out. This that the output
Of mills may be increased beyond a
reasonable profit
It is little wonder certainly that these
children in a fcw years of such ser
vitude are metamorphosed into rich
food for prisons and gallows. Such in
difference and greed are productive of
hopeless and embittered men and
women.
,E.S
the coming nation, a large percentage
of it.
Put yourselves in the place Of those
hop -pickers of California a season or
so ago, denied even water and SAM
tary camping conditions for themselves
and children. Think you it unnatural
that rioting and death of a district at
torney and three others followed close
in its wake on this ranch? Children
denied even water to quenCh their
thirst as they toiled in the hot sun.
1t would seem that if children must
work this were indeed labor for them,
out in the open, drinking in life giving
ozone; but the crafty employer found
it possible to poison even this labor,
and turn the needs of these people
and their children into coin for his cof-
fers. The supply of water being cut
off, a relative of the ranch owner was
sold the concession for the sale of
lemonade TO the laborers. Rachel
must indeed weep for her children.
The factory is not alone the evil we
must fight under the banner Of child
labor The farm, the mine, sweat
shop, office and department store all
claim their quota. In some of these
avenues OF work the bodily harm is not
SO great as that of the soul.
Outside the factory. possibly the
greatest bodily menace is offered the
child employed at the mines So large
a number are not employed there as
in the factory, but the exposure is Sc
we're. and in cold weather the suffering
intense. Under an Open shelter. seated
hish above ground. with feet hanging