Imperial Valley press., 1914-10-15
WAR PROMOTING
CHILD LABOR
(By Carlton Ten Eyck)
Written for the United Press)

New York, Oct. ia new, unex-
pected and depressing effect of Eu-
ropes great war is making itself felt
in New York-and probably many
other American cities-now.
Chiidren-girls and boys of IA and
f5-are today being sent to work
where yesterday they were being sent
to school. With their fathers and
older brothers having been called 60
the colors by their native countries,
these children are now forced to work
in order that the mother and other
little ones do not starve. The few pal
try dollars that they earn each week
helps to keep the wolf away from the
door.
How noticeable is the increase of
the ndmber of children seeking work
this fall is shown by a visit to the
Child Labor Bureau of the Board of
Health. Before a boy or girl under
Is years of age can work in New
York they must get certificate from
this bureau permitting them to do
so.
For the past three or four weeks a
line of children sometimes a half
block long has been waiting at this
office every day, seeking permits to
find employment. Such condition
has never before existed, the officials
say, and they declare that in eight
out of ten cases the children say they
are forced to seek work because their
father has gone to the war in Eu-
rope.
One of the most pathetic features
of the situation is the withholding Of
funds formerly cheerful given to a
committee, which permitted many chill
dren like those seeking work now to
stay III school. Formerly many veal
thy people gave freely to this COM
mittee and the funds were used to
keep children who applied for permits
to work, in school. If the child said
he was forced to work in order to
help support family the committee
saw to it that the family got each
week what the child would have
earned and thus kept the youngster in
school,
Since the war the people who for
merly made donations have "hoarded"
their money. They are not making
any gifts now-when they are needed
so badly-and consequently the COM
mittee cannot help any of the chill
dren.
The Child Labor Bureau will not
issue a permit to any child that is
not II years old. The mothers, OF
fathers, or whoever goes with them to
the office to apply for the permit,
must take along proof the child's age
also.
Many pathetic cases are heard dur
ing day in the office of Miss j.
". Minor, agent for the bureau, who
is the first the applicant for permits
have to see.'
"My daughter is A." insists Mrs.
j.. Raffio, as she presents little
wisp of girl before Miss Minor.
"How is that?" queries Miss Mi
Tor. "This passport says she was 2
year old when you came over here
and it shows you have only been here
ten years"
"Well, you see," said the mother,
pleading earnestly, "when l come over
q friend told me that if l told the
child was years old / would have
to pay half fare for her. SO / dressed
her up in baby's clothes and carried
her in my arms, saying she was year
old. But it didn't do me any good,
as | Fad to cit down to get my ticket
cut and when | did she walked away
and The officers discovered she was
more than year old and / had to pay
half fare for her."
Just then a very polite Frenchman
leaned over Miss Minors desk.
81 beg pardon" he said, "but would
you mind telling me how a gentleman
for whom | am acting can get a per
nit for his girl to work. She is II
but she never went to school in this
country and he does not know how
to go about getting the papers. / am
asking for him, as he is so nervou;
about such things, being now in this
country. And it is imperative that
his daughter work"
"You bring or send him and his
daughter down here and / will see
what can be done for thcm," replied
Miss Minor. Il have to see them per
sonaliy."
The Frenchmsn seemed much put
cut because she did not hand him a
permit for the child to go to work al
cnce. After the applicants pass Mis-
VI