Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-23

I arguments dOQtnSt
dren are about as consistent as some Of the
GrgHmentS agqinSt .Go'an atts4;6 Srdgs & % say
Is io more danger t5'fi to tie moral ,oslare Of the
ohtld 9oing back and forth n the streets
through association in the school than there
Is tm being on the stage tttder ldto that
o or is Gg RysS al d
Judge Ben Il. Lindsey.
VTTHEN the child labor law is finally passed
w at Harrisburg, 1t must make some pro-
visions for the stage-child If 1t Is a blanket
law, prohibiting the employment of all chill
dren under a certain age in any occupation
whatsoever, it will, of course drive the child
actor from Philadelphia theatres and prevent
the production here of many interesting plays.
If it excepts the stage-child from its pro-
hibltions, 1t may be of more value to the
playgoer, but it will not do it's duty by the
child. In work done by Judge Lindsey in
Denver there seems to be a hint Of far
wiser way of handling the matter.
A Double Liberty
Liberty for the stage child is the slogan
of Judge Lindsey's newest fight Liberty
for the talented youngster to follow an art
that is also education and play. And liberty
for the poor little slave of musical comedy,
burlesque and vaudeville. The first he would
free from the prohibitory laws of many
States. The latter he would lberate from
an employment that exploits his youth, cuts
him off from mental development and even
corrupts him.
The curious part of the fight is the op-
position. The managers of musical comedy,
cheap vaudeville and burlesque-yes. But
why such people as Jane Adams, men and
women serving with Judge Lindsey or the
National Child Labor Committee? Why
should Judge Lindsey, in seeking the child's
protection we'll as It's liberty, meet the
same pubic-spirited opposition that con-
fronted the committee of dramatists-includ-
ing Percy Mackaye and Augustus Thomas
when they argued against the enaction of
the prohibitory child labor law of Illinois
which Jumped stage children with factory
children. Nf
For the Child, Not the Drama
And the rest of the opposition-who can
It be but the cheaper managers in false
boards and frock coats? Haul out that old
favorite, the Red Herring. Judge Lindsey,
they say, is the unintentional tool of the
Shuberts and Frohman and all the rest that
want to bring child-actors into Boston and
Chicago. Judge Lindsey himself doesn't
think so. He is not lighting for the man
agers they would prefer total noninterfer-
ence He is not fighting for dramatic art;
he knows that art must accommodate itself
to mans good, not man be bent to arts He
puts the emphasis in the true place-the true
place In all things-upon the human element.
He is in the fight for the sake of the child
The children brought him into IT, He met
stage-children and saw what nne young be-
ings they were. even when circumstances
were not the best He compared them with
factory children that came 10 him in Denver.
And he concluded: II have never known a
factory or a sweatshop child that was anx-
ious to do it's work I have never known a
stage-child that didn't find great delight in
it's part"
There are only two states that have any
thing approaching proper laws in regard to
the stage-chiId. There are only two that
do not allow his unrestricted exploitation on
the one hand. or on the other try to drive
him from that stage and end IN sanctioninE
infringements Of the worst sort They are
Colorado and Louisiana
Prohibition That Does Not Work
BY the laws Of Massachusetts,. Illinois and
Oregon no child may appear upon the pro
fesslonal stage, This prohibition is, Of course.
merely a part OF the general child labor
lawsi but II Is praised as preventing the EN-
ployment Of children In cheap theatres where
they would be under a bad moral influence
AS a matter Of fact the prohibition does moth
ing OF the sort It's effect Is the very oppo-
site. There is no public sentiment behind
this portion Of the law, and tho result Is
wholesale evasion IN the less prominent ana
more dlsreputable theatres Mr. Davis. fac
tory inspector OF illinois, has said that there
were more children on the stage ana unpro-
tected IN Illinois. under a prohibltive lau.
than ever before IN the States history Tn
fortunately the Law does hold Tor the better
theatrez where there would be IDEAL condl-
lions q emplo5ment A reputable manager
is naturally chare e i1cprfins s public SUIT
and Z Hne Thus fha worthy fhesfre u etraa-