Evening journal., 1915-01-04
Glen edwards TO
ACT As Inspector
To Supervise Child Labor
Work Until Permanent In
SpectOr is Named
REMOVE Mr.. GIBBONS
WHO WOULDN'T RESIGN

Commission, as temporary child labor
inspector for Delaware. The meet
ing two weeks ago at which Mr. Glib
bons' resignation was requested was
held behind closed doors.
Mr. Edwards will return TO Will
mington on Wednesday 10 assume his
duties. As Mr.. Gibbons declined to
turn his Office over to the commission
or. sell the furnishings. a new Office
will be secured for Inspector Ed
wards.
Meanwhile, until he returns at least,
certificates to children permitting
them to work will be issued by Miss
Esther Connolly. who was Mr.. Glib
bons' clerk. she being designated for
/ that purpose by superintendent of
/ Schools Clifford ]. Scott, who under
| the law. can designate a person to
issue certificates Mr.. Scott and In
spector Edwards later will confer
about the issuance Of certificates. A
permanent child labor inspector VIII
be named in the near fture.
The meeting began with the doors
closed. Ex-Lieutenant Governor John
NJ Mendinhall, the chairman, presided
and all the members were present. See
retary Bush read letter from Mr.
Gibbons declining TO accedc to the re-
quest for his resignation. 1t was adj
dressed TO Mr.. Bush and read;
81 acknowledge your letter, without
date containing the following para
paragraph: BY resolution of the Della
ware Child Labor Commission, | an
instructed to inform you that the com
mission will accept your resignation
from the office of State Child Labor I'm
spector. to take effect upon the ap
pointmcnt of your successor in Office
"Under the circumstances, / feel tina
cannot in Justice to myself tende
my resignation. OF course, viii gladl.
specify the circumstances to which
refer upon the request of the commits
sion or any of the members thereof.
"I am sorry to be compelled Il
reach this conclusion. have no spe
cial desire to hold the Office and les
desire to do anything that may ten
to lessen the public estimation of tn
practical value in this State of tn
child labor law, in which 1 am deepl
interested but one's self-respect a
times compels him to take a posi-
ton which he is loath to assume an
find myself so circumstanced i
this situation"
Meeting Thrown Open.
At this juncture the com
mission voted to "admit the pub
lie" The public" included a dele
cation from the Central Labor Uniol
Glen Edwards. who subsequent
was elected temporary inspector, an
4 three newspaper men.
Jeremiah Fl. Coady. a membe
Of the commission, who was not az
Q tive in his defense of Mr.. Gibbons ;
. the meeting on December 10, took
decided stand in behalf of the az
cused official. He read statemeI
as TO four things in which he said th
commission was in fault, and not th
inspector, though they had bee
charged against Mr.. Gibbons.
First. he claimed the inspector wa
n not in fault about the many imperfe'
y employment certificates, which iacke
ahidavits. for these certificates wei
- not issued by the inspector, but :
Esther Connolly, a person appolntt
c. by the superintendent of schools
10 issued them. It was, therefore, Il
le commissions business, not the II
i, spector's. to see that they we're mac
out perfectly The inspector had
~ responsibility for them, Mr.. COady il
ce sisted
u Miss Bissell asked who is Esth
On Connelly?'
od Mr.. Coady said that Miss Connel
u was Mr. Gibbons clerk, and that Il
superintendent of schools had a
he pointed her on Mr.. Gibbons requei
X Mr.. .Mendinhall asked if all Il
m proofs of age had not been filed
Mr.. Gibbons office, in conformity wi
ter the law. and whether Mr. Gibbol
'as should not have known that ina
cd. curate certificates we're being issue
ION and have acted upon this knowlede
om or reported to the commission. N
les Coady reiterated, however, that Z
i'll inspector had no responsibility I
led the certificates.
lar The second thing in which n
or. Coady said that the commission W
re- AT fault was in not securing doct
ire or doctors authorized by the SUPER
. tendent Of schools to examine I
vic children before granting the ceru
ing Gates. The doctors had eXamln
md the children, but without written a
ed, thorization.
till Miss Bissell asked Mr., Goa
aid whether he did not remember goi
TO MIR. Scott with her and requesu
he him to authorize certain doctors
.er writing.
ct Mr.. Noady sald ll"' va" AZ
mo that the superintendent had forgot
to do it.
,se Miss Bissell asked why the inspec
70 had not reported this to the commlssi
an as they had no other way of KNOW
he IT, 81,
nd "Why had the Inspector kept sii'
ION year about it, and then brought
'ho as an accusation against the comm
,as sion?" she asked.
& 'bo Mr.. Coady said that it was the co
NV missions business to find out all IN
things. lie said that the inspector,
law. should do the printing of all rec
.lrs. cards. etc Mr. Gibbons had not prin
and ihe cards. however. The commission
done the printing. without consult
PHI him. and therefore he had not
ent proper blanks for the affidavts allu
As 10.
lat Mr.. Coady was asked whether
ion commission had not done the print
,all so as to save Mr.. Gibbons the cNDei
I'm which he complained of. Miss Bis
on stated that Mr.. Gibbons had come
use her house, last January. and spent
age evening going over all the blanks
in needed choosing and planning Just W
ext he wanted. The commission had ,
the expense of the printing, but Mr..
ust hons had practically arranged for it,
will it had been sent to his office from
)el- printers.
f...,~4l k,sst ny.