Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-12-09


platform. During the last ten Years
we have had better child labor laws
in every state in the union. We have
tried to keep in harmony with all
other lines of reform and recognize
the relationship between activities.
The most persistent people are Of
ten inefficient. Who is it that blocks
all our works for community, who
stands in the way of the processes of
the church? Is it the brilliant man or
leader of thought? Who stands in way
Iof educational advancement ?-the
man who knows SO much? The strong
man is a stimulant to organization.
Who stands in the way of all prog
ress? The inefficient, the most expen-
sive thing in America industrial in
efficiency. On the other hand, thou
sands of people believe in it. People
who believe we ought to have group
Of ignorant, inefficient people; that it
is great mistake to stir up discomfort;
that God made two classes-one to be
the brains, the other, the hands
Thousands believe it but would not
say so.
Every person of that class, willing
to take any job, instead of being an
asset, are liability against the welfare
of the community and we cannot af-
ford to have them. People ask: Vino
is going to do the dirty work if we
educate children? My answer is:
There is no such thing in this coun-
try as unskilled labor-none of it to
be done. Unskilled labor is menace
to everything it TOUGHEST clogs the
machinery. AS long as America is
satisfied with sixth grade civilization,
we will not get rid of them. In more
than twelve states we allow children
to leave school from sixth grade. III
West Virginia the fourth grade is
sufficient. With average of sixth
grade or below, we will not build up
national efficiency to cope with prob
lens this country must face.
The most important step towards
national preparedness is to make the
country so significant to every child,
make it mean SO much as land of
real promise, that they will be glad
to shed their last drop of bloud in it's /
defense. What does the county mean
to children? LAND of denial of OPP
portunity?
And SO among the problems that
this organization is planning to study
next year is the problem Of child la
bor-an effort to improve child labor |
and compulsory education laws.
We tried last year to get law in /
West Virginia to prohibit boys in glass
factories. They say the factories will
move out of the state. They said the
same in Pennsylvania, and that they
could not compete with other states.
And now Pennsylvania has come on
the white list by abolisn'ngl night
work in glass factories. West Vir-
ginia is alone in her glory-the only
state manufacturing glass, employing
boys under sixteen years of age.
When they say if the state abolishes
child labor-they will leave-where
would they move to?
1 hope you will help US to get
law through the legislature t. put an
end to the employment of children in
factories that are inhumane in treat
ment. Hours are longer where labor
of women and children prevails.
In the South child of twelve
works II hours and 40 minutes day
Boy Story.
For us to claim there is no place
for children to go, is simply to chal-
lenge our educational system. Ii we
haven't developed school system
offering children an educational op-
portunity, then it is time to wake UP.
If we invest so much money we
should find out what we are going to
get for our money.
Interfere with all kinds Of labor
dwarfing the body or mind OF the
child. Let us make it as a goal OF
this association from it's beginning to
secure for our children under the
folds of the American flag, an oppor-
tunity during childhood to make foun-
,dations for virtue, intelligence and