The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-29
OPPONENTS OF CHILD
LABOR ARE HEARD BY.
JOINT COMMITTEES
Vast Crowd of Opposing In
terests Throng Capitol
for Fight on Issue.
Speeches Heard
ny l.. :. BETTY

Montgomery, January 2S.-(Special.) OPP
ponents of child labor were given a hear
ing tonight at Joint session of the COM
mittees on mining and manufacturing,
held in the house of representatives. at
which time the merits of Senator Hart
wells child labor bill, providing a IA
year age limit. were discussed.
The open discussion of the measure
brought the largest crowd to the capitol
that has assembled there since the Mer-
fitt-Denson prohibition bills were up for
passage the first week of the session,
and the enthusiasm of the two sides was
intense throughout the entire meeting,
which lasted nearly three hours.
As sponsor for the bill, the Alabama
Federation of Womens Clubs took a
leading part Hundreds of women packed
the galleries of the house and many oc-
cupied seats in the assembly room.
Prominent Leaders
Tho federation brought forth some
Of their most prominent leaders In ad-
vocacy of the bill, Mrs. w. l.. Murdoch
OF Birmingham, chairman of the state
child labor committee, and Mrs. Laura
craighead of Mobile. being the principal
speakers representing the various clubs
But representatives of cotton mills were
also present in force, and they cheercd
their leaders as they spoke in opposi-
ton to the measure. The mill operators
in anticipation of the discussion of the
bill, had assembled in Montgomery the
most powerful lobby that has been seen
here since the liquor fight occupied the
stage, and they crowded the room tonight
while the bill was under discussion
Eloquent addresses in favor of the bill
were made by Representative Shapiro of
Birmingham, Mrs. Murdoch, Mrs. Craig
head. DIR. Morris Newfield of Birming-
ham. Miss Mcmillan of Montgomery, Rob
ert Gam of Talladega, head of the labor
organizations of the state, and II. S. D.
Mallory of Selma.
Representative Shapiro classed himself
as Exhibit A. stating that he had been
compelled to labor as child, and that
he knew the fruits of early employment
He spoke vigorously of the lobby brought
to Montgomery by the mill operators
Sees Powerful Lobby
when I see this powerful lobby as
sembled here by the min operators-a
lobby which includes ministers of the
gospel, school teachers and yea, a for
mer governor of Alabama-I think it
time that I should lend whatever influ-
ence l possess to quell this iniquitous
evil" he said
The principal speaker for the mill oper-
ators was Scott Roberts of Admission, who
declared that child labor was necessary
in communities an aid to the support
of families. "What substitute is there
to the cotton mill?7 he asked.
Mr.. Roberts then gave a graphic pic
ture of child labor conditions in his mill.
lie repeated that their labor was neces-
sary to support destitute families and
declared that health conditions in his
establishment were good
Other speakers for the cause of the
mill operators We're r. II. Rennie of Pell
City. president of the Pell City Manu-
featuring company, and Mr. Harris, a
mill operator of Lannette.
The closing speech of the evening was
made by Mrs. Murdoch of Birmingham,
who made an eloquent and impressive
appeal for the passage of the bill. Mrs.
Murdoch said she had been studying
child labor conditions for eight years,
and begged that the committee make a
favorable report on the bill.
Amid outbursts of applause from the
house and galleries, Mrs. Murdoch an
swered arguments presented by the other
side. She ridiculed the idea of men APP
pearing before a legislative committee
and opposing a child labor bill on the
grounds that the labor of children was
needed to support their families.
1T should be said now as an automatic
principle that Alabama has advanced to
the stage where she no longer regards
child labor as an economic necessity"
she said
The joint session of the two committees
adjourned at 1880 o'clock. A report on
the bill is expected tomorrow.