The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1916-08-21
.CUlBERsOA DEFENDS
CHILD LABOR VOTE
otoTEs NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION DECLARATION
AT ST. LOUIS.
issues Statement in Reply To Crit
ics and Explains Law Recently
Passed by Congress.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 21.-Sena-
tor Culberson. in answering some OF
his critics in Texas. issued last night
the following statement explaining
his vote in favor OF the child labor
law recently passed by congress:
The national democratic conven-
ton, which was held at st. Louis
in June, said we favor the speedy
enforcement of an effective federal
child labor law Notwithstanding
this declaration. adverse criticism of
me has been occasioned by my vote
in favor of the bill. intended to meet
this party obligation, to prevent in
terstate commerce in the products oil
child labor, and much misapprehen-
sion seems to exist as to the scope
of the bill.
THE chief objection urged
against the bill is that il Is in con-
travention of the reserved rights OF
the states and beyond the constitu-
tional power OF the federal congress
to enact. The bill does not attempt
to fix the hours or conditions of
child labor In any state.
Briefly put, it provides that no
operator of mine or quarry shall
transport his products in interstate
or foreign commerce if he employ
children under 16 years of age, and
that no manufacturer shall trans
port his products in such commerce
If he employ children under the age
of Ia or compel those between the
ages of IA and 16 to work more
than eight hours a day, six days a
week. or at night
For violations of this law the
operator or manufacturer alone is
penalized and in the offense made
misdemeaner The states are left
free to enact legislation 10 regulate
the hours and conditions OF child
labor as far as products to be sold
or consumed within their borders
are concerned, and no power is in
vested in the federal government
by the bill to interfere in the slight
est degree with the administration
of their purely internal affairs. 1t
is true that the bill viii in many in
stances compel mine and quarry
operators and manufacturers to
comply with its provisions inasmuch
as their respective states will afford
insufficient markets for their pro-
ducts. The power of congress to en-
act such legislation under the COM
merce clause of the constitution has
been too often recently affirmed by
the supreme court of the United
States to be longer open to serious
question.
THE lottery act the white slave
act, the pure food act, and other
similar federal statutes have proven
highly beneficial to the health, safe
ty. morals and welfare of the ma
ton are based upon the same gen.
eral principles. In each of these in
their individual capacities, were
found incapable of entirely remedy
ing the existing evils, and while
each in its own sphere was left free
to do what il could in that direc-
ton, congress found it advisable to
supplement their efforts by federal
statutes.
with adequate child labor laws can
not constitutionally prohibit the I'M
portation into its own border or in
to another state the products of a
state which has no such law. The
most recent assertion OF the doctrine
upon which this character of legisla-
ton rests is TO be round in seven
cases VS.. United States. 239 U. s..
decided this year, the opinion in
which was concurred in by the dem
ocratic members OF the court, in
Guiding the distinguished democratic
chief justice.
Tho policy and expediency OF
the child labor PAW is thus support
ed by the national democracy and
the constitutional principle involved
by the decisions of the supreme
court of the United States.
Besides these considerations, tn,
governmental philosophy underlying
the measure is praiscworty III The
Highest degree. Tho purpose is I,
guard the health aud welfare OF the
children of the land, to the extent
OF federal power, against the ayarics
and greed of the eapitsllstic class
Z 4. Z