The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-02-18
Tells Why He Can't Support
Proposal, Calling it Invasion
of State Righfs-SmUh
and Other Mill Men
Oppose Bill.

Washington, Feb. 15.-Capt. Ellison
A. Smyth and other leading cotton
mill men in South Carolina today ap-
peared before the senate committee
on commerce in opposition to the
enactment of the Keating child labor
bill.
While much of the ground hereto
fore gone over was covered again to-
day, an interesting feature of the
hearing was the fact that it developed
that the Pelzer mill is probably the
model cotton mill of the country in
its relation to the child labor question.
Questions were asked Capt. Smyth
which showed that while members of
the committee were we'll pleased with
what they heard about the Pelzer mill
they believed this one was far above
the general average.
In connection with this matter,
Senator Tillman today said:
"I have received so many letters in
regard to the Heating child labor bill,
all Of similar character, that l have
decided to prepare a statement of my
position on the subject.
81 am opposed to any national child
labor law, because the subject matter
of any such measure ought to be left
to the States. The police powers of
government-thati is, matters affecting
the public health, public morals and
public safety-were reserved to the
States by the founders of the United
States government, who sought, there
by. to safeguard the principle of local
self-government.
at will be sad day for US all when
the ordinary civil rights, privileges
and liabilities are defined and fixed
by. the central government at Wash
intgon. Child labor is bad-all decent
people know that-but the destruc-
ton of local self government is worse.
i Attack on States.
4 "The Heating t.;!.,, while ostensibly
Is;y, ,txercise of The. powers of congress
1.-THE States If enacted into law and
held constitutional, it will establish
precedent which, when carried to its
logical conclusion, will reduce the
States to mere departments of the
= general government. If congress can
f use its delegated powers to accom-
e plish objects entirely foreign to those
l. for which they were granted, there Is
& no civil right or relation too sacred
"a for the United States government to
/ Law unhallowed hands on. The keat-
e ing bill is too broad and sweeping, but
- this is only on Incidental objection:
y nv fundamental reason for opposing
- it is that it is an attempt to usurr
= the vital powers of the States. can
o not stand idly by and see local self
10 government torpedoed without warn
n ing.
a GAS to child labor in itself, | an
sy opposed to it, and am glad that the
in South Carolina Legislature has at las
taken action that will in measure
abolish it. The new statute, as | un
derstand it, forbids the employment
q. Of children under 13 years of age at
ter next July, and raises the age liml
IN, of emplovment to IA years after Jul,
m 1917. This is good in the main, bu
40 there should be an amendment pro
~ vidinp for the employment of chlldre
~. under these ages when widowe
go mother is dependent upon their wo"
,s for support. Such cases are rare
in comparatively speaking, but they q
ad- occur and should be provided TO
vas Ithought proper means should be tai
tn en- to prevent abuse Of the eXceptlo
yed by collusion between heartieSs HI
'el- owners and worthless parents.
Favors Prohibiting 1t.
G "With this one exception, a
heartily in favor of prohibiting tt
ion EMPLOYMENT of any child in cotto
en- mills or other manufacturing INST
ur- tutions. Indeed, in some respects
the would 90 farther than the leglslatu
her has gone. | would have the State TO
of bid employment of any child und
the 16 wears of age who can not read
ting write. This, in effect, would be
Ihat excellent compulsory education claus
'a'u' ~ for parents, instead of being fore
Iee- NV the State to educate their childr
'"' which is, at best, doubtful {
- pedient-would of their ;own accc
place their children in school in orc
to make them eligible for empl'
RS. ment. | hope the legislature will
prove this idea and incorporate it
llace the new statute, if possible
e at Capt. Smyth, who is president
npli- tho South Carolina Textile Manuf
;, ol turers' association, today told the
"rS' ate committee on interstate CONNIE
o,d considering the house child labor
. EN- u that the passage of the measure wo
snn- mean the driving from the mills
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