New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-27
Test Vote Shows Pro-
hibiting Bill Will
Be Passed.
WEBB ASSAILS:
MANN RESCUES
Howard Urges Defence of
Juvenile Mill Workers
in the South.


Washington. Jan. 26. Passage OF the
child labor bill by the House of Rep
rcscntativcs became assured just before
adjournment to-day. when a test vote
showed BIG to lOi in favor Of the bill.
The fight over the bill. which lasted
all through the day and embraced every
subject. from the protective tariff and
the aniline dye situation 20 tho lynch
ing Of Leo Frank. was one OF the most
bitter OF the session, breaking down
all party lines. especially in the South
ern States. Decision was reached that
this bill would come up every "calen-
dar Wednesday" until finally dis
posed Of
Opponents Of the measure. led by
Representatives Webb. Of North Caro-
lima. and Byrnc. Of South Carolina, had
hoped to Kill the bill by talking until
adjournment. The Committee on Labor.
having this bin in charge, occupied last
Wednesday with another measure, and
to-day would have ended its turn" il
its friends had not forced a suspension
Of the rules.
The bills opponents tried to use up
the day with personal attacks which
brought forth replies, long amend
ments which had to be read. and
speeches on these amendments. But
Mr.. Mann went to the rescue. He
called off Representative Hampton
Moore. of Philadelphia, who was trying
to tie tariff amendment to the bill,
and forced all the Republicans IN line
on the votes, while holding them dowr
on speeches. He also shouted advice
and wigwagged signals to Chairman
Lewis as to how to proceed.
An amusing incident occurred when
Representative Lewis moved that de
bate on the first section Of the biz
should close at i;l5 o'clock. Mr..
Bvrne. Of South Carolina, moved 70
strike out the words 'four-iIfteen,
thinking that such an amendment
would make the Lewis motion mean
ingloss. Mr.. Mann realized that this
would cut off debate at once, and
shouted to Mr.. Lewis to accept the
amendment. which ne did.
II wish to withdraw my amend
ment." shouted Byrne.
81 object" shouted Mann, and the
amendment was adopted.
The most sensational speech OF the
day was made by Representative How
ard. Of Georgia, one OF the Few Soutn- .
crn cotton ill-state men who favored
the bill. give the children OF the
South chance was his text. and ne
preached sermon 10 his southern
colleagues. He was heartily applaud
ed. particularly on the Republican slde.
His allusion to the opposition to the
hin by the Carolina Representatives
caused Mr.. Byrne. of South Carolina,
to cite the Frank lynchlng as sample
Of Georgia. "broad-mInded' pa'rio''c
citizens ..,-.
81 presume" Mr.. Howard said, that
when nv delegation votes on this meas
rre | Will look as lonesome as martin
on q fodder pole. I have heard good
deal about the South and Southern
conditions. I have tried to tnd out
any reason why ! should vote against
this bill. read the able argument
made before the committee by the DIS
tincuished gentleman from North caro-
lima. Governor kitchin. Then read
the argument Of DR.. Parkinson, and
after reading both Of them my mind
was I'M doubt as TO the constituuonallty
Of tho bill. | wayered. ! could not
arrive at any conclusion as 10 whether
!, was constitutional or not. SO ! de-
cided | would give the benefit OF the
doubt as 10 the constltutionallty oi
tho easure TO the innocent chi ldhood
Of nv state. and am going to DO IT.
The astounding thing to me Is tnat
there is any necessity Tor TINS law.
Talk 10 me about protecting the chI
dren of the South from mill owners
The mill owners of the South are not
tho only LeOple who are willing 10 de-
nrive tae child OF the South OF
chance IN life. Trihing. no-account,
drunken daddies are as much to blame
for conditions in the South as they are
in any other section OF the country
They have large families, five. SIX or
seven children: they are on a iarm'
and he is not willing 10 make hNinS
bv the sweat Of his face. and so ne
moves TO a mill town and puts ms
innocent little children IN pawn that
he may live In idleness; and there j.
not a man from the South or from
any section Of the country VINO does
NOT know that this is true.