The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-21
CH|tD LABOR SUNDAY
Missoula Churches Probably
Will Observe Occasion
in Services.

serve Child Labor Sunday" in their
| services next week. The American
Humane Education society has APP
pointed the last Sunday in January as
the day of child workers, and Mis-
,soula pastors will be asked to par
ticipate in general observance.
| I No plans for special services or SER
soula Ministerial association, but sew
eral members said yesterday that they
expected some action to be taken at
the regular meeting of the organization
today. Alice Park, writing for the So
cicty. says:
The calendar of the American HUI
name Education society says on it's
January leaf:
"'rhe last Sunday in January is
Child Labor Sunday. 1t is necessary
to educate men and women regarding
child labor. what ii really is. and how
dearly it is costing the human race.
The movement for child protection,
the protest against child labor, even
the juvenile court, are all related to
the general humane education work.
al human and humane movements
advance together. Progress in one
line helps all progress
Haven't we q child labor law in our
state?" is a common question when
child labor is under discussion No
one should be contented and comfort
able because his or her state laws for
bid child labor. nor because his or her
own children are free and happy.
Many states have laws designed to
protect children, and these laws are
enforced to the degree demanded by
local public opinion. The votes of
women are counted in II states and
they are counted for the protection
and education of children.
But child labor is a national aues-
ton and a national disgrace. 1t in
wolves at least two million children
who are robbed of school and play
ground life and growth.
Child laborers of other states help
to make what all people eat and wear.
More than a million children are at
work today. II, II. and even 10 hours.
Tonight. while we sleep, the night
shifts of children in factories, and
even in mines, will contribute some
thing for the worlds use tomorrow.
Eight hours work makes a long day
for a strong man. Noise. lint, bad air
and tension add hour by hour to the
laborers fatigue.
If we could see the world procession
of child laborers, dismissed at the end
of their daily. or nightly, toll, we
should be appalled,. We should be
ashamed. We should be convinced of
gross cruelty We should know also
that we arc injuring the race. Tho
weakest of the children die Those
who are only half killed grow up to
become the parents of the next gem
Grafton. Every spool of thread, every
yard of cloth, very piece of coal, every
shocstrinG and hat trimming. every
doll or other toy. every hairbrush,
| every package of tobacco, every glass
bead and glass bottle, every garment
every carpet and every book and mag
azine we touch are products in part Of
the labor of little children
The child labor problem is closely
related to the problem of unemployed
men and women. The cheap labor of
children has supplantcd the dearer
labor Of men and women. Sometimes
parents lose their jobs and the places
| are given to their own children at
half or quarter wages. 1t seems queer
| that a nation calling itself civilized
should force millions of young chill
| drcn to unheardof toll, while unem-
ploycd adults beg in vain for jobs. 1t
| is against nature that human beings
| should Tive upon their young"
DO we care enough to think of the
child laborers of the nation. one day
in the year, and all together? Is it
| our business" Whose business is it?