Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-30
.CH|LD-LABQR ADVOCATES
PLEAD WAR NECESSITIES
Felix FrankfHter Explains Govern
Mcnt's Determination to
Enforce Laws,
SHOULD REMAIN IN SCHOOL
Chairman OF Labor Policies Board
Declares Sacrifice Is Not Yct Nee
essary-Adults Can Do Work
Without Children.

WASHINGTON. September 2s.-At-
temp to break down or eyade tl1.
made on The plea that the government
needs and must make use of every
ounce of .eperEy at its command to
tons fop our armies in the field.
Advocates of the use of child labor
in these. spheres Of industry seem TO
be cloaking general purpose Of prof.
tccring with Il show OF patriotism.
They would use the war as a fulcrum
and war necessities as a lever to up
which the nation has found 1t wise to
throw its growing children. They
even have carried their propaganda
ard their camoutlaEinE plea OF urgency
into high places in the government.
but in every instance SO far they have
met with rebuff
How far they gave gong, and the sort
OF answer that has been made to their
plea OF urgency may be imagined from
statement made to-day on the. sub
jcct by Felix Frankfurtcr. chairman
az the WAR labor policies board. in
which he explains the governments
policy in 4 way Impossible of misinter-
probation.
The imperative need for maximum
production OF the materials OF war"
says Mr.. Frankfurtcr, requires that all
available reservoirs Of labor be drawn
upon. The eXigencies of the national
situation are such that the recurreut
suggestions that child labor be utilized
have been heard. In view OF this fact
ing demands that children be included
i'll the Industrial mobilization for war
the policy Of the war production accn-
ties OF the government should be clearly
in mind.
The war labor policies board. which
is the voice OF all tho industrial agcn-
defined this policy by anti-chid labor
regulations contained in tho contracts
made by the war administration.
These regulations arc thus cnu,ncr-
ateu hN Mr.. FranKfurtcT:
]. That no child under fourteen years
OF age shall be employed on war work.
No YOUNG CHILDREN
TO BIZ EMPLOYED At NIGHT
=. That no child between fourteen
aud sixteen years of age shall he en-
ploycd more than eight hours a day,
nor more than six days week on
war materials.
Mr.. Frankfurter goes on to explain
that thu. prohibition of the employment
OF children below certain ages does
not mean that the employment, or chill
dren above those ages is favored, and
TO recruit children OF fourteen or
sixteen years OF age Tor industry is
ignoring their future value as trained
workers Neither the patriotic desire
10 serve Immediately nor the attrac-
ton OF high wages should draw chill
dr.n. from school 10 work:
children above the minimum age
Of permitted employment must still b.
considered "a potential citizens. and
not merely as present producers. The
sacrifice involved in the premature la
Dor Of children is not yet necessary
The curtai!mcnt of nonesscntial indus
try and the employment of mon and
women not now productivity engaged
Undoubtedly Will prove sufficient to
care for The requirements of the con-
duct OF the war.
In order to satisfy the claims of the
future the maintenance OF present edu
cational and child labor standards is
Indispensable. The formative years Of
youth should be safeguarded by p~>-
poscful training for developed useful
ness in the nation. The time is not
Yet in sight when the defense OF the
nation must be assumed by children.
The men and women Of America are
competent 10 the task"