New-York tribune., 1918-06-04
NeW Child Labor
LatU To Be Sought
Without De[Qv

The work of regulating child labor
by new Legislative action will be begun
at once, according to prominent mem
bers of the National Child Labor Com
mittee last night. The decision of the
United States Supreme Court, declar-
ing the Federal child labor law uncon-
stltutlonal was surprise to most of
York, in spite of the decision of a
North Carolina court to the same ef-
feet last fall. No definite plans have,
therefore, been mapped out for the new
campaign.
DR.. Felix Adler, chairman Of the
National Child Labor Committee. de-
clared he would have something to an
nounce as soon as he had studied the
decision handed down yesterday.
Professor Samuel NJ. Lindsay, of Co.
lumbla University, vice chairman of
the committee, said:
We shall have to study the decision
and then frame new bill which will
meet the objections which the court
makes. 1t is inconceivable that the
10000 members of the Child Labor
Committee will allow the matter to
lapse. There will be continuation of
the campaign for regulation of child
labor as soon as we can reorganize our
forces"
Rabbi Stephen S. Wise. who is a
member of the board of trustees of
the child labor committee. said:
"The decision is one that, as law
abiding citizens, we must accept as
valid None the less. Americans who
believe the welfare of the nation is
bound up in the safeguarding of chill
dren will regret the necessity under
which the majority of the court seems
to find itself of declaring the child
labor law unconstitutional and invalid.
Some other mode of approach to
the question must and will be found.
The new temper of the nation will
facilitate this quest. 1t is significant
that the court is not unanimous, and
that only one of the nominees of Pres
ident Wilson to the Supreme Court as
scented to the decision of the ma
jority"
Mrs. Maud Swartz, secretary Of the
Women's Trade Union League, said:
This decision will increase the con-
tempt with which the workers regard
the Supreme Court We have never
had much respect for it anyway AS
this law would affect only the chill
dren of the workers. the ruling shows
that workers children are considered
as so much machinery.
"rhe decision will be taken in very
Dad part by workers in general. If the
Oregon law, which limited the hours
tor women, was worthy of support by
the Supreme Court, how much more
worthy was this law, that protected
children? 1t amounts to this, that the
children of poor parents are at the
mercy of the desire of employers of
cheap labor"
Professor Evans Clark, instructor Of
politics at Princeton University for
three years and now director Of the
Pureau of Research and Investigation.
maintained by the Socialist alderme n,
said:
"In these days states rights, the
freedom Of the press and other con-
stitutional guarantees held sacred for
generations are being subordinated
right and left to the national welfare.
This is certainly the worst time to sac
ritice the health of our children on the
altar of constitutional Interpretation.
"The effect of this decision on ma
tional politics will be enormous. 1t
will give great impetus to the move
ment for an easier method of amend
ing the constitution and for limita-
tion of the judicial veto on legisla-
tion. 1t will certainly add to the So
cialist vote merit fall for the Socialist