The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-02
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON
Blu IRE AU
FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Director.
Washington. D. C.
MAKING THE WORLD SAFE FOR
CHILDREN.
Washington. D. c

CHILDREN.
Washington, D. c., Oct. 3o.-One Of
the most striking differences between
the allied nations and the central pow
ers is shown in the attitudes of the
governments toward children. In the
midst of war and at its most critical
periods, the democratic nations have
given time and thought to the health
and education of the children, upon
whom their futures as nations depend.
The central powers have used their
children recklessly in the factories ana
in the ranks as materials ofswar.
The English government at-first used
children in war factories. Later the
mistake was realized and splendid
amends were made. The United States
is now the only one of the great dem
ocratic nations in which children are
still to some extent exploited.
The English Education bill, which
passed parliament last summer, is an
excellent example of the far-sighted-
| ness of the British government in the
matter of child welfare. This law pro-
vides compulsory education for every
| child up to fourteen years OF age
| both urban and rural. This measure
will be far more effective than child
| labor law; it is definite, direct and in
| elusive. A labor law such as was passed
| in this country in 1915 only protected
children in cerRin industries. while
|
stores and small establishments in the
great cities were not affected.
| While the English have been passing
education laws, while France with
her territory 'oIerrur and often face
| to face with defeat, has enacted stat
utes maintaining educational stand
ards. the German government has
called its youth into the trenches, sent
them to long days in munition plants
and employed children under sixteen
in night work. The reports from Aus
tria show even more deplopable condi-
| TONS A parliamentary report re-
Gently published in the Arbeiter lei
tung of Vienna shows that more than
one-third of all the school children of
Austria are working and in many dis
tricts every child from the age Of five
years up is employed.
In the United States constructive
work in child welfare has been accom-
plished as the result of hard, uphill
work, and there have been many fail
ures and disappointments. The great
est blow of all was the action of the
4 United States supreme court in declar-
ing the federal child labor law un-
constitutional. The law had been in
effect nine months and had kept thou
sands of children from heavy, un-
healthy toll in factories. Many people
were dissatisfied with this law because
it was only of benefit to a portion OF
our child population. but at least 1t
was a step in the right direction. and
the liberal elements were bitterly dis
appointed to have it repealed.
But this setback hasn't proved to be
so serious a sit seemed at the time. A
number of states have child labor stat
rtes protecting the juveniles as effec-
lively as the repealed federal law. The
department of labor backed by sweep
ing MOWERS is consistently kPRninp
to the spirit of the child labor law
even tho it is now a dead letter. More
over the action of the supreme court
served as an impetus to the leaders OF
the fight for child welfare; it awak.
ened many who had been Indifferent
and recruited new workers. Never be-
fore have they been so active. SO de.
| termined or so Successful. .
The attitude of the department OF
labor is definiS ly expressed in a state.
ment recently made by Felix Frank
!, | further, chairman of the war labor
policies board. I'VE must resist to the
utmost all destructive inroads on chill
dren. Our school children up to the
ase of 16 should not be touched"
Nevertheless, since our entrance II
/ the war. in spite of all Humanitarian
and liberal efforts, there has been q
great increase in child labor. Thi.
may be attributed to several causes
} including the lure of high wages, thu
; indifference of parents and laxity o.
labor and education laws. The chill
dTen are also encouraged to work b,
a feeling of mistaken patriotism which
is often taken advantage of by the EN-
ployers.
. The back to school drive" now be
ing conducted by the children's bureau
, and the child conservation section O.
, the council of national defense prom
, ises to be one of the most effective
ways of checking the growing ten
dency of children to stop school in or
der to work.
In carrying out this campaign tn,
children's bureau will work with tn.
child welfare committee, which is or
ganlzed in every state. The loca
units of this organization will appoin
committees to handle the work. /
Will be the duty of the individual
members of these committees to max,
personal calls on the parents of chill
dren who should be in school. The,
will not pry into family affairs o.
: make unreasonable demands. The,
will endeavor in as tactful q way a.
ri possible to talk the matter over ant
snow the parents the folly of not max
ing every possible effort to keep thei
2 youngsters in school. They will shov
= what a sacrifice the child is making
=, and that the money he earns now will
not compensate for the loss of tn
Y earning capacity he could acquire b,
t study.
, Il was largely the realization that Il
a war for Democracy Democracy be
gins at home, and also the desire TO
l. continued efficiency in war productio
s which led the war LABOR policies boar
r to maintain, the standards establishe
by the federal child labor law in a.
Y government work. On July ~ -.
2 board passed a resolution requirin
that all contracts for government
work contain clause to the effec
that no child under fourteen years O
D age shall be employed and no chill
I between fourteen and sixteen shall b
: employed for more than eight hour
y a day or six days a week or at nigh
= AS the government Is now the bigges
= employer in the United States, thi
resolution will affect thousands @
children.
: The United States employment sery