Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1918-11-14
THE CHILDREN
IN WAR TINES


Washington, D. Cone of the mos
striking differences between the Allie,
nations n the Central Powers Il
shown in The attitude of the govern
n ments toward children. In the mids
of war and at It's most critical periods
the Democratic nations have given timt
and thought to the health and educa
ton of the children, pon whom thei
s futures as nations depend. The Cen
trail Powers have used their children
rechlessly in the factories and in the
ranks as materials Of war.
The English government at first
used children in war factories. Later
the mistake was realized and splendid
amends We're made. The United States
is now only one Of the great Democratic
nations in which children are still to
Jsome 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
provides compulsory education for
every child up to IA years of age-both
urban and rural. This measure will
be far more effective han a child Ia
Dor law; it is definite, direct and in.
elusive. A labor law such as was
passed in this country in 1916 only
protected children in certain indus
tries, while thousands OF children en-.
ployed in stores and small establish
ments in the great cities were not af-
fected.
In the War Countries
While the English have been passing
education laws, while France with her
territory overrun and often face to
face with defeat, has enacted statutes
maintaining educational standards, the
German government has called it's
youth into the trenches, sent them to
long days in munition plants and en-
ployed children under Is in night work.
The reports from Austria show even
more deplorable conditions. A parlia-
mentary report recently published in
~ Il ASAAuIlS III lcllIld SHOWS
that more than one-third of all the
school children of Austria are working |
and in many districts every child from
he 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 AVE been many fail
ures, and disappointments. The great
est blow of all was the action of the
United States Supreme court in de-
the Federal Child Labor law
unconstitutional. The law had been in
effect min months and had kept thou:
sands of children from heavy, unheal-
thy 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 it was a
step in the right direction, and the
liberal elements were bitterly disap-
to hay it repealed.
Supreme Court Decision Stimulates
Fight for Child Welfare
But this setback mas not proved to
be as serious as it seemed at the time.
A number of states have child Tabor
protecting the juviniles as eff
fectiyely as the repealed federal law.
The Department of Labor backed by
sweeping war powers, is consistently
to the spirit Of the child labor
even though it is now a dead let
ter. Moreover the action of the SUI
court served as an impetus to
the leaders of the fight for child well
are it awakened marv who had been
Indifferent and recruited new workers.
Never before have they been sd active,
so determined or SO successful.
Thd attitude Of the Department Of
Labor is definitely expressed in a state
recently made by Felix Franfur-
ter, chairman Of the War Labor Poll
cies board, 1--WE must resist to the ut
most all destructive. inroads on cnild-
Our schco, children up to the
age of 16 should not be touched"
Nevertheless, since our entrance in
war, in spite of all humanitarian
and liberal efforts, there has been a
great increase in child labor, Th1
be attributed to several causes,
including the lure of high wages, the
Indifference of parents and laxity of
and education laws. The children
are also encouraged to work by a feel
ing of mistaken patriotism which is of
taken advantage Of by the employ
III
Back to School
ssrhe Back to- School Drive now be-
ing conducted by the childrenss bureau
the Child Conservation section OF
the Council of National Defense prom
ises to be one Of the most effective ways
o. checking theagrowing tendency OF
children to stop schoolsin order toswork
III carrying out this campaign the
chiidren's bsreau will work with the
Child Welfare committee which Is or
ganized in every state. The local I'M
its Of this organization viii appoint
committees to handle The work. 1T win
bet he duty Of the Individual members
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