The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1919-02-28
BvW. o. SAUNDERS

Are the textile manufacturer
of North Carolina honestly in
favor of child labor legislation?
They say they are. But the evil
dence is against them. Having
introduced the Connor-Saunders
child labor bill in the House of
Representatives recently I have
been given an opportunity to see
how the cotton mill men of the
state behave when it is suggested
that North Carolina get in line
with Federal legislation on the
child labor question.
Last summer the textile manufact-
urers of the state held big convention
in the city of Asheville and put them
selves on record in favor of effective
child labor legislation. They appeared
to be very sincere and some were fool
ish enough to believe that they had
seen a great light. Some were foolish
enough to believe that the manufact-
urers themselves would have a child
labor bill introduced in the General
Assembly which convened on Jan. g.
In meantime the Congress of the
United States, which has been trying
10 work out a lawyer proof national
child labor law for several years, tackled
a rider on the new Revenue act which
it is believed will withstand all attacks
in the Supreme Court, the final resort
of all vested interests.
The new Federal act imposes tax
of 10 per centum on the accrued profits
of all industries employing children
under IA years of age or employing
children under 16 years of age more
than eight hours in any one day or more
than 48 hours in any one week. Special
machinery for the enforcement of the
act, including rigid inspection of fac
tories employing children. is placed in
the Department Of the Seeretar5Lof
Labor.
CLEVER PROPAGANDA
This act of Congress, now law, was
about to become a law when the pres
ent General Assembly of North Caro-
lima convened. But the North Carolina
General Assembly with a child labor
law. Instead, they had placed on the
desk of every member of the General
Assembly a bulky and handsomely il
Illustrated special edition of the Char
lotte N. c. Observer which told in
beautifully worded articles and illustra-
TONS Of the welfare work being under
taken by the cotton mill men of the
state IN behalf of children. An altru-
lstlc mortal having read that special
cotton mill welfare edition of the Char
Iotte Observer would have declared that
the cotton mill men would be the first to
FAVOR a just and humane law in behalf
OF the children of the state.
But days rolled on and rolled by
ana there came no other suggestion of
chlld labor legislation from the manu-
lacturlng interests. And then Mitchell
L. Shlpman, Commissioner of Labor
ana PRINTING, asked the members of the
General Assembly to consider this sub
Jecl oI ch!ld labor at this session. He
o1ered a bill which he believed answer
ed the demands of the times His bill
created commission composed of the
the State Superintendent of Public In
9-Fi' t!on and the Commissioner of
Labor and Printing; his bill provided
i II year age limit for children working
III mills factories, shops, etc., etc..
and an eight hour day and a 48 hour
week for children under Is years of age.
Inc Dill copied other particulars of the
te'telai child labor law and provided
IN inspection by the state department
oI labor which would be acceptable to
HE Federal government
THE CLOVEN HOOP
y Did any cotton mill man indorse the
Shipman bill? No, not one. But al
most before the ink was dry on the
Shlpman bill, Edgar Love, Representa-
i've from Lincoln county and chairman
OF the House Committee on Manufact-
ufes and Labor, introduced a bill to
abolish the Office of Commissioner of
Labor and Printing. Love is a cotton
mil manufacturer. His obviously NAL
clpus, Venomous and brutal attack upon
commissioner Shipman seems to be the
spirit of the textile industry generally.
VI course, the textile men deny this; of
course they say that Love made
blunder; of course they say that Love
does not represent their attitude. But
the fact remains that they have stood
Solidly against Commissioner Shipman
and not one has by word or act indicat-
ed that Love was wrong in intent. They
merely condemn Love for having
thrown the fat in the fire. The more
aStute manufacturers would have
abolished Shipman in some other way.
There are no charges of misconduct in
Office against Shipman; it is not even
suggested that he is inefficient. The
only thing against Shipnan is that he
busted himself. to get the State of
North Carolina to deal honestly with
It's children and with the Federal gov
trnment at a time when the cotton mill
men thought they had lulled the state
10 sleep on the subject of child labor
legislation.
HOW GOT INTO 1T
1t was then that I approached Com
missioner Shipman and told him that