The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-21
CHILD WELFARE
 STARTS INTEREST

"In long time" says Owen R. Lovejoy, general secretary of the Ma tional Child Labor Committee, in tee has received no more gratifying news than that which now comes from West Virginia. The new child labor law which has been passed by the legislature of that state and sign ed by the governor marks Q revolu- ton in the public policy of West Vir- ginta respecting the protection of working children. It also signifies the growing effectiveness of the pub lie Interest felt and manifested, espe- cially in recent months, all over this country, in the problems of child welfare, the child labor problem in cluded.
 '"The action of West Virginia is not only @ credit to the people and leg islators of that important industrial commonwealth, 1t Is also an unmis- takable sign of purpose and progress everywhere, in East and West, North and South. The stars in their courses are fighting victoriously for the chill dren of America Another Emanci- patton Is taking place. The next few years will see an unprecedented ad- vance in the application of the hu- mane and patriotic spirit of Ameri- can men and women to the protection and educa ton of American children.
 "If West Virginia" continues MT. Iove1oy, "can achieve the impossible, other states can achieve the possible. Not that West Virginia has gone farther than any of these other states, but she had farther to go than most of them at present have to go. She Jagged behind until 1t seemed that she would never catch up with the pro gressive states. Now she has placed on her statute books q law establish ing a minimum age limit of 1s years for mines. quarries, and all occupa- lions dangerous to life or limb or in- furious to health or morals. Formerly she permitted boys of 14 to work in mines and quarries when school was not in session, and the law contained no special provision as to dangerous and injurious occupations. The new law requires that no child shall re- ceive a permit to enter any gatnful occupation covered by the statute and all occupations except agriculture and domestic service are covered until he has undergone a physical examination by g. public health phy- sician or a public school physician to determine his fitness for the WOrR ne is to undertake. This is a new pro- vision. The educational qualification for a work permit Is raised from oom- pietion of the fourth grade to compile ton of the sixth grade. But the most striking contrast between the old and the new law is in the maximum length af the working day. No child under 16 will hereafter be allowed to work more than eight hours a day or at night. Formerly there was no re- strlctlon whatever as to working g hours-24 a day was the maximum.
 standards equivalent to those of the new West Virginia law are in force in many states, and in several respects the standards of some states are higher but West Virginia has stepped into the line of forward Tnarchers. The one lone Senator who voted no on the West Virginia bill repeated to deaf ears the ancient tale about child labor reform being the work of misguided mothers and i'm practical idealists. For some reason or other a good many people are thinking these days, that there Is something A1 ideals after all, particu- larly ideals of highly developed man. hood, womanhood, and nadonhod."