The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-10
Labor Commissioner Crawford
Remembers He Was Boy.
He VIII Help Other Boys Earn
Vacation Money.
MAKE MINOR Law SENSIBLE
Letter From Strong City Lad
May Land Him a Job.
He Wants To Earn Money! To
Buy Thrift Stamps.

! Kansas legislators never intended
that industrious and ambitious boys
of the state should be trained loafers.
| drug store Washers and hand holders.
That was the broad view taken of the
child labor law today by John M.
Crawford. state commissioner OF labor.
Crawford's ruling today may not be
in accord with pink tea party resolu-
ton and sob sister ideas of reform.
| Just the same Crawford intends to
| give the kids a chance.
1t is Crawford's plan to apply good
horse sense in his Interpretation of
| the child labor laws He doesn't in
tend to permit youths to secure en-
| ployment in hazardous industries or
in shops or factories. But where a
bright-eyed alert and energetic young
ster shows that he can earn some va
service in the world-well, it won't be
Commissioner Crawford who will
shatter the boyhood ambition.
Boy May Deliver Meat.
Incidentally John Taylor. age
years, may use his wheel and deliver
| some meat for the town butcher in
Strong City. Chase county. John Tay
lor has SIS worth of thrift stamps He
wants to buy some more. He is
| checked full of all the energy and
Vieor of a real red-blooded Kansas
youth. And John Crawford, who was
| nlInSelI q boy, Knows tndt JOhn Taylor
will ride his bicycle anyway. If he
can turn his riding into a few extra
| quarters. there is one state department
that won't interfere.
Out in Strong City John Taylor is
| annoyed and distressed because a
Kansas legislature passed laws that
| were to be used as vote getters in the
next campaign and forgot that the
| lawmakers themselves were once
boys The town butcher offered the
I'M Nira1N fpfw
light work. And then a local leader
in the keep Kansas pure" movement.
| told John that he must wait six years,
| before he could convert his bicycle
riding into cash. This morning the
following letter came to Governor AL
len from the boy who wanted chance
| to cash his ambition:
! The Boys Letter.
at am a little boy years old and during
vacation | can get job. delivering meat
eording to the law. they cannot hire me un-
u have five dollars worth of thrift
stamps now. and If eau get a job. will
buy some more. VIII you please give me
permission to work so can earn the
my writing so / had this written by a
lady. ~ - 1850
"Governor Allen, heard yeu was kind
man and thought maybe you could help
John TAYLOR.
strong City, Kan"
Letter Given to Crawford.
Governor Allen is not in town today
to answer the letter from the boy who
doesn't understand why he hasn't a
chance. But the matter was referred
to Commissioner Crawford.
IF 1t is up to me John Taylor will
get his job Crawford said. II have
had dozens of just such letters Where
the case is laid before me and the
facts show that there is no violation of
the law regarding hours and that the
| work is not hazardous, l am going to
help the boy. 1 have been a wage
Garner since I was years old and I
believe the boy is a better boy when
he realizes his ambition and can earn
n little money at pleasant vacation
work than tho the law compelled
him to loaf on the street or spend all
his time swimming and fishing"
Crawford's position on the child la
Dor question, however. does not mean
that Kansas is to throw her children
into sweat shops. All provisions of the
| law affecting employment of children
in workshops, factories, theaters, mills,
| canneries. packing houses. creameries
| and elevators will be enforced. No
children under Is years of age shall
work In such places. altho under GER
| tain conditions. permits may be given
for children more than IA years old.
Neither are children under Is years of
| age permitted to work in mines,
auarries. telephone exchanges or laun-
dries. Children between IL and IA
cannot work in. restaurants. hotels or
| places where soft drinks are sold.
Children under ~ years of age are
denied any employment for wage
| with or without permit. But there
Commissioner Crawford takes the
broad view of the law. Where en-
ployment is offered a boy and no haz-
ard is apparent and hours are between
| I a. m. and 6 -p. M, John Crawford
will give the Kansas kids the benefit
| of the doubt.