Evening journal., 1919-11-05

The New York sun prints the follow
ing under Dover date line from a stafl
correspondent, who has been making a
study OF conditions in Delaware:
Much OF the opposition to educa-
tional reforms in The State OF Delaware
at the present time centres about the
bound" or home" children. The num-
Der OF these youngsters in this State
at the present time cannot be esti-
mated, but It is fairly large. and while
Delsware's leading citizens-while her
Governor. while the head CT the great
est industry in the State. while bank
ers and business men, educators and
clergymen are lighting TO uphold the
new school code and raise Delaware
from her low literacy level, the owners
OF the bound" children are opposing
them tooth and nail. They are now
lending their support TO a band OF
politicians who are seeking to elevate
themselves into public oflice by pledg-
ing themselves to woyk for The repeal
OF the new laws
The reason for this is plain, for IN
der the old laws, which had survived
since the eighteenth century. the edu-
cation given TO these "bound" chill
dren was very slight. Their school
days were not many, and their owners
therefore found them very useful about
the farms or in whatever capacity they
might be employed. The new law,
however, would change this in certain
respects, and 10 would compel all chill
dren TO attend school for nine months
every year. thus deprving the owner
OF much OF the child's services.
Advocates OF the new school code are
declaring today that one OF its main
virtues lies in the fact 1t will tend TO
emancipate the bound children, thus
stamping out what Is regarded by many
IS a most pernicious form Of slavery.
For the bound" child, according to
many Delawareans, has been nothing
more than a slave. The bound child
may be the offspring OF a soldier who
has given his life in the struggle for
democracy; 1t may be an orphan; 10
may be any child whose parents,
though living. are unable to provide
Tor its support. i
But be It what Il may. this child,
,ither boy or girl, because OF circum-
stances over which 10 had no control
Is taken into court and legally bound
out TO an adult In the selection OF
which lti has no voice whatever, to
serve that adult for a given number
Of years. II it be a boy the term or
dnarily expires at the age OF 2i; girls
are bound to serve until they reach
the age OF 49,
The person acquiring a "bound" child
is described In the revised code OF Del
aware Of 1915 as the master" and the
law gives 10 him the right 20 sell this
child 20 another person just as he
would dispose OF an OK or a horse. The |
law expressly provides that "if minor
be bound to a person and his eXecu- |
tors, administrators and assigns he may |
be assigned from person 20 person by |
assignment executed, under seal, by
both asslgnor and assignee with the /
appreciation Of any Judge OF the State |
Or two justices OF the Peace" This /
Is referred 10 In the statutes
IS the order OF sale"
The law also provides that such ap- !
prentice shall be transmissible 10 ex-
3culors, who may hold or assign him |
is aforesaid"
The bound" child. according 10 ma
lives OF Delaware who have studied the
causes OF the antagonism |
oward the new educational laws, is In
-srlably the farm drudge. The old law
merely required the master TO give
,uch child reasonable education In I
'eadlng snd writing" II provided under 4
section entitled masters rights /
hat "ihe master. whether original or /
y assignment or transmission. shall 1
ave a right 10 the faithful services
4 the minor. so bound, during the
erms Of apprenticeship; and shall have
he custody and charge OF such minor,
With authority TO enforce his orderly 1