The Washington herald., 1920-10-12

be made between the various en-
ployments in which children enter. |
The entrance OF children of tender
years into mills, factories and mines
tends TO stunt their development
and injure the race. The argument
that the child is enabled to learn
a trade is unsound for the trade
may be moro quickly learned, with
greater opportunity for subsequent
progress, by boy of better physi-
cal condition of l6 years, who has
spent ten years in elementary
schools, than by a boy who loses
sound physical development by en-
tering into such labor at 10 or IL.
On the other hand. the Intermittent
employment of children in agricui-
ture may, if wisely supervised, de-
velop physique and form fine sup
plement for the more formal educa-
tion in the country schools.
Psisoas Springs at Source.
up to the present the Federal
government has not been able TO
deal comprehensively with the sub
ject of child labor. The original
child labor law was declared uncon-
lstitutional. The present Federal
child labor tax law imposes a tax
of 10 per cent upon the net profits
of any factory, mine or quarry en-
tering upon interstate commerce
and at the same time employing
! children under II to l6 years OF
age. The Federal government is in
capable OF making provision against
employment in intra-State industry,
and thus the great mass of children
employed in street trades and vari-
Gus blind alley occupations goes on
unhindered. 1t appears to be alb
| solutely critical that We should have
such Constitutional amendment as
permits the Federal government 10
take direct action on this question.
for SO long as certain States are SO
I backward in their social develop
mcnt that they will sacrifice their
children to industrial advantage it
is not only unfair TO the other
States, but II is poisoning the
springs OF the nation at their source.
And in the spread of this infected
population throughout the whole
area. every State. no matter how
| highly developed its social organ
'ization is, must bear the burden of
shiftless poverty. criminality. that
spreads from such areas.
] IiOHlulNlOn OF CHlIs leDOT Is dl
best only A negative attack on the
problem. It is not thoroughly ef-
/ fective in promoting the economic
and moral welfare of the nation un-
! less the time now spent by the child
/ in industry is devoted TO adequate
schooling and TO activity that will
develop his physical well being.
Nothing could be worse than COM
pulsory idleness Of children. and,
therefore, the period Of compulsory
elementary education and the pc
riod OF prohibition of child labor
must be Complementary. We must
/ not only protect our children from
! the physical degeneration of child
labor, but we must enable them by
! education to take their place in
society and give them that equality
of opportunity at their first step in
/ life that should mark the particU-
lar distinction of our democracy.
Some States have prohibition OF any
child labor that is subject to social
and physical objection. Many States
! still fail to dovetaiI compulsory
school laws and child labor so as
TO protect children from unsuitable
work and the nation from illiteracy.
IlliteraCy rises in some States as
high as 90 per cent of the whole
population over 10 years of aGe.
The ideal would be for each State
TO take separate action to attain
these uniform ends, but, as l de-
spair of the social development of
certain States. I have myself come
to the conclusion that we must have
direct or indirect Federal action in
order to compel those who have so
little sentiment in national interest
that they would debauch our child
life for the mere purpose of favor
to certain industrial establishments
Must Awaken Public Coincidence
Il am one of those who hope