The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-08-17
AIM TO END
 CHILD LABOR
 IN AGRICULTURE

The National Child Labor Commit tee, which was one of the chief fac tors in bringing about the enactment by Congress and state legislatures of laws forbidding child labor in fac tories, has inaugurated 2 new cam paign which has as it's object the end ing of child labor in agriculture.
 Dr. Felix Adler, who served as chairman of the committee for sev- enteen years, guiding it through the period during which it achieved so much for the welfare of the nations youth, resigned recently owing to the press of personal business. He has been succeeded by David Franklin Houston, who was successively Sec retary of the Treasury in the Wilson administration.
 Education of parents, farm own 1y to the menace child labor offers to CTS, officials and the public general the future greatness of the nation will be the prime weapon employed by the committee in the crusade now under way. It is realized that a more indirect approach must be used than in stopping industrial child labor be- cause of the practical difficulties which would be encountered in trying to enforce prohibitory laws in the remote sections where the evil IS mostly prevalent.
 Another aim will be the arousing of public opinion to a point where it will insist upon the enforcement of the compulsory school attendance affected districts. These include the beet fields of Michigan and Colorado, the tobacco plantations of Kentucky and Connecticut, the cotton fields of Texas, Oklahoma and Imperial Val ley, California; the berry fields of California and Michigan, the cram berry bogs of New Jersey, the onion fields of Ohio and the truck farms of Delaware.
 School attendance statistics in all tEese areas reveal an appalling state of affairs. In many instances the To- cal school authorities hesitate to an- tagonise the wealthy and influential employers of child labor, while in other cases they simply do not care, as the children at work are not those | of permanent residents but of itiner- | ant families who contract to cultivate | and harvest the crops by the acre. It 1 is this system which proves so dire | a temptation to ignorant or callous | parents, whose income is roportionate 1 to the number of children able to l toil.
 "In the long run,' says MT. Hous- l ton, what is best for the child is | best for society. The problem now is fuller administration of laws. It is a lroblem of education. People every wi-are. both agricultural and indus trial leaders, must be educated to a
 
 | so that rational measures and prac- tices of a great variety may be adopt | ed which will cause the child to be- come, not only a more efficient labor | er but a more useful member of so- | ciety.
 "The great objective is to make farming profitable and rural life healthfuI-and attractive. If this move ment succeeds there will be less in- centive on the part of some people to force children to work unduly. | Funds will be available for better schools. Facilities for advice and aid to parents in rural districts in hy- giene will expend. Country districts must have amp1er hospital facilities I.and clinical service. The Nationa Child Labor Committee will strive tc keep before the public the child's status, place and interest in this pro- gram and can effectively cooperate for the improvement which will near much to strengthen the foundation of the nation.
 The committee, whose headquart- CTS Is at 105 East Twenty-second Street, New York City, is in need o1 funds to carry on its work. V. Everi Macy is treasurer and Owen R. Love joy is general secretary. Other mer and women of national standing are connected with the organization.