The Colorado statesman., 1922-09-09
WILL ATTEMPT To
END CHILD LABOR
SENATOR MCCORMICK OF ILL.
NoIs TO OFFER AMENDMENT
TO CONSTITUTION.
BELIEVES THIS THE ONLY WAY
Proposed Change in the country's
Basic Law Is Drawn Up and Sup
ported by Many organlzations-
President Thinks States Should Act
BY JAMES p. HoRNApAY

ushington.-Another attempt so to
amend the Constitution of the United
States as to prevent child labor Is to
be made, 1t seems, regardless OF what
the states through their legislatures
may do on the subject. Senator Medill
Mccormick of Illinois Is the author OF
the new proposal. He is acting at the
Instance of the Permanent Conference
for the Abolition of Child LABOR.
After several recent sessions this
conference, which brought together
representatives of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor, womens clubs, church
organizations, the League of Women
Voters and other organizations, drew
a constitutional amendment which was
presented to Mr.. Mccormick.
At a conference between Senator
Mccormick and Samuel Gompers,
president, and Frank Morrison, secre-
tary, of the American Federation or
Labor, who represented the conference
committee, Senator Mccormick agreed
to press the proposed legislation.
"The child labor situation" said
Senator Mccormick, "can be met only
by constitutional amendment, and L
will offer the amendment"
Amendment to the Constitution is
proposed following two decisions of
the Supreme court invalidating child
labor laws passed by congress. The
first law declared void was one bar
ring products of child labor from in
terstate commerce. The second placed
a prohibitory tax upon persons en-
ploying child labor. The Supreme
court said both laws were unconsti-
tutional and an invasion of the rights
of the states. Advocates of child la
Dor then turned to an amendment to
the Constitution to make possible
law that would stand the test in the
courts.
These Support 1t.
ORGANIZATIONS indorSlng the pro
posed child labor amendment to the
Constitution We're said by Senator Nc
Cormick and the conference commit
tee to include the following:
General Federation of Women's
Clubs, National Congress of Mothers
and Parent Teachers Associations,
National Council of Catholic Women,
National Women's Trade Union
league, American Association of Uni
versity Women, National Council of
Women, Young Women's Christian
association, Federal Council of the
Church of Christ, national child Ia
Dor committee, Public Education and
Labor Associations of Pennsylvania,
social action department, National
Catholic Welfare council, National
I aop
of Women Voters.
The committee named to represent
the so-called permanent conference
for the abolition of child labor includ-
ed President Gompers and Secretary
Morrison of the American Federation
of Labor Mrs. Thomas G. Winter,
president of the General Federation
of Women's Clubs; William Green,
secretary of the United Mine Work
ers; Miss Grace Abbot, chief of the
children's bureau, Representative
John l. Nolan, William III. Johnson,
president of the International Asso-
citation of Machinists, and others rep
resenting labor, civic or reform or
ganizations.
The Proposed Amendment.
AS approved by the child labor con
ference, the proposed constitutional
amendment which Senator Mccormick
will offer, reads:
"The congress shall have power to
limit or prohibit the labor of persons
under eighteen years of age, and pow
er is also reserved TO the several
states to limit or prohibit such labor
in any way which does not lessen any
Limitation of such labor or the ex-
tent of any prohibition thereof by
congress. The power vested in the
congress by this article shall be ad-
ditional to and not limitation on the
powe elsewhere vested in the con-
gress by the Constitution with respect
to such labor"
The Mccormick resolution is not
likely to have the support of Presl-
dent Harding. This does not mean
that the President is not in favor of
regulating child labor, but it does
mean that he believes the states rath-
er than the federal government should
undertake this task. 1t will therefore
be the policy of the administration, so
II is announced, to look to state leg
Islatures to enact adequate child Ia
Dor legislation where they have not
already done so. Since nearly all the
legislatures meet next January and
February, the administration feels
that 1t would be the part of wisdom
for congress to delay action on the
proposed constitutional amendment
If the legislatures should come and
70 without meeting the situation in
q proper way. 1t will be time enough,
in the Judgment of the administra-
ton, for congress to take up the ques-
ton of another amendment to the
Constitution.
Bio Job of Plucking Board.