The Washington herald., 1922-07-09
SECRETARY HOOVER
URGES STATES TO
END CHILD LABOR.
Favors Federal Action If
Local Governments Fail
/ To Fall In Line.
UNFAIR TO LABOR
Waste of Child Life More
Deplorable Than War,
He Declares.
UNFAIR TO LABOR
By ARTHUR S. HENNINa

| oy nm nun .. hENNiNG
A warning Of the national peril
involved in the increasing tendency
to 'let Uncle Sam do IT," instead
of the States that ought to do It.
was uttered yesterday by Secretary
of Commerce Hoover in the course
Of an interviw, on the subject Of
child labor.
Unless this tendency to substi-
tute national fortlocal self govern
ment Is checked, the sense of local
responsibility will be destroyed and
the foundation of social progress
undermined. in the opinion of Mr.
Hoover.
"Lesser of Two Evfls.s
Yet he favors a constitutional
amendment to eradicate completely
the evil OF child labor in those
backward States in which about
3o0.0 children are employed, a..
there appears to be no other means
of accomplishing the purpose. This
would be the case. he holds. OF the
choice of the lesser of two evils.
asked the Secretary what REM
edy he would propose for the child
labor evil now that the Supreme
Court has held unconstitutional the
two laws passed to end the employ
ment OF children.
Every well-wisher. of children
must feel deeply the failure of the
last effort in national prevention
OF child labor said Mr.. Hoover.
astiII I'm Middle Ages.s
A study of the situation as II
stands will show that a majority
of States have forward looking and
| effective laws in child protection;
that some others have enacted legis-
f1ation that at least goes part way
But there is a minority that are
still in the middle ages in their
attitude to childhood.
,"Child labor in these backward
States is comparatively unfair to
industry in the States that have
| responded to the moral and social
ideals OF our people. But far be-
yond this, the moral and economic
I results OF debilitated. iliiterate, and
unframed manhood and womanhood
that must spring from these cess
pools where child labor is encour-
aged and is legitimate, infect the
| entire nation.
Each state should Act.
All of us would agree in the
wish that the sense of local govern
| ment and local responsibility in our
country were such that each and
every State would advance itself to
| the forefront of progress In so
vital a question. 1t would be far
| better for the future OF the re-
| public II thisswere true. for I know
l Of nothing more disheartening than
| the impulse and Justification given
to the Capitalization of government
by continuous failure of local gov
eminent in matters that affect the
| nation as a whole. With the grow
| ing population and growing COM
plexity Of our industrial and social
| life, the constant resort to Federal
control for solution of difficulties
will yet undermine the very basis
of social progress by the destruc-
| ton of the sense Of local response
| bility.
Less Than Nations Loss.
However. II II is impossible to
secure this necessary safeguard to
| our people by local government.
|
| losses in our sense of local respon-
sibility are less than the loss to the
| nation as a whole and IL all else
| fails, I stand for amendment to the
Federal Constitution that will give
the necessary power and authority
| to compel action in those States
which are negligent of their re-
sponsibilities. Let us have our eyes
open to the Tact. however, that the
necessity for so doing Is definite
| step in undermining the autonomy
| of local government, and the sac
| rifice in this autonomy that few
| States are Imposing on all the whole
will only open the gates OF en-
| croachment through the Constitu-
ton every time some local social
cesspool must be drained. 1t is with
| this thought in mind that l should
! like to suggest to you that final
effort be made to bring all States
| into line to abolish child labor. II
| that cannot be accomplished quick
| ly. I regretfully join with those in
favor of Federal action.
Equality of Opportunity
Clearly. II economic waste is
reprehensible. waste of child life
whether viewed economically or In
terms of common and universal bet
terment is a blight that in it's meas
ure is more deplorable than war.
TT may be worth recounting that
| our system of individualism can
only stand IL we can make effective
the supreme ideal of America. This
| ideal Is that there shall be an
equality of opportunity for every
citizen to reach that position in the
community to which his intelli-
gence. abilities. character and ambi-
ton entitle him. I am a strong
believer in this progressive individ-
nalism as the only road to eco
nomic. social and spiritual safety
and to human progress. Without
this tempering ideal that America
has evolved, individualism will not
stand.
Less In America. ~
There is no equality of oppor-
tunity where children are allowed
by law and compelled by parents to
labor during the wears they should
receive instruction; there Is no equal
| ity of opportunity unless this in
struction is made compulsory by the
State. There is no equality Of OPP
portunity for children whose parents
are not restrained by law from ex-
plotting them. and compelled to give
them participation in the beneficent
privileges that the State provides for
them.
ct, est some would think because