Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-12-15
MANY CHILDREN
WORKING HARD
Secretary Davis Asks For COnstitu-
tional Amendment To Erase
This Black Spot"
By Isaac Gregg


Washington, Dec. 15.-Urging the
prompt abolition of the present sys-
tenn of child labor laws, Secretary OF
Labor James J Davis declared yes
terday that approximately l,50O,00O
children less than sixteen years old,
are employed in the mines, mills,
fields and factories of the United
States. He stated that the existing
child labor laws are inadequate ito
erase this black spot from the Ma
tons escutcheon,,' and called for an
amendment to the Federal Constitu-
ton giving to the national Congress
the power to pass the required Iegls-
lation. .s.s.-.
According to Secretary Davis, the
great reblem of dealing correctly
with our childhood is Of the utmost
Importance to the perpetuity of the
Nation. A complete survey by the
Department of Labor showed that
nearly 100000 American children,
the victims of premature toll in this
country are deprived Of the means to
conserve their strength while young
and their right to an efficient educa-
ton.
Admitting that the cotton fields
and sugar-bee. Industries are suffer
ing from the lack Of labor, Mr.. Davis
declared that it is improper to permit
the importst ton of so-called cheap
labor in the form of women and
children from Mexico to supply the
market. It is a practical step toward
eliminating child labor when condl-
tions are created which will require
that adults or persons above the age
of Is shall do this work. Secretary
Davis pointed out.
Paying his respects to the mills ana
factories where tens of thousands OF
children are employed in textile fac
as SHINING or duffr boys, Mr.. Da-
Wis added that children thus employ
ed are expected to work 60 hours a
week.
Condensing the present system as
applied to child labor, Secretary Da-
Wis stated that the destiny Of such
poor victims seems clear for when
they reach the age of manhood or
womanhood, intead of being able to
do their share of the worlds work
they will become wrecks, physically,
mentally and morally. A large per-
centage of them will land in the poor
house, the madhouse, or jail, accord
ing to Secretary DAVIS.
No attempt will be made at this
time or in the near future by the
administration to hold another arms
limitation conference in accordance
with the request Of the sub-commit-
teee of the House appropriations
committee in reporting the naval bill
Wednesday. This statemer.. was
made yesterday by spokesman for
the administration. -.
Although President Harding and
Secretary of State Hughes are strong
ly in favor of even greater reductions
in naval ornaments by agreement
than were accomplished in the Wanl
ington conference, they feel the fall
ure of another arms conference at
this time would be so certain as to
make it futile to call the conference.
If, in the next var or two the situa-
tion in Europe has quieted down and
there is hope of getting the nations
together for an agreement on auxil-
iaries, submarins and the like. the
President undoubtedly will of his cwn
initiative call another conference.
There are several obstacles in the
way of successful conference at
this time. In the first plac, France
and Italy have not yet ratified the
troo+y reIa+irp to capital ships ard
while Italy stands ready ~ ratify the
treaty and put it into effect as so5n
as France acts, there is no immef fi-
ate prospect that France vii act
The prevailing feeling here is that
France is holding no the arms con-
ference treaties until the reparations
and debt questions have been settled
to her satisfaction.
Some persons here take the view
that France. now having the largest
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