The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-10-25


one great legislative victory-the
passing of the Cable law making a
woman's citizenship thing inde-
pendent of her marriage-the Ma
tioRal League of Women Voters
win take up as its next. objective
an adoption Of an amendment to
the constitution forbidding child
labor. The announcement of thu
campaign. to begin in earnest this
winter while AZ state legislatures
are1n session, has been made by
Mrs. Maud Wood Park, president
Of the league.
Ever since the existing child
labor laws we're declared uncon-
stitutional by the supreme court
there has been a widespread senti-
ment in the country in favor Of
writing into the constitution itself
a provision for the protection OF
children from the exploitation u
factory owners. But though the
moral support of the public has
been present, the movement for a
constitutional amendment has lack
ed an organization to crusade fol
it. Constitutional amendments
nowadays are put across by organ
ICED effort, as the members OF the
National League of Women voters
are we'll aware, they themselves
having constituted the bulk of the
non-militant equal suffrage organi'
cation which shared in the success
full crusade to give women the bal
lot. With its 100000 members, TIE
league is looking forward to a busy
winter as it opens the campaign
for q child-laboe amendment
There are five resolutions nov
pending before congress, each one
providing for a child labor amend
ment-to be submitted to the state
for ratification. The National
League of Women Voters has moi
yet endorsed any one of these. AL
are being studied, and eventually
the league will either get behint
one of them, or have q new one
drawn and introduced in congress
as a resolution. Meanwhile a cam
paign will be started Throughout
the United States in favor of sucf
an amendment. With all but two
OF the state legislatures in ses
sion, the attempt will be made tt
deluge congress With resolution!
adopted by the legislatures II
favor of child labor amendment
In addition, the women will worl
directly upon congress with. peti
lions and in committee hearings il
Washington.
| The women expected to secure
the adoption OF such an amendment
and that at no remote date in thu
future. Their attitude toward thu
successful outcome Of their new
est campaign is. something NOR
than one of confidence. 1t is com
plete assurance Of victory. Az ont
of the general officers expressed it
ANY reasonable thing that the wo
men of America want Of congress
they can get"
No Other Issue More Important.
The announcement that the leagu
would take up the campaign for ;
child labor amendment came aftel
Mrs. Park and other officers of thu
organization had made thorough
tour of the country sounding GU
the sentiment of the women voters
1t is evident that the women of tn
country place no national issu
ahead of the protection of factor,
children.
While awaiting the adoption OF
Federal amendment, the member
of the league intend to see, to it tina
all existing state child labor law
are enforced. Many of the state
already have laws forbidding tn
commercial employment Of childre
of tender years. In states whic
have no legislation Of the sort tina
the league considers adequate, tn
women will work for the adoptio
of additional laws.
The Lague for Women Voters
the natural outgrowth of the sufl
rage organization which for S
many years battled for the ballo
Now, having secured the vote, tn
organized women of the countr
are going ahead to secure the legi: