Indiana daily times., 1922-06-05
RAISE QUESTION
ON CHILDLABOR
Law IN HOUSE
Court Decision against Bill
Already Passed RereUs
Discussion.
BY CONSTANCE DRExEI.

b1 SONSIaNCE DhELALI.
WASHINGTON, June 5.-After tho
Supreme Court has thrown out two Fedf
eral child labor laws, what can best ba
done to prevent child labor throughout
the United States? That was the ques!
tion raised at hearing before tho
House judiciary Committee.
Congressman Voistead, chairman OF
the committee, presided, but Samuel
Gompers, president Of the American Fed4
| Grafton Of Labor, led the discussion. as
| the hearing had been called at his rel
quest.
| This Is the first consultation necessi4
| tated by the recent decision of the SUI
preme Court against the second Federal
child labor law. which Congress passed
on Feb 81, 1919 The first child labor
law, passed September, 1915. was de-.
clared unconstitutional June, 1913.
VIII it be necessary for Congress to
| pass a constitutional amendment or can
child labor law be found that would
get around the Federal Constitution az
1t stands and meet the test of the Sus
preme court? Or will 1t be best to DEF
pend on State laws to prohibit child Lag
bor without any legislation By Cons
gress?
Those are the three points Of view
presented at the hearing before the jug
dietary Committee and discussed at tha
conference called by the A F. Of L. to
consider the child labor situation.
Mrs Florence Kelley, general secretary
Of the National Consumers League. said:
I'VE have given up all hope OF getting
the desired uniformity IN child labor reg
ulation by State laws and through Fed
eral laws without Federal constitutional
amendment. Now the conundrum Is TO
get Federal amendment which will au-
thorize Congress to regulate the labor Of
children in the United States and also In
ali the territory under its jurisdiction, at
the same time making 1t possible for any
State to go ahead faster than the Federal
law If 1t chooses. We must get more pro-
lection Of children, not less, in whatever
child labor program Is adopted"
WOMAN'S TRADE UNION
WANTS CHILD LAW.
Matilda Lindsay representing the Ma
tional Woman's Trade Union League,
said:
This National woman's Trade Union
League stands for the elimination OF
child labor. We want this accomplished
In the quickest and safest way possible.
The child labor question viii be one OF
the big and important issues before our
national convention which meets in Chi
! cago beginning June j."
At the conference By representatives OF
many woruens organizations, 1t was de-
cfded a permanent conference for the
abolition Of child labor be formed for the
purpose OF aboltshing child labor for
profit throughout the United States Of
America It's possessions and territories.
10 c1a{r Tvs
Kelley vice chairman and Miss Lindsay
secretary.
A committee Of ten was established,
authorized to prepare for submission to
a subsequent meeting OF the conference
both a constitutional amendment and the
best form Of law it finds itself capable OF
submitting.
1t was the general sentiment OF the
conference that Congress rather than the =
separate States, should abolish child la
Dor.
dollar dinner was staged at the
Womans City Club which might
we'll be duplicated in other cities. II
was the bright idea OF Mrs. Frank Hi
ram Smell, formerly associated with Mrs.
George Bass In the women's bureau Of
the Democratic party and still a staunch
supporter OF the cause
Let US Democratic women Of Wash.
ington get together and Just get up and
say what we think without calling In
noted speakers to tell US what to Think
Here are some of the subjects they
talked about: Shall we trade in Russia
The Democratic party and the movies,
the League OF Nations, ths Newberry
case, the farmers point of view, ths
cooperation of working women with the
Democratic party, the transfer of oil
lands, the coal strike, shall we taks
our troops out Of Haiti. a modern won.
ans idea of States rights.
The informal discussion gave q good
idea Of what Democratic women Of tho
district are thinking Of public policies.
Women who served overseas for the
Cntted States or the allies during thu
World War viii be glad TO hear theis
organization. known as tho Women's
Overseas Service League, was granted q
national charter by a bill passed through
the House Of Representatives. RepreS
sentative Graham Of Pennsylvania, who
introduced tho bin some time ago. led
the discussion, which was brief. The
principal argument was a Congress gave
the American Legion national charter
50 II the soldiers could have 1t why nos
the woman who served overseas. many
of them in hospitals and in posts Of
danger7 The bill still must pass the
Senate and be signed by the President
to become law.