The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-28

United states Senator From C0llKOrmles
written ExpressIy. tor Cosmopolitan
News Service.
The Joint resolutiOas proposing q
child-lGbor amendment TO the Con-
stitMtion of the United States sOGs
reported on February 81 TO the
Senate BIZ the Senate Committee on
the Judiciary. The proposed amend
ment reads as fOLLosCs:: "The Con-
0ress shall haze potOef, concurrent
Nth thGt of the several States, to
limit or prohibit the labor Of per
sons under the age of eighteen
years"
Senator Shortridce Is endecVor-
ing to secure Gctiot By Congress
before adjournment OF MGrch !. !,
In considering the proposed child
labor amnndtnsnt to the Constitu.
ton. it would Seern TO be perfectly
plain that the high. paramount duty
Of the Government 10 to care for
the child life OF the nation. This
Is not q state, h1t q national duty.
Now, inasmuch a. Congress has
twice attempted to protect the
children Of the Republic by the
passage Of two Of several child
labor laws, we have q right to
assume that Congress thought 1t
had the Constitutional power to do
30, and we have O. right to assume,
also, that Congress thought It right
to exercise that power.
Moreover, we have q right to
assume that the mature, deliberate
Judgment OF the American people,
represented in Congress, was that
laws should be passed regulating
the labor OF children.
States Retain Power.
But, inAsmuch az the United
States Supreme Court has decided
that Congress 10 without power to
pass such laws, however desirable
or beneficial they may be, 1t is
now proposed to amend the Con-
stitution, and confer specific power
upon Congress to legislate In re.
spect to this matter.
It should be understood that the
proposed amendment will not de-
prive the States OF any Of their
power to legislate concerning child
labor, nor does 1t add to the power
or the States.
The proposed amendment gives to
the Federal Government, however.
the same. or like, powers now vested.
in the several States.
If the several States shall pass
aud enforce wise laws Tor the labor
Of children-pass laws as to hours
Of labor, condition Of night and day
work, as to moral and hygienic sur
roundings-there may be no neces-
sity for Congress to exercise the
power which 1t is proposed to confer;
but IL the States fail or neglect to
enact and enforce such wholesome
and desirable laws. the power will
be in Congress to deal with the sub
ject.
Must Develop Citizenship.
It should be forever borne in mind
that this is one nation, and that we
should do everything possible to de-
yelop the citizenship of the nation,
divided up. as 1t is, into fortY-eight
States. :.
I am thinking Of the boys and
girls Of the nation wherever they
may be toiling-in mines. factories
or dangerous and unwhoIeeome
places-whether they be in Maine
or Georgia.
No one should think for a mo-
ment that this movement to pro-
tect the child life of our country
is aimed In hostility at any State
or section. In a word, It Is a ma
tional question, in which every
thoughtful man and woman should
have and take deep interest.
Involves Nations Welfare.
Such laws as I have In mind
would have regard to the physical,
intellectual and moral welfare Of
our children-children today, but
men and women tomorrow charged
with the duty of directing and per-
petuating the Republic.
never lose sight of the fact
that we hold this Republic in trust
and that 1t Is our supreme duty to
pass 1t on to children capable Of
gv.rding it, and who, in turn, will