Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-03
ABOUT CHILD LABOR


II the time coming when women
will no more vote al they cry than
men vote ~ they drink?
Once the women get the notion
that those with axes to grind coolly
calculate on feminine emotion to put
their schemes across It is a pretty
safe bet those calculations are likely
to incur disappointment.
II anyone doubts this we would
suggest there may be food for
thought in the action Of the Maine
Federation OF Women's Clubs in in
definitely ipostponing a resolution to
endorse the child labor amendment,
although the vote was close 80 to 80.
This should not be understood as
conveying the idea that these women
opposing the resolution are convinced
someone Is trying to put something
over on the strength Of the natural
attitude OF women toward child Ia
Dor: rather that they are convinced
Of far reaching possibilities in the
amendment. are doubtful Of its wis
dom and are resolved to unemotion-
ally and carefully consider the mat
ter.
Women are not alone In entertain
Ing doubts respecting the measure.
Weighty arguments are being made.
pro and con. Some recall that there
Ia a Federal law requiring that peo-
pie denied the ballot shall not be
counted In making up the congress
stonal representation from states
whore such practices are permitted.
It has never been enforced. 1t aps
rlies to some of the states where
there is exploiting Of child labor.
Would law against child labor be
enforced there! Presumably 1t
would, for there would he back Of it
a powerful bureau Of the Govern
ment, tho existence Of which would
depend on making good showing
and one OF the moving purposes OF
which would be to aggrandize its
powers.
There Is ground for fear that such
a development OF bureaucracy might
in the end become a greater menace
than Is child labor today. This fear
Is causing some good people to hest
tate. They rightly fear bureaucracy.
Many of them also believe the great
est injury child may be exposed to
is that Of idieness. Are they wrong?
Here is the proposed amendment,
innocent enough In appearances:
sec. l.. The Congress shall have
power to limit, regulate and pro-
hibit the labor OF persons under is
years of age.
Sec. .. The power of the several
states is unimpaired by this article,
except that the operation Of the state
laws shall be suspended to the ex-
tent necessary Ito give effect to legis-
sation enacted by Congress-
This doesn't look Ubiquitous. Who
among ". that are not versed in law
and all the ramification Of its inter-
1retation. would suppose from this
What it would empower Congress.
possibly dictated to by a government
bureau, to say what wages shall be
Paid. what hours may be employed
In work. what education would be
requisite to permission to work. In
other words that Congress could. II
at any time disposed to do so. regu-
late the training and education OF
persons up to the age OF eighteen
yearse
Il 10 idle to say Congress would not
do that. because there 10 no way Of
knowing what Congress in process Of
time might do. We would like to
know what Congress actually could
DO under this amendment. II found
to be anywhere near what 10 a..
cribed to It. We would not vote for
the amendment. It is important that
people should know the extent Of the
power which would be conferred by
that amendment and it 10 unfortu-
nate that there seems to be no way
Of definitely finding out. The next
thing 70 do 10 to accept the conclus-
ions Of those who have the ability 20
ecRStrus legal meanings and are hon
ct In doing 20. So far ~ we can
learn those conclusions point to the
granting under such an amendment
e great powers on the part Of Con-
SFSss-which really means power Of
. oureeu In Washington-to inter-
1sfs n the control Of the child by pa
seats a4d communities.
TAsrs should b no snap Judgment
ahcut this thing. no voting under the
sway 81 emotion. And We believe
sisAt sAbuM not be lost OF the men
aes salFsedy sxisting in this country
&len bureencraey In Warrington.
And here b another thing it might
0swsll 10 keep In mind: n those ex-
Uleietng child labor had been re-
se1ietsl q their communities and
stRto there would have besn no ex-
enss 5sF sush proposed constitu-
tie1al aSsendAsnt. Those exploiters
~ Hlf4jp4 teelA ana nan 70 prsyent