Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1924-11-28
kill This LIE!
BY OLIVER E. CARRUTH

Voters in every section where the proposed Child
Labor Amendment an issue IN the recent campaign
told that the amendment would prohibit boy Of 10
II doing any kind Of work on his fathers farm The
same mendacious assertion has been made for month in
certain farm journals and employers organs
The statement is a lie plain and simple, ant shu Id
be branded such by every friend OF the Chllo Il
Amendment There is nothing in the amendment thai re
motley suggests that boys girls would be forbidden 10
help their parents the farm. Yet the lie persists
typical version being the following statement circulated
by the Associated Industries OF New York State me- rep
resenting open shop interests of New DIRK IN Its organ
The Monitor:
"% if the amendment is passed. tens of thousands
of husky 16 and Il year old boys now engaged in learning
profitable trade giving the aid they owe to their
parents by helping out with the hayng poWlng etc. on
the farm will be egislated into life of Incidence
A glance at the text of the proposed amendment is
sufficient to show the wild absurdity of the foregoing
sertion and others like it. The amendment Is as follows
Section l. The Congress shall have power TO
limit, regulate and prohibit the labor of persons UNI
der Is years of age.
Section 2 The power of the several States is
unimpaired by this arcesexeept that the operation
of State laws shall be suspended to the extent neces-
sary to give effect to legislation enacted by the Con-
gress,"
There is no doubt that many intelligent men and
women have been fooled into believing that the Child
Labor Amendment does actually prohibit young people
from working farms The lie has been disseminated
so assiduosy that great numbers of persons who have
not investigated for themselves have accepted fact
Of course those responsible for the spread of the false
hood know BETTER but they depending upon ignorance
Of the real meaning and intent of the amendment to make
it possible to foist the lie upon the public
The remedy for this state of affairs is famliarizng
the people with the amendment No one who has read
the amendment would believe for instant that it pro-
hbits boys girls from doing farm chores or other
wise helping in farm work To refute the "canWOrkon
alarm" lie it is only necessary to know the wording OF
the amendment and quote it to every person or publica
ton that circulates the falsehood.
Facts about the amendment that no amount of lying
can shake are:
The amendment is an enabling act.
1t does not prohibit the employment of children under
Is years of age 1t merely gives congress power to pro-
ib or regulate child labor and places age limitation
upon that power.
1t is necessary to the protection of the nations chill
dren because the Supreme Court has declared nconstu
tonal two Federal child labor laws. Once the amend
ent approved by threeourths of the States will be-
part of the United States Constitution and not
be killed by the Supreme Court.
TT IS WELL TO REMEMBER THE FOREGOING
FACTS BUT ABOVE ALL, KNOW WHAT THE PRO
POSED AMENDMENT SAYS AND BE PREPARED
TO QUOTE IT OR IT'S SUBSTANCE IN REPUTATION
OF EVERY LIE ABOUT 1T THAT COMES TO YOUR
ATTENTION.