The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-12-30
BY LARRY BOARDMAN
NEA Service Writer

NEA SeTVlCe WTltef
Washington, Dec. 3O.-When Con-
gress last spring passed the TWEEN
tieth amendment to the constitution
better known as the "Child Labor
Observation-Disclosures of the measure
saw clear and easy sailing ahead.
Now they are in the midst of one
Of the bitterest political battles in
the country's history, fighting for
ratification of the proposed amend
ment by the necessary 36 states.
Unlocked for opposition sprang up
almost over night, as strong and we'll
organized as it was unexpected.
Three states-Louisiana. North
Carolina and Georgia-have already
rejected the amendment. Massachu-
sets has declared against it4by popu-
lar referendum--unoffic but very
significant.
On The Fence
One state. Arkansas, mas voted for
ratification.
The remaining AZ are plainly "on
the fence
That's the way matters now stand
with friends and enemies of the
amendment fighting tooth and nail,
spreading propaganda right and left
in the states whose legislatures are
still considering what action they
shall take.
At first it was believed that all the
questions involved would be purely
industrial. Now it appears that the
main issue is one of governmental
authority-how much power Congress
should be given to regulate the con-
duet Of individuals.
The amendment is what is known
as an "enabling act" In itself it
neither regulates nor prohibits child
labor of any kind. 1t merely pro-
vides that Congress shall have pow
er to limit, regulate and prohibit the
labor Of persons under Is years Of
age"
A Talking Point
Strange as it may seem, this fact
the unlimited power the amendment
would give to Congress-is used as a
talking point by both friends and
enemies Of the measure.
The argument is we'll summarized
by Senator Walsh of Montana, strong
advocate of the amendment, and Mil
lard d. Brown, chairman of the Ma
tional Committee for Rejection of
the Twentieth Amendment.
Walsh says:
IF We are going to hesitate to re-
pose power in any body because that
power may be abused, we shall have
to stop legislation entirely.
Numerous provisions Of the con-
stitution already give Congress pow
ers which, if exercised to their limit,
would have disastrous consequences.
But these consequences never ensue
because legislation of that character
is never enacted.
"The Child Labor Amendment
would give Congress power to point
out particular vocations that will be
injurious to children, and to enact
legislation according; but we are go
ing to trust Congress to ascertain
whether particular employment is
or is not dangerous.
eve have got to repose confidence
in the judgment Of Congress, and be-
cause the constitution is more perma-
nent than any other law, constitu-
tional amendment should be drawn
in terms broad enough to permit
Congress to meet changing condi-
tions."
Brown says:
"The amendment authorizes Con-
gress to take away at will the most
valuable rights that person under
Is years now possesses, and the as
sumption that Congress will legislate
only with prudence, judgment and
restraint is unwarranted.
"The amendment gives Congress
more power for the control of youth
than any American state now pos
sesses. 1t is climax to government
tai encroachments upon the rights
and privileges of the individual citi-
zen.
"No Limitation is placed upon the
acts of Congress except as regards
the age of persons directly affected,
and to say that Congress will not