The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-02-28

BY MISS EDITH CHAFFEE

Hygeia, . journal of individua
and community health, published b,
the American Medical association
gives in this months number q mos
interesting article on child labor en-
titled, Picking Our Greatest Crol
Too Soon" Extracts and a sum
mary of statements from this article
follow:
1.-The close relationship between
child labor and child health ha
been for some years so we'll recog
nized that it now needs no exposi
ton or argument to prove 1t. Th'
people of America realize that tot
for wages is bad for the health o
children, but they still allow chile
labor to exist, so perhaps an inquir.
into the extent of its present In
huence on the health of American
children would not be out OF place
Children in large numbers still
work In agriculture, in tenements, II
factories and in street trade-and
occasionally even, tho against the
law, in glass factories and coal
mines.
Some forms of agricultural work
are excellent physical training fol
growing children. Many of our
sturdiest speciments Of manhood and
womanhood today grew up on farms,
where they did their part in the
daily chores, and actually helped
with the heavier labor. But present
day agricultural work for children
presents no such pleasing picture.
1.-THE children who work with their
parents in the hard labor of raising
sugar beets are usually in the fields
from ten to fourteen hours day.
In certain stages. of the work they
must remain in a STOPPING posture
all day, at others they must pull and
lift heavy beets which overtax their
strength. In the autumn they are
exposed to chilling breezes as they
hurry to complete the harvesting,
and at all times they work at such a
pressure that they cannot stop for
rain, dampness or boiling heat.
MANY of these conditions find
duplication in other forms of large
scale industrialized agriculture in
which families of children are en-
ployed, such as cranberry picking
and truck gardening. Photographs
are shown of boy six years old,
picking beets in a Colorado field, and
an eight year old girl in a New
Jersey cranberry field, carrying
full box on her shoulder. Another
photo shows a family including
Marie, five years old, who has been
picking two years, and Frances,
three years old, picking cranberries
IN a New Jersey bog"
Summary
II <ho TTpftaI Ofofoc fhoro oro
more than 100000 child laborers. |
Sixteen states permit children
1nder sixteen to work more than |
,ight hours a day.
In fourteen states children under |
'ixteen are allowed to labor at night.
Three states permit children under |
ourteen to work In factories.
"A chain is only as strong as its
weakest link"
These overworked children are
of tomorrow, the law makers |
md the law breakers.
What are you doing to make bet-
er Child Labor laws in this
Apparently the only means of ex-
ressing a national sentiment on
hid labor is to adopt an amend
lent to the federal constitution CIV
lg congress the authority which 1t
ow lacks, to deal with child labor
roblems in the various states.
There was such an amendment in /,
in the last session of con-
ress and passed on by the judiciary I.
ommittee of both houses reading:
''The congress shall have power.
hot 81 hn l..
ates, to limit and prohibit the labor
I persons under the age of eighteen t
ears" II
There is little doubt that 1t will be e
)ted on in this session of congress. 4
There Is already q strong and
ide-spread sentiment for this \
nendment turnout the country, and y
has been endorsed by innumerable >
CARNATIONS. s
The 'Schick Test" enables the =
edical man to determine those in. y
viduals who are susceptible toI;,
ptherfa and those who are not. =
1t has been demonstrated that the m
treatment will
otect against diptheria for a num- Is
r of years. ~,
Much interest has been aroused by "
ports upon prophylaxis or proven
IN of goiter. School boards believe m
will be well to have this work car M
I'd on in the schools under direction p
medical advisors. al
Altho in some places iodine has
en- added to the general supply of q
mixing water, 1t appears that the OF
of iodine in chocolate al
ated tablets, is more convenient OF
d less expensive method. 81
When the family doctor comes to -,
regarded generally as the family "
alth advisor, his function being to
event even more than to cure
lease, children of pre-school age
;cb ia most imnortan+ r. ;s n ST
o,.1x | lCs