New Britain herald., 1924-09-03
CHILD LABOR VIEWS

Democratic candidate for president, strongly upheld the proposed child labor amendment now before the state legislatures for ratification, the Hartford Times, staunch Davis supporter, prints an editorial oppos- ing the amendment,
 The amendment is now being sup ported by the Democratic presi- dential candidate and the Demo- cratic platform, by some Republican newspapers, by the Democratic New York World and the Independent New York Times; by sentiment in a galaxy of northern states, by women and women's organizations, and by churches and labor.
 It is being opposed by southern states, where the Democrats are solid" by Democratic newspapers in the south and in the north, by 
 most Republican newspapers, and by interests who think the age-limit of IS years too high.
 On the latter point Senator Medill Mccormick of Illinois, who intro duced the amendment and is part owner of the Chicago Tribune, Republican newspaper, said recently; Tt has been mistakenly or falsely claimed that the amendment, in It. self, prohibits all labor of all per sons under the age of IS. This is not so" The senator quotes the wording of the amendment as persons under the age of IS years" He believes the lack of the word "all" makes quite a difference.
 The Hartford Times takes it for granted, it appears, that the labor of most if not all persons under lS would be prohibited. In the country, to attempt this would incite revolu- tion," 1t asserts. Farmers boys and girls, it declares, begin to work when they are still of tender years and as it is out of-door work it is health ful" and docs them good" It helps to make them strong and stimulates in them an inclination and desire to be industrious" The amendment, 1t ayers, it not in acord with the spirit of the constitution"
 As special fanfare to the editor- ial the Times quotes the springheid Union. reactionary Republican newspaper.
 The Times quotes. the Connecticut law. saving We have yet to learn any direful results that have foHoW- ed" The U. S. Children's Bureau however. reports that in Waterbury nearly eight times as many children received working permits from the state board of education in 1923 thar was the case in 1922, or before the U. S. Supreme Court declared ths child labor law unconstitutional Other Connecticut cities report ih' creases of from 100 to 176 per cent if is announced by the bureau. The
 increase in Il cities all over tns country is given at 57 per cent; II
 IA cities, A per cent, In 6 cities lo'
 per cent. Manchester, N. Ill., haC
 more than five times as many chlt
 dren at work the beginning of thi year than the year previously, ac 6 cording to the bureau.
 Children of six years work in bee
 fields; boys of 13 and IA work Il
 Pennsylvania mines; children of
 work in canneries, and so on. | The Connecticut state board Of ca 0 ucation evidently has been giving ou nermits to work to children on fiims 5 pretexts. Increased numbers nav $ been substituting toll for school T other states. This is a problem Una t states have not succeeded 1n COL r trolling very well and constiIC u tiopal amendment is sure to De al l. nlied at a nearly day as the onl T method, of controlling the problem .- The amendments now before ID T. states is drastic If the Harlor 'e Times conception of its meaning l. correct, and is not drastic If Senate ie McCormick's view is the correct on Ie Which view is reasonable will y threshed out when more legislature IL yet chance to consider them.
 AKNICKERED CENSUS