The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-09-04
LABOR AMENDMENT
Eminent Authority Warns voters



states OF the American Union will NO
approve what is known as "The Chill
Labor Amendment ito the Fedora
Constitution.
This unwise and dangerous amend
ment has been adopted by both House
OF the Congress of the United States
and, thereby, it has been passed t
the states for rejection or ratification
Thus far three states have acted up
on it through their respective legis
latures. Two states have rejected it
and one (Arkansas) has ratified it.
1t is piece of legislative senti
mentality which appeals strongly te
people who are controlled more by
their feelings than by their reason
But the purest emotions are often most
blind, and the following of them fire.
quently leads to the defeat of the real
objects which excite them.
Such is the case with this "Child
Labor Amendment to the Constitu-
ton. Every unperverted heart re-
spends instantly to whatever proposes
to promote the welfare of children.
The helplessness of childhood arouses
sympathy and awakens zeal on it's be-
half. 1t is on this account that many
good people have been moved to give
their support to this bad measure.
With their sensibilities excited on be-
half of children they have fixed their
attention upon imaginary benefits to
be derived from the amendment and
they have overlooked the real and in,
evitable evils which will flow from it.
There are other things that vitality
affect children and which outrank in
Importance their exception from labor
until they have attained Is years OF
age.
There are matters which concern the
sacred authority of parenthood ano
the sanctity of the home which cannot
be ignored and disregarded withour
the greatest damage to childhood and
The most serious injury to society.
The world s earliest and best form
IF government was patriarchal. The
father OF the family was the ruler of
he home by divine right. - But as
population increased as households ex
landed into tribes, and as tribes grew
o nations, other forms of general gov
rnment became necessary. 1t must
lot be supposed, however, that these
nore enlarged governments superseded /
he government Of the family and en-
irly set it aside. The best and most
hat they could do was to protect and
erpetuate the household government
yhich is the unit of all true civiliza-
ion and the foundation of all forms
{ government.
But this Child Labor Amendment
ends to discredit and dethrone parents
nd subvert family government, sub
ituting for parenthood a paternalist-
government at Washington and EN-
owering the Federal Congress to
and in loco PARENTS to all the child
N of the country under is years OF
ye. This is nothing less than mon
rous proposal 1t proceeds on the /
3surd assumption that Congress viii
, more tenderly concerned for child
n than their own parents, and that
ON the distant National Capital con-
essional tenderness and wisdom viii
, better for them than their affec-
onate fathers and mothers, watching /
'er them in their homes. This as
mption appraises congressional gov
nment far above its worth and puts '
me government far below its value /
Upon this point Hon. Charles r.
lisp, of Georgia, spoke most pointedly $
ID truly when this wretched amend 9