The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-27
Referendum AID
TO BOSSES fight
FOR Child LABOR
Their Hold on Press
Controls Opinion
BY LELAND oLps.

Federated Press staff correspondent.)
Confident of absolute power
to mold public opinion thru the
control of the press, organized
capital is resortlng topopularre-
ferendum to defeat the child
labor amendment in certain
states where the legislatures
would probably vote ratifica-
ton.
Proposals for such referen-
dunn are being discussed in
New York, New Jersey, Ohio
and Michigan.
The only popular referendum so far
held--that in Massachusetts,
entirely satisfactory to the exploiters
resulting in rejection by a 696,119 to
247,221 vote. This is not binding on
the state legislature, but may be ex-
pected to have powerful influence.
The situation in other states may be
briefed as follows: Arkansas and Cali
fornia have acted for ratification.
South Carolina, North Carolina and
Georgia have rejected it. Louisiana
has postponed action indefinitely
which is the same thing as rejection.
And the amendment has failed to pass
one house in Kansas, Oklahoma and
South Dakota. Action is expected
within the next two or three months
in Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine,
Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Neb.
raska, New Hampshire, North Dakota,
Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Yer
mont and Wisconsin. 1t requires 80
states to put the amendment in force
State Regulation Status.
All except states have statutes
technically prohibiting the employ
ment in factories and stores only of
children under IA years of age. OF the
exceptions, Utah and Wyoming have nc
laws, California, Maine, Michigan and
Texas have established a minimum
age Of IL and Montana and Ohio pro.
hibit employment under 16.
All except IL states have statutes
technically prohibiting the employ
ment Of child labor in excess Of AS
hours a week. The exceptions are
Florida, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island and South
Dakota with a maximum Of 81 hours
Pennsylvania with 81 hours, South
Carolina with 30 hours and Georgia,
Louisiana and North Carolina with
so hours
All except 10 states require school
attendance of some sort up to the
18th year. The exceptions are Idaho
Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and
Utah which set the age at IS years;
Delaware, Maine, Maryland, NORTH
Dakota, and South Dakota which set
it at IL, Arkansas with Is and
Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina
South Carosina, Texas, Virginia anc
the District of Columbia in which
school is required only up to IA years
Exemptions Make Law Look Foolish.
The exemptions allowed in 20 states
render the apparent regulation a de.
ception and make possible the EN-.
ployment Of over 100000 children be.
eWCCA SAAO o6Co VI ~ anu 10 years Vi
whom 40 per cent are under IA. In
many of these states children are al
lowed to work under the legal age or
beyond the maximum number of hours
during vacations or when employed by
parents. In Arkansas, California,
Delaware, Idaho, Mississippi, Utah and
Virginia the hour limitation does not
apply to work in the canneries which
is recognized by the U. S. children's
bureau as one of the worst forms of
child exploitation. Delaware and Mis-
5issippi also exempt canneries from
application Of the minimum age limit.
There are other grounds for exemp-
Jon from one or another Of the pro-
Eective provisions Of these state laws.
Among them the most significant is
poverty. Poverty Is recognized for
Exemption from the requirement of
fchool attendance In Arkansas, Colo
lado and Iowa. II is recognized In
feorgia for reduction of the minimum
ee from IA years to ~ years. In
South Dakota, Texas and Washington
poverty deIetes the age requirement
Rltoaether.
In these states the children Of the
Door are not protected at all.