The Connecticut labor news., 1925-02-21
CONGRESSMAN SEES
(Continued from Page One.)

one of our fundamental principles. What equality is there in a land which permits million of its children to be handicapped at the outset of the race of life, which condemns them to illiteracy, at time in the history of the world when the domain of knowledge of edt:- cation greater than ever before?
 Not until you give education to all do you give fair play to all
 Ut has been said that centralizatiot1 IS what causes the downfall of nations 1 say that the ignorance and degrada- tion of the people is what causes the downfall of nations
 Let us give to all the children of our country an eqaul opportunity Let us give budding genius chance to develop Let us close the door of the factory and open the door of the school
 "This proposed amendment is not a leap in the dark; not haphazard, at tempt to tinker with the Constitution It is an effort to grapple with greal and admitted evil in the light of ex- perience, upon a scientific basis and hav- ing in mind the principles and stan- dards, which are approved by the be;t minds that have given life study to the problem of child welfare
 The standard tests in the regulation of child labor are, first, the prohibition of labor of children under IA, the reg al +,o of l., l. r. IL. ]. under 16, and the prohibition or regu- lation of labor of all children under IS, from or,in extra-hazardous occupations.
 Industry is never justified in thriv- children under unfair and improper conditions is nothing short of an eco homie waste, social crime and a poli- tical menace. The greatest nation in the that puts its children first We can not hope to have great nation unless we have an enligh tened people.
 Opponents of the amendment say that it would give too much power to the Congress and that this power would be abused Such a charge is nothing more nor less than an attack on repre- sentative government When the people of this country feel that they can not trust their chosen representatives, then we are ready for the rule of the tyrant or the mob.
 If we are to wait before conferrin2 ,,nor, c,,r ro+;op,I <rl,yarr,,,e,,+ tta ,,o,.,a. to deal with the great evil until we car be assured beyond the possibility o' doubt that such power will not bf abused, we will, in all probability have to wait forever.
 The greatest powers now rest III ths hands of Congress, but no one dread; their abuse. It has been said by grea chief justice that "The power to tax i the power to destroy" Yet does, an, one fear that this power will be so ex ercised as to destroy American indus try?
 'tIs 1t not reasonable to assume that 1T the future, as in the past, the Congres of the United States will consist of me who have some reasonable degree o common sense and that they will not en act any legislation which was ill opposi ton to the overwhelming sentiment o the American people?
 Back of this amendment is mar shalled the greatest power in the worlt the awakened conscience of the Ameri can peopu1e For this reason, in spit of any temporary set-backs, we conf dently look forward to day wher throughout the length and breadth c
 our land, there will not be found
 single child that is being exploited i industry or denied the rightful inheri
 ance of every American, an equal or portunity with all others and fai
 chance in the race of life"