The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-01-23
PARTY TRACES
ARE BROKEN IN
LABOR BATTLE
Division on Child Labor Rati-
ficatiOn Goes Beyond the
Party Lines
HEARING is HELD
HEARING is HELD
Bristles with Charges of
Professional Lobbying =
Effort to Draw in Farms


Political lines are very definitely
broken in the state legislature over
the question Of ratification of the
federal child labor amendment.
This became increasingly evident
today, following a public hearing last
night on the measure, held by the
public health committee of; the state
senate. Another public hearing will
be held Monday night, before the
committee reports.
Division of sentiment appeared
somewhat concentrated between
those, who believe the child labor
amendment is a humanitarian move-
ment and an economic benefit. on
the one hand, and those who believe
it is an invasion of state and indi-
vidual rights, menace to the
farmers and possible menace to
children themselves.
Senator'S Girdell Patterson and Ole
Ettestad, prominent Nonpartisan
leaders, appeared opposed to the rat
i3ication, as did Senator Alfred
Steel, prominent Independent. Pre-
diction is made that the ratification
will be defeated in the legislature.
The public hearing bristled with
some hot exchanges, during which
Senator Patterson called for some
farmer to speak, declaring "it seems
we have only professional lobbyists
here tonight
May Take In Agriculture
Queries also were directed to peo-
pie speaking for the measure, as to
it's effect on the farmer. Mrs. L. R.
Putnam of Darlington, head of the
League of Women Voters, for the
measure. in answer to a query as to
what effect it might have on the
farm said that '"if the development
of agriculture continues as industry
has in the last hundred years-beet
sugar growing and truck gardening
it may be necessary to control
child labor on the farm"
Mrs. c. A. Fisher, president of the
Hromen's Nonpartisan Clubs in the
state, also on this subject, said II
have seen child labor sadly exploited
on, the farms in North Dakota
Senator Ole Ettestad, against the
measure, declared that "many Of US
came over from the old country be-
cause their the only rights we had
were what the state gave US; over
here we have some individual rights"
Won't Be Coerced
Senator Alfred Steel, interpreting
remark of Mrs. Kate Wilder of
Fargo, representing the state w. c..
r. u. as meaning that those Sena-
tors Who were against the measure
would suffer politically,-an infer
ence she said she did not intend-de-
clared that "We are not sent here to
do what our constituents want; we
are sent here to do what we think
is right, and if we cannot convince
our constituents we may not be re-
turned" .
S. S. Mcdonald, Bismarck, and VIM.
Goodwin, Mandan, representatives of
organized labor. spoke for the rati-
fication, as did Senator o. H. Olson.
Mrs. E. o. Bailey, Mrs. Putnam,
Mrs. Wilder, Mrs. Fisher, Mrs. L. N.
Cary Of Mandan and Mrs. c. B. Whit
tey Of Bismarck, Miss Minnie Mel
son and Miss Henrietta Lund were
among those speaking for the mea-
sure.
Elaborate Arguments
Mrs. Putnam presented elaborate
arguments, declaring that the child
labor amendment was necessary to
safeguard children and make better
citizens.
Miss Mary Cashel of Bismarck ap-
peared against the measure, holding
it was an invasion of states rights.
She suggested as one problem that
there are 5000 men and women un-
ger l8 years Of. age in North Dako-
ia who are married. Congress
would have the right to prevent their
employment and they would fall
back: on the state, she said.