Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-03
FEB. MEETING
MINISTERS ASSN
HELD MONDAY

AT the February meeting of the
Ministers association of Waterville
and vicinity, held yesterday at the
public library. Rev. Leopold II. X.
Hass of the First Baptist church of
Waterville read a very interesting
paper on "The Proposed Twentieth
Amendment"
Rev. Mr.. Hass said in part as fol-
lows: Before discussing the pro-
posed twentieth amendment would
first explain the evil which the
amendment tries to remedy. There
has always been child labor. save for
the fortunate few families who have
preferred to give their children the
advantages and study and play ra-
ther than use their earning power.
1t has become an acute problem,
however since the industrial revo-
luton. When the Tudors came TO
the throne of England they deter
mined to make the English people
work. harder so as to create greater
wealth for the nation and king. The
Puritans looked on idleness and play
as thing Of the Devil. and sought
TO put their children 10 work early.
But the theorists had their innings
only when the factories We're built.
one OF the arguments proposed in
favor OF permitting factories, advo-
Gated by even such man as Alex
ander Hamilton, was that the new
industries would give work to the
women and children who were de-
teriorat1ng at home doing nothing
but going to school or helping with
the house work. while the fathers
were toiling in the fields and stores.
The factories came and drew more
and more on children to man their
machines.
There is necessity for definition
here. Child labor is rot child en-
ployment. In the bean harvest and
in the Smelling of oysters and shrmps
the owners do not employ children.
They hire families who live in shacks
during the season. The parents are
paid for their work and are en-
ployed. The children, as young as
three years old. help their mothers
and fathers at the work for the long
hours imposed by the employer.
Otherwise the parents would not
earn enought to make a living at the
work. The children labor, but are
not employed.
THE sentiment against child Ia
Dor has grown slowly IN America
There has been a decrease in child
labor from decade to decade, but in
times of industrial activity, as during
the war. the children are drawn into
labor in increased numbers. The
evils Of the practice are manifold. To
employ child to do the work of a
man means lower wages for the en-
ployer to pay. and unemployment for
the man. Lower wages and unem-
ployment decrease living standards
and the market for products is de-
creased as a result. In the long run
the employer Of child labor loses
money.
Public opinion has grown. how
ever. and the states have done much
to decrease the evil by legislation.
Only a few have anywhere near ade-
quate laws, but things are much bet
ter
President Coolidge recommended a
constitutional amendment in his first
message to congress against child
labor. The house passed it and the
senate adopted it. 1t tier went to
the states to be ratified by SO of them
before it can become part of the
constitution. Fourteen states have
declined to ratify 1t. so that seeming
ly the amendment is defeated.
THE propaganda against the
amendment has been tie most clever
Of any campaign l have ever known.
Ildu TIC anu lflc
gette groups been as able we would
not have either the 18th or the 18th
amendments today.
Il am personally glad the oppon-
ents have made this fight, for now
the friends of the amendment must
get out and work to convince the
people of the reasons for Its adop-
ton. The church must choose on
which side she will put her influence.
II we do nothing. il means that we
support the opponents. IL we oppose
it means that we care more for i'm
mediate money profits than the fu-
ture of thousands of children and we
wish a depleted stock on the future
generations.
1.-THE ideal hope for Is a society
where children can keep the right of
JOY and friendship of natural child
hood, and only leave school to work
at a right age with mind and body
and also soul glad to work and pre-
pared to do a good work and to work
fir Ing and happy lie time. The
first step is to stop child labor. The
next step Is to make childhood a
worthy preparation for life.