Evening star., 1925-01-31
IN TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

The supporters OF the child labor
amendment to the Constitution which
is now before the state Legislatures
are in the same status as was Ma
poleon Bonaparte when his generals
told him the battle was lost Ma
poIeon replied that though that
might be true, there was vet time to
win another battle-and he snatchAd
victory out OF defeat before the sun
went down.
The press has reported within the
last few days that the child labor
amendment is lost. since 1t is alleged
that 13 state Legislatures have voted
against it. Yet the Napoleons of the
supporters declare that the fight is
not lost 13 States have not voted it
down, and even IL they had, they
might vet reconsider and vote the
other way. When a Legislature once
accepts an amendment to the Fed
eral Constitution, that acceptance
cannot be recalled, they allege; but
when a Legislature rejects, 1t may
reconsider and accept. This conten-
tion is supported by high legal au-
thority, though it has never been
passed upon by the Supreme Court.
There is no time limit upon Legis-
Iatures for their consideration of a
proposed amendment. After Con-
gress has once proposed an amend
ment. it has no further power; 1t can
not recall its proposal; II cannot
alter or amend the original proposed
amendment, At least, there is no
precedent for such a change. al
though Senator Borah has under
taken TO make a precedent by his
proposal to reduce the age limit of
the pending amendment from Is
years to Ia limit which Congress
rejected before the action sending the
amendme ent out to the states for rati-
fication. The Borah suggestion would
be equivalent to q recall of the origi-
nal amendment after some states had
accepted it. The suggestion mas re-
ceived no supports
:. !. !, !:
I'D to the time of present writing
the amendment has been definitely
ratified by Arizona, Arkansas and
California.
1t has been rejected by both
branches of the Legislatures OF Texas.
Louisiana (the Senate rejecting it and
the House voting Indefinite post
ponement'D, Georgia, South Carolina,
North Carolina, Kansas and Della
ware. The Massachusetts, Lesisla-
ture has not yet acted; the referen-
dunn vote of the people against the
amendment is only advisory, not
Dln0lnR upon Ine lLcS Hc
proponents recognize that the ad-
yisory vote would influence the pres
ent Legislature, therefore they will
endeavor to delay legislative action
until a new Legislature is elected,
and in the meantime a Campaign Of
education" may enfighten the people
as to the scope and purport OF the
movement.
In four States only one branch Of
the Legislature has acted adversely,
the other branch mot yet voting
They are New Mexico, Ohio, Wyoming 6
and South Dakota. Washington is
counted with the four, although it's
action consists only in voting a pro-
posal to submit the question to a
popular referendum.
= * X X
In the campaign throughout the
Nation concerning this effort to give
Congress power to regulate child
labor much has been said about the
opposition of farmers to permitting
Congress to forbid their boys and
girls up to the age of Is years to
work on the farms. Such an idea
has been fostered by the opposition
through its circulars and advertise
ments, and 1T is pointed out that
most farm papers take that view.
The secretary of the League for
the Passage of the Child Labor
Amendment replies that when Con-
gress, believing it had full power