Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1925-02-06
Sen. DUNLAP WILL OPPOSE
CHILD LABOR Amendment
ON FLOOR OF SENATE

ing Intentionally in terms of the em-
ployerS who gain their fortunes
through child labor which is cheap.
Much has been made of this objee-
ton. Thousands Of farmers were
lead to believe that a boy under Is
could not be employed to shock a field
of oats. OF husk a nubbin of corn
without violating the goth amend
ment, all of which is twaddle, and i.
is astonishing that any state senator
in the United States, and particularly
one in the state of Illinois, should fall
for such propaganda.
Senator Slaps Labor Leaders.
In another clause Of his letter the
senator says: well meaning leaders
talk about the dOwn-trodden working
man in such a way as to make grown
men think that heaven here below vii
be attained when they have every
afternoon off" Presumably the sena-
tor had in mind the leaders promot-
ing this child labor amendment, most
of whom are identified with Organized
Labor.
There should be no room for argu-
ment here were it not for the tone
underlying the statement and the
evident purpose to reflect ON Labor's
determination to secure shorter work
ing hours.
The senator, obviously, was brought
up on a farm where boys We're awake
and in the field at four a. m. He
has not been able TO get such training
out of his system. Certainly work
does not hurt any man; but over.
work stunts the mental and physical
development of boys and girls as well
as men and women.
Labor is opposed to any system
that makes a woman spend II hours
day over a wash tub, or a man
work 10 or II hours dav at hard
labor at a wage that actually pays
him for less than eight hours. The
senator has his wires crossed. Labor
is not asking for half-a-day off each
working day. But the laborer does
not grumble if the head of mill or
factory chooses to spend three hours
in the office and five hours on the golf
course. By the way, who is it any
how who gets paid for a full day and
gets a halliday off?
Is Labor Degrading?
To the senator's statement: This
maudlin sentiment about labor being
degrading should stop" we can say
amen" heartily. But nobody says
that. Least of all the laboring man.
If he says anything at all it is that
working conditions are degrading, and
it is up 10 state legislatures to ina
prove these conditions.
That is the sole aim of the child
labor law. 1t is degrading for the
children of a working mans family
to be compelled TO work in mill or FAC
tory at a minimum wage in order to
aid in supporting the family, while
the children of farmers, Legislators,
business men, professors and all pro
fessional men, are permitted to attend
school until they are twenty or more.
That is the degrading thing about this
Labor question, and it is thing that
Organized Labor has fought and will
fight to a finish state legislatures not
withstanding.
Senator Dunlap is sincere, no doubt.
1t is not difficult to believe nm
thoroughly honest, but he has un-
willingly stepped into groove on this
question where in all probability ne
will remain the rest Of his life. Even
tually the world will walk around hlm
on this child labor issue, as 1t may
upon other issues that must be settled
in an improved fashion If the world
is to progress.
Tribune Opposes Amendment.
The Chicago Tribune, which early
in the campaign, endorsed the pro,
posed 10th amendment on the ground
of sentiment, has recently seen the
light and now opposes 1t. -.
The Tribune should be given cteait
for being consistent, at least, for the
Tribune has vociferously opposed the
action of the United States Congres5,
in adopting the 18th amendment, ana
therefore cannot consistently endorse
a national child-fabor law.
Senator Dunlap, however, VINO +
reunited to be a prohibition senator,
has not observed the inconsistency oi
his position, unles it NAV be as
sumed that he has repented of having
cast a ballot in favor OF the loth
amendment while a senator IN tne
Illinois legislature. How he can en-,
dorse the prohibition amendment anu
at the same time oppose the emu
labor amendment is difficult to under
etand. At least give the tribune
,.od;4 for consistency.