The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-02-26

letter to Governor Small concerning
This letter points out that Small ca
of labor unions or of any workers, if h
issue of child slavery. The letter is
as follows:
An Open Letter to Governor Small
n T the last elections many work
IA ers and trade unionists within
the state of Illinois supported your
candidacy, being lead to the belief
that you were friend of labor. AS
the result of an active campaign on
your behalf by high salaried trade
union officials you received the en-
dorsement of many local unions and
central labor bodies of the state, as
a friend of labor. You Of course re-
ceiyed the endorsement of the petty
bourgeois LaFollette state organiza-
ton.
The Workers (Communist) Party
then declared that no friends of labor
could be found among the agents of
the privileged class. 1t pointed to
your record as representative of
capitalism and reminded the workers
of the fact that you, as the leader
of the Illinois delegation, participated
in the republican convention which
had nothing but scorn for labor and
nominated the two outstanding reAc-
tionaries, Coolidge and Dawes, to
head their ticket. Today we repeat
that all these representatives of cap
italism are the bitter enemies of la
Dor.
4 New Team-But No New Policy
You have now been inaugurated for
another term, hailed by those who
want to fool the workers, as a pro-
gressive. Once more you are show
ing your true color. You have re-
fused to recommend for adoption by
the Illinois legislature the child labor
amendment to the constitution.
Turnout the country the physical
and moral well being Of the youth is
being destroyed by inhuman child ex-
ploitation. While the bosses thereby
Increase their profits the child labor
practice also enables them to reduce
wages in general, lower working con-
ditions and weaken the unions.
There were in the state of Illinois,
according to the United States census
of 1920, at the time that census was
taken, 36,933 children between the
age of 10 and 16, working in industry
and on the farm 31,132 were en-
ployed in factories and like occupa-
tions. Ever since, these numbers
have increased. Since 1922, statistics
shows an increase of nearly three
times in the number of children en-
ployed.
On The Side of Capital
These facts are known to you Gov
Small, and yet you have refused to
recommend for adoption by the ILL
nois state legislature the child labor
amendment to the constitution. Once
again you show yourself clearly on
the side of the bosses.
A bill has now been introduced in
the state legislature providing for the
submitting of the ratification of the
child labor amendment to a referen-
dunn at the general elections next
year. To this the capitalist politi-
clans who are in control are reported
to have tentatively agreed. inquest
ionably you as we'll as they are cher
ishing the hope that you will thereby
avoid putting yourself on record as
enemies of labor and be able to main
tain your allegiance to capitalism
while depending upon the capitalist
machinery of propaganda to defeat
the measure.
Unite Against Child sIaversI
The Workers Party, District No. 8,
urges all workers and trade unionists
OF the state of Illinois to unite in a
demand for the ratification Of the