, 1925-01-28

man heart desires to see children of
the ignorant protected from the ex-
%ploitation of their own parents in in
dustrial labor. We all know that it
is a crime against humanity, a colossal
stupidity, to work young children
long shifts at unsuitable employment
which stunts growth, ruins health,
prevents normal child life and lowers
citizenship. But the way to prevent
inhumane child labor is not by dras-
tic legislation, which might also pro-
hibit reasonable and necessary work
for healthy boys and girls, particular
ly those who are really no longer
children. One way to lessen the a.
buse of child labor by parents would
be through development of the intel
ligence of the rising generation of po-
tential parents by compulsory school
attendance laws in various states. 1t
is the moron or worse who is willing
to live off ~life-sapping toll of his own
young. Educate these illiterates so
that they may have sense enough to
stop selling their children into indus
trial bondage. A better way would
be to stop the reproduction of defec-
tives and the unfit; but, unfortunate
ly, this limitation is now practiced
only in the animal world. Misbegotten
humanity has to take its chance with
those of better blood strains.
=
Suppose the states ratify this a.
mendment and Congress undertakes
to interpret it literally; that is, "to
limit, regulate and prohibit the labor
OF persons under 10 years of age"
What is to become of the ambitious
boys or girls who expected to work
their way through school? Or of the
many part-time young workers who
are at once contributing to their own
support and learning the rudiments of
some trade, business or profession?
Or of the high school graduate under
Is who wishes to take up his life
work? If the state does not see fit
to educate them further and they are
prohibited from engaging in gainful
occupation, what are they to do with
themselves and their time? They will
have the choice of two courses: eth
er they may evade the law and thus
lay themselves or their parents liable
to penalty; or, ambition killed, they
may lapse into slothful or vicious
idleness, a useful and satisfying car
eer ruined through fool legislation.
The proponents of this measure in
sist that Congress would never so a.
buse this power. But why take the
chance? There is no telling when a
Congress of sentimental old maids
or men-may conclude than my and
all work is bad for the young! Though
probably more young ones are spoil
ed through over-indulgence than
through parental severity.
A well-to-do friend living in a small
mid-western city is a mother of two
snhons about two years apart in age.
This woman is herself industrious.
capable and talented and a sensible
mother. She has often remarked to
me that it would be rather a wonder
TO her if her boys escaped ruin, as it
was hard to keep them out of mis-
chief and properly occupied after
school hours and during vacations.
Both we're lively, energetic young
sters, making good scholarship records
and taking part in various school and
outdoor activities. When the elder
lad was 10, he began work as a bank
messenger. Not because his family
needed the money that he earned, but
because he was ambitious and wanted
a job. He has been occupied at odd
times ever since, and at II he is an
intelligent, outstanding young fellow,
on the way to an Independent and con-
genial life-work. Farm people, how
ever, are well enough aware of the
advantage of a reasonable amount of
useful work for youngsters, so there
is no need for me to dwell on this
phase of the subject.
Both houses of Congress have al
ready passed this amendment, and
have requested the various states to
ratify it. II three-quarters of the
states do ratify it, the Goth amend
ment will become a part of the Con-
stitution, and Congress will thereby
be empowered to act accordingly.
Five states have already considered
this, Arkansas being the only one to
ratify. Georgia and North Carolina