Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21

II. but it was virtually ignored. Almost
any child Of IL, or even younger, could
get Job In the works at any time.
They were paid on piecework basis.
Work started at Z am. and continued
until at night, with an hour for lunch.
Many of them lived miles from the plant
and travelled long distances by street
car. Some of them have told me that
when they went home In the evening
they avoided riding at the outer edge of
the open Summer street cars, because
invariably they were so exhausted by
their work that they fell asleep and
would have fallen out II they had not
been seated in the center.
No Compensation for Hurts.
Only q few of the machines which
they operated were equipped with the
safety device known as automatic
feeders" Nearly all of these child work.
ers, boys and girls alike, fed the presses
mechanism with their feet. Working at
high speed, it was usually only a matter
of a few weeks or months until the
boy or girl would withdraw fingers a
moment too late as the heavy stamp
came down, and few minutes later
the company doctor would be dressing
what remained of the crushed members.
No wages were paid for the time of
absence from work, and there was no
compensation for the injury.
The exploitation of children as indus
trial workers is, for the most part, a
thing Of the past, though there are some
sections Of the country where 1t still
exists.
But the very men and women who
suffered from such exploitation in their
youth are now at the time Of life when,
under changed industrial conditions and
the demand for youth and speed. they
have great difficulty in finding any en-
ployment because Of arbitrary age
limits.
In the days when, as boy, worked
in the iron and steel mills there was
some reason and logic in barring from
employment men or 40 or so. There
were no electric cranes and automatic
and mechanical devices to lift heavy
pieces of material and to perform other
work requiring strength and power.
Human muscle and Drawn. employed IL
or more hours a day, seven days a week
and, periodically. "a hours a day. per-
| formed the industrial tasks now accom-
plished by machinery. Men were old
/ ana WOTIl OuJ dt CU. 1llCil tIlCy VSudlN
were retired" with only some little
ceremony designed to pay honor to their
service of rs or 80 years and the gift
of a watch or $50 in cash as a golden
anniversary present"
Retirement Systems.
The developments of industry which
put an end to such back-breaking labor
have also limited the market for the
services of older men and women. And
the spirit of altruism which has prompt
ed many employers to establish retire.
ment systems has weighed against the
man of 40 or older who seeks employ
ment because. undoubtedly, that mans
years of usefulness are limited and the
employer does not desire to increase his
retirement system expense unduly.
Yet it is a matter of fact, not theory,
that the average man or woman from
| IS to IS, or even considerably older. Is
more capable, conscientious. diligent
worker for many purposes than the
| young man or young woman now in
great demand. None of those who di-
rect the governments and destinieS Of
the great nations of the world are
young men. Edison, the great inventor,
has given notable service to the world
long after 40. Henry Ford. our greatest
| industrialist, was not even fairly started
on his career of service at 10.
To correct the condition which Is