Evening star., 1933-09-01

low this example,
though the agreement and some of the
codes proposed have exceptions allow
ing employment of IA and is year old
children in certain occupations and for
limited hours outside the hours Of day
school.
The temporary modified agreement
for the newspaper code has still fur
ther exemptions permitting the en-
ployment of children of any age in
newspaper selling and delivery.
Farm Child Exempted.
1t is my hope that the codes still to
be acted upon will eliminate or reduce
the exceptions Sc that the Presidents
policy of saving jobs for older workers
and saving the time and strength of
children under 16 for education. play
and constructive activity adjusted to
theiI needs may become in fact the uni
versal practice in the occupations COW
cred by the codes.
It Is to be noted that the gains have
been made chiefly in manufacturing
and mercantile employments. They do
not apply to the very large numbers of
children employed in agriculture. Some
forms Of industrialized agriculture are
dependent upon child labor to large
extent. It is to be hoped that a way
may be found to bring children in these
industries within the field Of our ma
tional policy.
These agreements and codes prohibit
ing the employment of children under
the age of 16 years are made possible
because the laws of economics have been
found to coincide with the aims OF
child protection. For hundred years
in England and America the struggle
to free children from industrial ex-
ploitation has gone on. A century ago
the first factory act was passed In Eng
land and in the world.
Younger Children Banned.
That early act prohibited the en-
ployment of children under 9 years OF
age in textile mills and limited the
hours of those under IS years OF age
to 8 q day and 48 a week.
In commenting on the cotton textile
code. President Roosevelt said of child
labor: This ancient atrocity went out
in a day, because this law permits EN-
ployers to do by agreement that which
none of them could do separately and
live in competition" Child labor now
has been recognized as injurious to the
economic life of the Nation as well as
to the intelligence and vigor OF its
citizenship.
Just how many children will be af-
fected, no one can say. When the 1880
census was made, 1921 young people
from 10 to Is years Of age, inclusive.
were gainfully employed IN occupations
other than agriculture.
The depression has greatly reduced
the number of employed children. but
in some localities where sweatshop labor
has hourished, there has been an actual
increase in the number of working
children. The story of their long hours
and miserably low wages in recent
months is only too well known.
More States Join.
Nine States this year have joined the
six which acted earlier in ratifying the
child-labor amendment to the ConstfA
tuition. This amendment would enable
Congress to accomplish through per-
manent legislation national minimum
child-labor standards such as are being
developed under the National Recovery
Administration as emergency measures.
The Secretary of Labor has indicated
the importance of completion of action
on the amendment at the earliest date
possible.
In September, the thoughts Of par
ents and children turn toward school.
Inc cnloren released from lnouSCry 10
education at time when school budg-
cts and school resources are being
drastically curtailed constitute a chal-
lenge to school authorities and to citi-
zens to plan our community life and
our financial budgets so that the Presi-
dents unemployment agreement may
spell opportunity, not idleness, to the
children whom we cherish as our dear
est possession and our hope for the
future.
(Copyright, 1933)