Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-11-02
PASS THE CHILD LABOR
AMENDMENT

AMENDMENT
The above is the title OF an
editorial which appeared in the
current issue of Golfers and
which is worthy of being passed
on for more reading and study.
The abuses with respect to child
labor has been largely in the
southern and eastern states, in
textile mills and some factories.
Congressional action against the
practice so far has been annulled
by the courts and the Child Labor
Amendment to the constitution
has not yet been passed by enough
state legislatures. In the last
session of the Minnesota Legisla-
ture the Senate was too reaction
airy to pass this needed legislation
in face of the millions of adults
out of emplOyment-hea of fam
lilies with dependents being held
from work because children could
be employed at lesser cost to the
greedy employer. The NRA put
a stop to children of 10, II, IA
and so on working in sweat shops.
Everybody knows such employ
ment should not be necessary. 1t
is a case of the greedy taking ad-
vantage Of innocents and bad
social conditions. Golfers maya
zine, however, argues that it is
necessary to have the Child Labor
Amendment placed in the consti-
tuition so as to make it permanent
and therefore it remains an issue
until accomplished. The article
follows:
For the time being, child labor ha
been abolished.
The Blue Eagle did what two previ
Gus acts of Congress had failed to &C
The outlawing of the pre-
mature employment of children
the recovery codes is one o
the finest and most memorable
of the Roosevelt Admin
istration.
The Recovery Administration an
the codes which give it effect are
however, for the emergency. AS bust
ness improves the national control o
industry will slacken. Child labo
has been stopped only by a temporar
adopted for the emer
gency.
Now is the time of times to put tn
child labor amendment into the Con
Nine years ago the amend
ment was proposed by large MAORI
ties in beth houses of Congress. Fiv'
states ratified the amendment an,
then ratification ceased.
We were in the midst of the Har
ding wave of reaction. Amy inter
ference with industry was looked a
askance. Then, too, public Irritation
with national prohibition was begin
ming to boil. Little patience existe,
for any increase in national authority
1t is long cry from the Teapo
Dome oil scandals to the MIRA an,
once again the mood of the American
people has changed. Social justic
is not scorned as it was ten years age
Once more We are ready to move for
ward to make the United States bet
ter place for all it's people.
So naturally the child labor amend
ment revived and now fifteen state
have ratified it. Active campaigns TO
ratification are now being conducte
in numerous states. This fall specia
sessions of the legislatures will con
slider the amendment in Idaho, Iowa
Louisiana, Kansas, Minnesota an
Mississippi. AS the regular winte
sessions come on in other states tn
fight will be extended
Never was the opportunity more ia
vorable for the adoption of this lon
needed constitutional reform. For tn
time being. no great industry has
financial stake in the perpetuation c
child labor. Consequently there Wi
be no well-organized Hobbies employe
to combat ratification.
The amendment is simple grant G
power. The vital words are these
"The Congress shall have power t
limit. regulate and prohibit the labo
of persons under eighteen years c
age"
This amendment was wisely wordet
Congress under it's terms would hav
the authority to deal with child labo
as the conditions required. Despit
the Recovery Act, Congress has nc
now the authority to deal with chill
labor. Two laws were passed an
both times the Supreme Court multi
fed them as unconstitutional.
The first law was passed Septembe
L, 1916, when Woodrow Wilson wa
president. This was based on tn
cry =.