The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-01-18
tHISTORY OF THE FEDERAL CHILD LADON
AMENDMENT
Continued From Yesterday


Continued From Yesterday
'"The South, because of its agricultural charac-
ter, still leads in child labor.
."Agriculture employs three-hfths OF the mIloh
child laborerS' ~
When it was proposed to substitute the word
"chid" for person in the first section OF the
amendment Ms Kelley again objected, saying S'e
was a lawyer and knew the legal Qennltlon OF
child to be a person II years old and under; that
such q change might cause trouble IN the courts
When the resolution reported from Com
mittee in the House and Senate 1t was vigorously
attacked but to no avail. The equalization OF sen
timent for the child, the most appealing OBJECT IN
nature, had done its work E.
In vain did representatives point out that, II II
ratified it meant that federal espionage would
haunt every freSide; that a queStlonnalre IKE
those sent out by the Draft Boards would go TO
every parent, demanding, under penalty TOR DIS
obedience truthful answers to scores of questions;
that mothers and fathers would be jailed for in
correct or false answers and for refusal to an
svser; that these pains and penalties would be M
fiicted in distant federal courts and not IN the
home courts.
What will become of children Is and II years
old. they asked, who are denied an opportunity TO
work to support themselves or their families
haHs AsesaeSt saeh y.ssas w.G o'; The o' a nv
sss s ssss sss 'ss e But ut who Who
ssssssassf 1905 sa'l y sue ;,;5 more
pensions and chii6,@sbh pensions. Then new laws,
innumerable oESesa&k3not elected by the people,
and deaf or rsliTer<st to their protests.
The Man Of a,l{1<<caanent a. set out by the Chill
dner's Bureau i4sz3fS<N to permit no person under
tho ope of is v21<rssk engage in any work, house
hold aoriculturSi Hnd Industrial physical or men,
tail until such pnrzcl first obtains federal work
certificate WfskktsAa certificate can be obtained
depends upon ff;<<s s<susites: On conclusive proof
If AGE. (2) pfrrsSE1Hl abilitv which means large
army of physsr;<1e - 3) sufficient educational
training: (l) Rad a. work the person wishes to
C%Torass,,,aS en- Georgia said:
e. This amend1,4<z'<loes not limit or confne the
mower of Com &<<& X2egislate with respect to the
work of persC< Il XzRr Is in mines, factories,
,weatshOps am 81 &&places injurious to moral or
physical welfaNst goes further-t is as wlq De
say they ean in the fields f6Ores r. OF goe 9
even further, t Ssnsers upon Congress the power
10 say that a efflahder Is cannot assist her mOeh
err in houSe-work. cooking or DISTINGUISHING IN ner
own home and that son may not help MS 1ather'
Congressman Halves said:
This is a sweeping, al-nclusive power, first, 20
limit the labor of all person sGnder 10 years OF
age: second, to regulate the iaoor OF al persons
under Is years of age: and thlrd, TO prohlDlt inc
labor of all persons under Is years OF age 1t Will
build I'D great national bureau, with thousands
of notice called inspectors who will intrude them
selves into the homes, the schools and the private
affairs of the citizens of the States
Finally, Senator James A. Reed said on June 2,
1924:
81 affirm that it is completely subversive of our
/
yistic and | could almost say, anarchisitc 1t is
nst q child labor proposition.
To-day State has power to prohibit the
labor of a boy II years of age. If the State of
Utah. or Missouri, California were to pass such
a law it would be declared unconstitutional in FIVE
minutes. l call attention again, and yet again, to
this language.
1.-THE Congress shall have power to Iimit-not
reasonably to limit but to limit
$50 reguate-not reasonably to regulate; and
finally and to prohibit the labor of persons under
10 wears of age.
'!You propose to confer upon Congress the right
to say that boy. in the protection of his life and
in the pursuit of his happiness can be denied the
God-gven privilege of labor, the thing that is nee
ess&ry to his existence, necessary to his develop
ment, necessary to the civilization of the land
itself
'"The Declaration of independence asserts that
these rightS-tO life, liberty and the pursuit of
happineSS-weTe granted BY God tn his children
end whenever anv government denies them. the
pehnle have a right TO destroy that Government.
"ITnder this amendment if ratified. Congress
could pass law so that if a farmer sept his bow
out in the morning to put gasoline in bis Ford
the, farmer mipht be sent TO Jail and his Ford
cOpfiscated. and whatever other horrible penalties
night be visited on him would denend not upon
Congress. but uDOn lot Of agitatNrs who would
tn3r down the temple of human liberty and ont
ofiits rims erect structure of socialism and boil
shevism"
after the amendment had been approved by Con-
rrssS and sent TO the State legislatures, in 1924,
The Communists in the United States became in
tebselv aetjve to bring about ratification.
The Daily Worker. of New York, the official
Communist organ IN the United States. on Deem
hes l. 1924. launched "United-Front" campaign
forShe ratification of the amendment. saving:
'State legislatures must be compeiled to ratify
'inpediatnlv the Child Labor amendment to the
Constitution CONGRESS- and the State legislatures
must be compelled to pass laws proyiain0 for full
goS2rnment maintenance of al school children of
wdfkers and poor farmers"
On December Is, 1924, the Daily Worker said:
ist Party and the Young Workers Communist