The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, February 7, 1921, Page 10

“their occupation. Children at Labor— the Nation’s Shame Child Labor Increases Greed of Intrenched Big Business Blocks Attempted Legislation ESPITE a century of agitation against child labor one-fifth of the children of the United States between the ages of 10 and 15 years are out of school and compelled to earn their own livings, states Owen R. Lovejoy, secretary of the national child labor committee. ] Furthermore, in 14 states in 1920 there were more children at work than in 1919. The states which showed the largest increases in child labor were Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. The worst child labor states are in the southeast- ern part of the United States. labor go hand in hand. While poverty is generally given as the excuse for allowing child labor, the facts are that poverty is the effect of child lahor as awell as the cause. The child who has to leave school to go to work not only has his education neglected but may suffer bodily, thus unfitting him to com- pete with his fellows in the struggle for existence. Out of 1,500 children in 12 industries in Balti- more 100 were found by medical examiners to have diseases or serious bodily defects directly due to Between the ages of 12 and 16, when most children enter employment in child labor sections, the average child is passing through the “awkward age” when his muscles are entering their mature stage but are not fully under control. Hence the number of accidents is twice that with adults at the same occupations. In Massachusetts last year there were 1,691 industrial accidents to children un- der 16, of which 10 were fatal and 63 others resulted in permanent disability. SUPREME COURT HOLDS LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL In 1912 a national child labor law was one of the planks in the Democratic na- tional platform. A law was enacted to bar the products of child labor from interstate commerce. The supreme court of the United States came to the relief of the in- terests employing child labor, however, and declared the law unconstitutional. A new child labor law was’enacted, plac- ing a 10 per cent tax on the net profits of any factory, mine or quarry employing children under 14 or 16 years of age. The federal government is incapable, under the supreme court ruling, of making provi- sions against any other employment. Only by the adoption of a constitutional amend- ment could it outain this power. Many of, the states, prominent among them being North Daketa, have state laws limiting child labor. But in the states of the Atlantic seaboard where legislation is most needed to protect the children of the industrial sec- tions from unhealthy and dangerous employments, the legislatures are so fully under the control of the intrenched business intgrests that child labor laws are blocked. To Aid Rural Schools Fair “tenure legislation,” especially in rural com- munities, is asked by the American Federation of Teachers as a measure of justice to teachers and as a means of improving the rural schools. : The A. F. of T. points out that the change of teachers every year in many rural school districts disorganizes the school and discourages competent teachers from applying for positions in rural com- munities. Legislation is proposed which will pro- vide a “probationary period,” during which a new teacher will be under the close observation of the school directors or trustees and can be removed without formality. Having passed this probation- ary period, however, the teacher is to be removed - only for cause, such as gross insubordination; in- efficiency, conduct unbecoming a teacher, etec., and " only after trial before an impartial trial board. . The A. F. of T. urges that such legislation would tend to give teachers greater freedom of expression Poverty and child - T R R S R R o sy e S s and they would not be subject to dismissal for ex- pressing opinions contrary to those of some member of the school board. X - “The prevailing system,” the federation states, “has too great a tendency to develop cowardice and servility—and cowardice and servility have no place in the democracy of education.” - . Production or Marketing? Editor Nonpartisan Leader: The suggestion of Mrs. M. S. that we study the Nonpartisan Leader is fine. Continue the questions. I suggest we take pen and paper and write short, clear answers to the same. I find I get the general meaning of an arti- cle by reading, but when it comes to explaining it to another my trouble commences. The farm women will have to help in this fight for economic justice and it is going to mean speak- ing in public. If we are sure of our facts it will help to overcome any timidity we may have. To illustrate: Our county agent is putting on a drive for Farm Bureau members in this county. The program all tends toward greater production.. I raised the point of why not concentrate on market- ing, at a profit, what we had already produced. The following reasons were given: The state col- lege can not give farmers a practical marketing plan because it is supported by taxation, other in- NONPARTISAN CLUBS one offices. men. clubs. elected located. terests than farming contribufing their quota of taxes to its support, and they would- object. In- stead, the state college has worked out the plan for .an organization of farmers who can compel (?) it to function. ‘Inquiry also brought out this fact: Our county agent is bossed by the United States department of agriculture, Washington State col- lege and our county commissioners. If he is active in the farmers’ interest he will be curbed by some business interest protesting to the county commis- sioners. All to be cured by joining the Farm Bu- reau and backing him up! Our former county agent is our Smith-Hughes agriculture teacher in our high school. He draws a salary of $2,400. He confided to me that the boys and girls were not accepting projects very readily this year. Many of the boys took pigs last year sent out by Armour & Co. If you will allow me to use slang they are wondering where they are to get off at after buying feed. g It’s a great scheme, isn’t it? Trick the farmer into producing and then steal it? The railroads need-freight ‘and the bankers need interest, so build silos, keep more cattle and hogs. Al you need to know is the way to town and back; we will attend to the price. The Rural New Yorker has adopted a slogan, “We have got to do it ourselves”—and’we have. MRS. J. E. HUNTER. Colville, Wash, : . PAGE TEN ° G THE FARM WOMAN’S PAGE PIONEER SUFFRAGIST BOOSTS WOMEN’S RS. P. E. ECKENBECK, pictured here, has been of the leaders in the fight for political equality for women in Minne- sota. She was secretary of the Minnesota Suffrage association and has held other important Now that women have= the vote Mrs. Eckenbeck realizes that it is important that they keep informed on what is hap- pening and that they organize- to cast their votes for the right Mrs. Eckenbeck has there- fore become an active worker with the Women’s Nonpartisan She has recently been secretary-treasurer of the Ramsey County Federation of Women’s Nonpartisan clubs, which includes 10 clubs already organized in Ramsey county, in which the city of St. Paul is Allen of Kansas j - posed war drives? (Pages Letters From Our Farm Women Prices in California Minnesota Club Woman Tells What Our " Products Cost in Pasadena enjoy the letters by the farm women, so I feel it my duty to do something in return. - We started from home after election last fall on a trip to see and learn as much as we could. To give a story. of all we saw would be too long, but will relate some of our experiences here at Pasa- dena. The climate is very nice and flowers are blooming everywhere. Here people do not need to worry about the high coal prices, but then it is high- prices for something-“else. Rents are so high that hundreds of families are living in tents, as they are unable-to -pay the prices asked. Now when we get our Minnesota papers and see the prices paid for livestock we naturally expect to find living quite reasonable. ; Here are some prices we pay for food: Potatoes, 4 DITOR Nonpartisan Leader:- I filways:' $2.50 per hundredweight; corn meal, 8 cents per.: pound; flour, $6.756 per hundredweight; beef from 18 to0.85 cents per pound for different cuts, and pork 25 cents to 60 cents per pound. . j Pasadena and Los Angeles have hotels that cover acres of ground where a single room costs $30 per day. I would like to go through one of these hotels, but do mnot dare, for fear of being turned down, as the people who can afford to Troom there do not carry the stamp of work like a Minnesota farm woman. Hired girls are much in demand and earn from $60 to $90 < per month. ; ; LET'S HAVE OUR CLUBS, SAYS MRS. ALBRECHT We have been through the Oak Knoll section where the millionaires live. My! but such mansions, with acres of the most beautifully kept lawns surrounding these homes. One of these mansions would com- fortably house a dozen of those® families now living in tents. The Qak Knoll resi- dents do not ride in Ford cars like most of us farmers, their cars look a good deal like a glass house on wheels, with a negro chauffer in the driver’s cab, and sbme kind of ‘a dog conspicuously beside the occu- direction of town we see golf links, where men and women are out playing golf, dressed in-white sport suits, any day of the week. Membership in a golf club is $1,000. Sisters, I hope when you have read this article you, too, will want to join a club, but let it be a Nonpartisan Women’s club where the membership is only $1. " MINNIE ALBRECHT. Pasadena, Cal. = \ . Mrs. Albrecht is an active worker for the Women’s Nonpartisan clubs in Minnesota. . Questions for Study pants in the rear seat. Driving out in any- The following questions are based on this issue- of the Leader and answers will be found on the pages indicated: 3 1. What are the main features of Mr. Baruch’s plan for putting farming on a business basis and how do they compare with the~ League plan? (Pages 3 and 8). 2. Were wheat exports in 1920 smaller or larger than those of 1919? How do YOU explain lowered ~ wheat prices? (Page 7). - 3. What will be the annual cost of the proposed army “and navy of the United States under the ‘pro- gram now being considered by congress ? (Page b). . 4. Compare the plan followed by North Dakota wool producers with the League plan for getting a fair price for all farm'products. (Page.6). 5. How does the program of state, marketing’ in Australia = compare with the Nonpartisan League’s plan of marketing farm products. ~(Page 12). : i 6. What are the chief reasons for regulating child laber? (Page 10). : 7. Cite North Dakota’s war record. - Is Governor prohibiting or ~ N 8'and 13); % istified -in stating the League op-: