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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (July 31, 1903)
lywiyw") ')nmi"giw".iwwnMi' " " nw - ' 'w - jyTO!r'w?n "ipr' "" wKTTy r'UHti WJflHl'lL" " JULY 21, 1103. The Commoner, li ;iJi'UMi iviiiivwa A TERRIBLE SHOWING A Hint as to the Manner In Which Our Wonderful Prosperity Is "Enjoyed by All Classes." A reader of The Commoner sends a clipping from iho St Louis Post-Dispatch, explaining that the situation described shows how our wonderful prosperity is "enjoyed by all classes." Under date of Philadelphia, Juno 20, the correspondent for the St Louis Post-Dispatch says: Pennsylvania took the first step to ward thetotal abolition of child labor, when the state factory inspectors were instructed to demand abirth or baptismal certificate with every min or's application for wont Thousands of cnildren now at work in stores, shops and mills will bo out of- woric. All are under 13 years, and each one represents a specific case of perjury. The great textile strike now on in this city disclosed conditions that hor rified every state official. War was declared on child labor at once. With New York, the state leads the country in the use and abuse of child labor. The great "black belt" of the far south knows nothing that cannot be duplicated in the mill districts of Philadelphia, and conditions up the state are worse. Nothing on earth is worse than the condition of the thou sands of children employed in the an thracite mines. The reform will be made to prevent child labor from be coming a political issue. Mayor John C. Delaney, 'chief of factory inspectors, had an investiga tion made after a published charge that children 9 years old were on Btriko with the textile operators, and that in some mills these little ones "were sometimes compelled (o work 13 hours a day. The investigation was made with a view to prosecute the persons who perjured themselves to get working cards for them. There will be no prosecutions. The children will be banished from the mills and sent to school. The next legislature 'will be expected to make it unlawful to employ any child under 14 years at any labor, and in every case a cer tificate of birth or baptism must ac company the application for working cards. "I came here determined to proceed against the parents who perjured themselves," said Mayor Delaney to day. "When I saw the wretched, sometimes starving women who swore to falsehood that their children might eat, I felt that something more sweep ing than the punishment of poor wo men was needed. I caused a new set of rules to bo issued for the guidance of magistrates and others qualified to issue working cards to children. I propose to hold all such persons re sponsible for every working card they issue. Parents hereafter must prove by living .witnesses or by properly at tested certificates just when their children were born. A complete set of records will be kept, to the end that no child under 13 years can work any where in the state. "At the next spssion of the legis lature the minimum age limit will be raised to 14 years. I am unalterably opposed to the employment of child labor. I would fix the limit at ir years, although this undoubtedly would work a serious hardship upon many. For that reason the age limit must be raised gradually." The Worsted Spinners' association and the Cloth Manufacturers' associa tion met and adopted resolutions con demning child-labor and pledging sup Passengers going to Colorado via Union Pacific can secure berths Isi Tourist Sleepers every day. Apply to port to any movement looking to its abolition. A sad feature of the situation If extreme poverty of families that wil suffer most from tho liberation of the children employed in textilo mills of Philadelphia who are under 13 years of age. In the heat of the strike some of the labor leaders held these little ones high above the heads of thoir hearers and, baring their puny arms and legs and hollow chests, called upon the millionaire manufacturers to "cease their moral murders." This led to hiding of some of tho horrible examples. Mothers who perjured themselves are in a state bordering on frenzy and many are in dread of being sent to prison. In a single block in the KensiDgton district 14 women, mothers of 22 working children, all under the legal ogo, explained today that with per jury or starvation, the alternates, no woman would see her children hunger. Starvation is no strangor in that dis trict Organized labor will bo called upon by tho state authorities to co-opcralo in a thorough movement for tho total abolition of child-labor. Pennsyl vania will probably be tho first state In tho Union to niako a comprehensive law. Boston Sinking. A dispatch to tho Chicago Record Herald, under date of Boston, July 19, says that Boston is sinning to the level of tho ocean is the assertion o James It. Freeman, a civil onginecr and formei member of the metropoli tan water board. In a special report regarding the proposed damming of tho Charles river at Boston, Mr. Freo man says: "All of the territory In and about Boston is probably slowly sinking relatively to tho level of the sea Apparently this subsidence Is at the rate of about one-eighth of an Inch a year, ono Inch In eight years, or a little more than a foot in each years. This Is obviously a question of great importance In comparing an ciont surroundings with modern and In considering tho possible future shoaling of tho harbor. "The datum plane of 1903, compared with that of 1830, tho earliest with an authentic record, shows that the city has sunk .79 of a foot which Is at tho rato of roout one foot In 100 years. At thlB rate the present grado of At lantic avenue near the foot of Stato street will bo awash by the spring tides of each month about 250 years hence. Many roci.n about tho edges of Massachusetts bay are found to bo from ono to two feet deeper below ex tremo low water now than they wero about ninety years ago. At many points about Boston tree trunks aro found standing in salt marsh under conditions that prove a recent subsidence." Reports are being received of seri ous rioting among the strikers at Baku, Russia, whero it was recently re ported that 40,000 men aro on strike. Much destruction of property has re sulted and In some cases thero havo been conflicta with the troops. A College Education! Within Easy Reach! The Commoner's Great Offer! Every Young Man and Young WomL.i should endeavor to secure a Good Education. In many in stances tho expense is a bar, at least to more than may be secured in tho Public Schools. The Com moner has arranged a plan whoreby any industrious Young Man or Woman may earn enough to pay for a college course. Tho plan ig simple, the work comparatively easy, the results sure if the work is fol lowed earnestly. Your Choice of Schools. Arrangements hare been made and are being made, with some of the leading Educational Institu tions of the country, bo that Young Men and Young Women may select a college near their own homes. Here are five well known Institutions that arc included in Tho Commoner's Groat offer. Mc Ken dree College, LEBANON, ILLS. Founded 1828. McKendree Hypes Chamber lain, A. M., LL D., President. A Methodist School. Courses of Study: Mental and Moral Philosophy, Greek, Latin, German, English, Sci ence, Mathematics. Baylor University, WACO, TEXAS. Founded 1845. Samuel Palmer Brooks, Pres ident Offers courses of instruction leading to the degrees of'Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Sci ence, Bachelor of Philosophy, Bachelor of Letters. Leading Southern University. LOCATED AT UNIVEKSITY PLACE, A SUBURB OF LINCOLN. " 7 Wesley an Uni. De WITT C. HUNTINGTON, D. D., Chancellor. METHODIST. FULL COLLEGE COURSE. Lincoln, Neb. Splendid Surroundings Beloit College, BELOIT, WIS. Founded 1840. Edward D. Eaton, D. D., LL. D., President. Classical, Philosophical and Sci entific courses. A Presbyterian School offering exceptional advantages. I Westminster College, FULTON, MO. Founded 1853. John Henry McCracken, A.M., Ph. D., President. Offers full college course. Numerous prizes awarded for schcarsnips. For Full particulars of these colleges, write the presidents named. Do you want a college educa tion? Write The Commoner for Full Particulars. The offer will enable you to pay every expense in cluding Tuition, Board, Laundry and Books. Do not delay. Address you to pay every expense, in- THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Nebraska. 1 i 4 t I u .-,, umuv, win w obxcuv, ujuv-uiu, new, i i,AffalMAmffliftewfirtMirVitwftAJ &rti-mi4.i?ltl tMkwwvdttU&M