BEFORE NATIONAL CHILD LABOR COMMITTEE, WASHINGTON, D. C.

It should be entirely superfluous for me to say that I am in hearty accord and in full sympathy with your committee and with the object which the National Committee on Child Labor and the various committees throughout the country have organized to accomplish.

Today there is no division of opinion relative to the inadvisability and inhumanity of employing children of a young and tender age in gainful occupations. So much at least has been gained. In some sections of the country opposition is still manifested against the movement for the abolition of child labor upon the pretense that the enactment of such a law would be the encouragement of organized labor. I am not prepared to deny that.

The abolition of child labor would encourage the organization of wage-earners in those industries, but I think it might be submitted to the gentlemen who interpose such an objection, that in several of the southern states, in order to maintain what is called "white supremacy," laws have been enacted requiring educational qualifications to entitle the citizens to suffrage, and it may not be inappropriate to this subject to call attention to the further fact that in the cotton mills of the south the children employed are the offspring of white women and white men, and that the black children go to school and receive an education. Therefore, as a matter of fact, the very purpose of the educational qualification to entitle the citizen to the right of suffrage will inevitably result in the disfranchisement of the white future citizen and the enfranchisement of the colored.

My honored friend, the Commissioner of Labor, anticipated the very remark I intended to make, and I am glad to be in accord with his judgment, that an industry which depends for its success upon the labor of young and innocent children is not worthy of success and ought to go down.

There is no law on the statute books of any state of the Union or in any country, that has for its purpose the protection of the child and the health of not only children but women, but that law is due, directly to the efforts of the much abused organi zations of labor.

It has been within my recollection when the Hon. Elbridge T. Gerry, of New York, for many years active in the movement for the protection of childreu, came before the conventions of the A. F of L. and said that the hope and the mainstay for the inauguration, the enactment, and the enforcement of child labor laws rests in the last degree upon the organizations of labor.

If there is any one who harbors the thought that the organizations of labor are insincere in the effort to have laws passed and enforced for the protection of children, let me quote to you a statement made by a gentleman who, presumably, was associated with us in the effort to abolish child labor, Dr. A H. Fry berg, president of the Cincinnati Child Labor Committee, in which he said, "the committee," speaking for his committee, "is not in sympathy with the movement of labor unions for increasing the age at which children may labor, from 14 to 16 years. He then adds as a comment on it, "it is felt in the committee that the action of the unions is taken purely for the selfish motive of preventing competition, and not with the idea of the child's welfare at heart."

I quote the gentleman because he charges the unions of labor with selfishness in the advocacy of the child labor laws in increasing the years to 16 as against any opinion which may be entertained that the unions are insincere.

You should not infer from that statement that I believe that Dr. Fryberg is accurate in his charge that it is from selfish motives that the unions of labor are favorably disposed towards the abolition of child labor, but I quoted him simply to show that even according to this accusation we must necessarily be sincere in defense of our own selfinterests.

I presume that there are a number of men and women in this city of ours and in this country of ours who are altruistic. Thank God that there is a continually growing number of men and women who act from that high purpose. But taking men and women as they are, not here and there, but the accepted view of men and women as they are, I wonder whether all the bankers and all the brokers and all the business men and all the newspaper men and all the companies have all been prompted from purposes of absolutely, purely ideal altruism.

Now, as to the insinuations that are indulged in that labor men, from the standpoints of their own personal interests, advocate a certain policy. How is it that you find men usually who are engaged in the manufacture of certain products, universally protectionists from the view point of the tariff? And on the other hand you will find men who are engaged in simply commercial pursuits, free traders. Is it a psychological influence that brings this about? Is it physical? Is it climatic? Is it providential, or is it not purely selfish interest that prompts them to be the one thing or the other? And yet you expect; not you personally, my friends; but yet some people expect that the men who have only their labor power upon which to depend and to support those dependent upon them

shall govern all their actions from purely altruistic motives and purposes, surrendering everything that they possess.

We are just as good as you, not better, but I repeat, just as good. From the earliest days of the present industrial era, as it emerged from the days of serfdom, and from the days of the introduction of the factory system, the organizations of labor have advocated the restriction of child labor. There is not a child labor law on the statute books of the United States but has been put there by the effort of the trade union movement. In Alabama-I think my memory serves me right-about two years ago a law was passed, also Tennessee, in Texas, and I think in Oregon too, due entirely to the organized labor movement. I know that in Alabama, where some better progress has been made than in Georgia in so far as the conception of such a law is concerned, that the American Federation of Labor sent a lady, not a wage-earner, into Alabama and also into Georgia and into Florida and into Tennessee, for the purpose of bringing about a better feeling, better judgment, and better conception of the question among the people generally, in order that a child labor law might be enacted. I know that when I mention the name of the lady you will all agree with me as to her splendid attainments and her faithful and intelligent work, Miss Irene Ashby, now Mrs. Irene Ashby-Macfadyen, who is now in South Africa.

I have been very busy and have had no opportunity to collate a mass of material that would be more interesting than anything I would say to you, but the thought struck me of two quotations from Miss Ashby's first report, which was submitted to me and published in our official journal, the AMERICAN FEDERATIONIST, in 1901:

Four months ago I accepted a commission from Mr. Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, to agitate the subject of child labor with the view of getting a law on that subject through the legislature of Alabama. Although I return with the news of present defeat, I believe that my mission has helped to give another blow to that slowly-dying cause of building commercial success on the ruin of little children.

At the close of that report she says:

In resigning my commission, on which Mr. Gompers acts, my regret at failure is tempered by the hope that what I have been able to do in concentrating previous interests, collecting facts which have aroused new interest, and in some degree amalgamating different forces, may not be without fruit in the near future, and that this campaign will at least have a share in the formation of another which will put an end forever to this particular blot on American civilization.

The lady tendered her resignation to me, but I am proud to say that I declined to accept it, and commissioned her to persist for several years in the work.

And I may add that it was impracticable and inadvisable that Miss Ashby should appear as the representative of organized labor, for the reason that I have tried already indirectly to communicate to you, that the cotton manufacturers oppose the passage of the child labor law upon the pretense that it would encourage the organizations of labor if such a law were passed.

I wish that you had the time and the patience to listen to more extended remarks upon this subject by others, as well as myself.

We want to make this country of ours grander and greater and more beautiful than it is. Should any one ask me, do you believe that we are making progress, I would gladly give my assent, and am proud of the progress that we are making, greater

than any other country on the face of the globe. There are a number of ladies and gentlemen associated both in the national committee and in the several localities, with whom I have had the honor and pleasure of working and co operating for very many years. I hope that so long as life shall remain with me that I shall have the pleasure of still working and helping to solve this problem, and then the next problem, and then the next problem as it shall confront us.

PREFER PRISON TO OBEYING INJUNCTION.

President Samuel Gompers, of the A. F. of L., and International President James M. Lynch, of the Typographical Union, paid their respects to Judge Jesse M. Holdom in no uncertain words before Local No. 16 of the last named organization, in Bricklayers' Hall. The striking printers cheered the utterances to the echo.

"Judge Holdom's injunction," declared Mr. Gompers, "I regard as one of the most contemptible utterances that ever emanated from a judicial bench-and I wish to say publicly that I will be some days here in Chicago. If I had to choose between the exercise of my constitutional rights as an American citizen and obeying such an injunction order, I do not hesitate to say that I would choose going to jail.

"Assume, for the sake of argument, that your leader is guilty, as the honorable judge charges, then I say he was guilty of a crime, and as a criminal he is entitled to be tried under the laws of Illinois by a jury of his peers.'

Mr. Gompers narrated a scene in court, which, he said, had happened several years ago, to illustrate his opinion of Judge Holdom.

"A lawyer requested the court to hear an opinion from Blackstone, and the court told him to take his seat. The attorney arose, 'May it please the court,' he said, 'I did not attempt to inform the court what the opinion of Blackstone was, but I wished to show the court what a fool Blackstone was to differ from the court.'

"The judge then declared the lawyer in contempt and sentenced him to jail. The lawyer, in his humblest tones, again addressed the court. 'May it please the court,' he said, 'I am unable to perceive how I am in contempt, since for the last two days I have been striving to conceal my contempt for the court."""

The striking printers received the sally with laughter and cheers.

Mr. Gompers reviewed the progress of the strike · against the Typothetae.

Employers, in answer to demands of employes, have always said the demands could be granted if they were to affect every other employer and every other locality," he said. "Well, this strike is national, continental, from Atlantic to Pacific, and eight hours are required in every composing-room from Boston to San Francisco."

When the words of President Gompers were repeated to Judge Holdom he said last night:

"It would be in contravention of judicial ethics and beneath the dignity of the bench for me to reply to President Gompers, or any one else, publicly.

"If he or any one else sees fit to disobey the letter and spirit of my injunction I will speak to him in court. I have nothing more to say.' Chicago Inter-Ocean, January 29.

ment is dull at this season, but we hope soon to report greater activity in the trade.

Cutting-Die Makers.

Jas. Clasen.-We have secured 50 hours per week in New York City, which is a reduction of four hours a week. Trade conditions good in our line.

Elevator Constructors.

Henry Snow. -Our members have been more generally employed this winter than at any time previous in the history of our organization. Prospects for the future are bright. Our New York local has secured a two-year agreement with elevator manufacturers to continue the present scale of $4.50 a day for mechanics and $3 a day for helpers. The agreement also calls for strict union shop and affects about 800 men.

Elastic Goring Weavers.

Geo. H. Flowers.-Trade conditions steadily improving. We are booming the lace congress shoe, the manufacture of which employs a number of our craft. At this writing we have strike on hand in Chelsea, Mass., for the union shop.

Flour and Cereal Mill Employes.

A. E. Kellington.-Our members have gained increases in wages and shorter hours without strike. Six companies adopted our label recently, and we have prospects for several others. Have formed new unions in Brooklyn, N. Y.; Girard, Kans., and Benton, Ill. Have prospects of several other new unions. Organization has done much for our trade and is a lesson to those who have neglected the advantages of organization.

Glass Workers.

William Figolah.-We are doing everything possible to maintain the union shop throughout our organization. We have strike on hand in Chicago, where the employers violated the agreement. About 480 men are affected. Trade conditions fair in our line.

Knife Grinders.

Richard Odlum.-Condition of trade good, all shops running full time. Some of the factories shut down for two days only, Christmas and New Years. Prospects bright for a good spring season. Lathers.

Ralph Brandt.-We have chartered new unions in Billings, Mont., and Wichita, Kans. Conditions good in our trade, considering the season. We have expended $700 in death benefits during the month.

Machine Printers.

Charles McCrory.-Trade conditions excellent, fully 98 per cent of our members steadily employed, and in some instances overtime is worked, as this is our busy season. In Philadelphia we have a small lockout on account of employers refusing to pay union scale of wages.

Marble Workers.

Stephen C. Hogan.-General improvement in hours and wages is noticed in our craft wherever the men have organized. Trade conditions good and steadily improving. On the other hand, among the unorganized workers there has been no im

provement for the past 10 years. In New York City our members are on strike for increased wages and reduction in hours. Have organized union in Atlanta, Ga., during the month. Employment good, considering the season.

Paving Cutters.

Wm. Dodge.-Trade has been dull during the winter months, but expect improvements as spring approaches. Organized a new union at Cape Ann, Mass. We expended $75 in death benefit during

the month.

Print Cutters.

Thos. Eastwood.-All our members are steadily employed, and conditions are satisfactory throughout the trade. We expended $157 in death benefits recently.

Sawsmiths.

C. G. Wertz.-The saw industry has not been up to the standard for the past two years, but is improving somewhat, and the outlook is bright for a busy season.

Street and Electric Railway Employes.

W. D. Mahon.-The work of our organization has been very successful this winter. Two new charters have been granted recently, at Lewiston, Me., and at Key West, Fla. Agreements have been signed up by two of our divisions recently; one at Alton, Ill., covering the men of that city and suburban roads entering it with an increase of wage from 20 to 22 cents an hour; an agreement has also been signed up by our division at Fort Wayne, Ind., for two years, establishing the nine hour workday. The only trouble we had for several months was a lockout at Paducah, Ky. During the month that was declared off. Reports from many of our divisions show that they are contributing to the cause of the striking printers for the eight hour workday.

Textile Workers.

Albert Hibbert.-Since the last strike we have been working under a scale based upon the margin of profit between the cost of the raw material and selling price of finished product. Work as a rule has been steady. We chartered new union during the month and have prospects of forming two others in the near future. All our members demand the union labels of all crafts.

Theatrical Stage Employes.

Lee M. Hart.-At this writing we have strike pending in Detroit, Mich., for recognition and union shop. We are putting up a strong fight and hope to win. Trade conditions good in our craft. We are hampered somewhat in defining our jurisdiction, so that the places which should belong to our members do not go to others.