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Show CHILD LABOR A SERIOUS PROBLEM. Congress docs not know bow to combat with the child labor slnverv which is going on in our coun-I coun-I try. At the date of the last census, the total number num-ber of children between the ages of lit and 1 ." engaged en-gaged in gainful occupations was 1 ."." 1. 1 7 The majority of these was employed on the farms. We do not s"c how that n be avoided. It ought not to be avoided, unless the children are overworked.1 because there is no such good starter for a child as, to do farm work . The coftom mdls furnish employment ehd j dren to a greater extent than any otlnr imniifac-turing imniifac-turing industry. M' the total number nf children' employed jn cotton mills, sii 4 p,.r cent wuv reported re-ported from small areas. New L'ngland containing' ill.- per cent and North Carolina. South Caroluia' and ieorgui IM.ti per cent. It comes down to a 'ineslnc: f,r the States to Settle. Tt'.at was one ,,f the allMetles nf I'fesldiUlt looseet whin he he. hut h youth, was a member of the New York Legislature. We thuik that even State should pass a law that in m tiui nil fact u nn g establishment should any child be worked to exceed eight hours per day. ani"i the law should carry a penalty of fine and. :f necessary, neces-sary, of imprisonment to make its enforcement sure. n the farms, flic hardships to children are often severe, but they, at b)St. hac life ;n the open air ami plenty of food for their lungs, while the manufacturers are notorious, unless very rich, for working hoys and girls in cramped and illy ventilated venti-lated rooms, ami not mfreipierit 1 v with pom- lights. It is a hard question to handle, hut every State of the I'nion ought to be lug enough ami brave enough to compel the right to children. It docs not matter much what comes to old fellows, e;i tu children should not be handicapped with something, which may make them invalid so long :,s th.y live. |