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Title
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"Child Labor Bill and Capitol Appropriation to Become Alabama Laws"
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Description
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Two of the most important measures that have come up for consideration since the Legislature convened - the Capitol appropriation bill and the child labor bill - were passed yesterday by the Senate, the first practically without opposition, and the second after one of the hardest fights of the session, by a small majority.
Both of these measures originated in the House and they will become laws as Governor Jelks is admittedly in favor of both of them.
Yesterday's session of the Senate was a long one and a live one to the end, the debate on the child labor bill being full of interest.
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CHILD LABOR BILL OPPOSED
The calling up of the child labor bill by its author, Senator Blackmon, brought a surprise for the friends of that measure. This bill had been carefully prepared by representatives of the cotton mill interest on the one hand and representatives of the Federation of Women's Clubs on the other, and was believed to be so satisfactory a compromise of all the interests involved that there could hardly be so satisfactory a compromise of all the interests involved that there could hardly be any fight.
Nevertheless, when it appeared on the floor of the upper house, it found arrayed against it the opposition of nearly half the Senate, and the Senate, and among the number many who are known as fighting members of that body. The bill was passed after a protracted debate, by a vote of 17 to 11.
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FIGHT ON CHILDREN'S BILL
Senator Blackmon then called up his child labor bill and the debate of the session opened. Senator Blackmon, in presenting the measure, stated that he was not wedded to any kind of child labor legislation, but thought the bill, since it was an agreement between the parties particularly interested, was a good one and ought to be passed.
Senator Oliver of Shelby held that the parties interested had not all been consulted when the measure was prepared; that the parents of the children for whose sake the bill had been drawn had by some oversight not been consulted. He maintained that an agreement between the mill men and the representativs [sic] of the women's clubs alone was hardly sufficient, and that this was a matter for the Legislature to decide.
Signs of disapproval of the Senator's speech were heard in the gallery as he sat down.
"Despite the hisses of the gallery," declared Senator Castleberry of Talladega, "I am willing to go on record against this bill. I am a representative, not of any Federation of Women's Clubs, nor of any aggregation of mill men, but of the people of Talladega County. This bill proposes to fasten a shackle on certain of the industries of the State, and I cannot approve it. Its passage would be establishing a dangerous precedent."
DECRESS [SIC] IDLENESS SAY NORMAN.
"The bill declares what parents shall not do with their children, but fails to say what shall be done with them," said Senator Norman of Chambers. "It decrees idleness and all its atendant [sic] possibilities for a horde of children now employed. If the fathers and mothers of the children are not their best friends and cannot provide for them, then the State should."
"The legislative conscience is in the legislative hall," said Senator Goldsby of Mobile. "Parents should say whether their children should work in factories or not."
"The bill is undemocratic, and, I believe, unconstitutional, and I canot [sic] vote for it," declared Senator Harrison of Lee.
"The bill aims to protect the children who are the future men and women of the State. It is a good bill and should pass," was Senator Hurst's rejoinder.
"Government is established to protect life and liberty," said Senator Bullock, of Franklin. "There can be no higher object of any government than the protection of its children; protection against the vicious stunting of mind and body of children that comes of long hours of confinement and toil in the factories. This abuse should be abolished."
Senator Hipp, of Cullman, moved to postpone indefinitely consideration of the bill, but no action was taken at this time and the debate continued.
DEFENDED BY POWELL
"The question before the Senate," said Senator Powell, of Butler, "is not who proposed the bill, but whether the bill is a meritorious one. The argument against its constitutionality might be carried also against the schools, liquor selling and the cigarette business. Has the State no right to care for the its helpless ones when their natural guardians have neglected them? The future of Alabama may depend largely upon the development of its natural resources, but it depends more largely upon the development of its children."
Senator Norman, of Chambers, scored the friends of the bill for permitting orphans and the children of dependent parents to work in the factories. The bill aims at class legislation, he declares.
Senator Bostwick, of Jackson, recalled the devastated condition of things in the South at the close of the Civil War, and how the work of restoration had been in some measure accomplished since. He told how manufacturers had been invited to the South by the prospect of cheap labor. He saw danger in the proposed legislation in that it would tend to discourage the investment of capital in the South. England, he said, had seen how matters stood, how her markets were destroyed by America, and had sent across the Atlantic a woman lobbyist to align herself with the Women's Clubs of this county and through them to work for so-called child labor reform, and all for a very obvious purpose. The children, said he, go to the mills of their own choice, and from the farms for the most part. He declared their condition in the mills better than on the farms, and that if they desired they could at any time return to the farms.
A motion was then made to adjourn, but it was lost by a vote of 18 to 14.
WOMEN HYPNOTIZED 'EM
"The children in the factories are not so abused as has been claimed," declared Senator Oliver. "Without the ballot the women have in this case come mighty dear voting. They have apparently succeeded in hypnotizing a good many members of this Senate."
"We submit that the bill is in the line of class legislation," said Senator Spragins, of Madison, "but it is the sort of legislation that is needed. The mill men do not object to the measure; they merely contend that legislation on the subject at all is a step in the wrong direction, and one that may lead to serious consequences. The children in the mills with which I am connected, are provided with reading rooms, play grounds, gold links, and other resources for diversion, and are much better cared for than on the farms. A child of twelve years, however, should not work in the factories."
Senator Blackmon made some sarcastic reference to the arguments that had been made in behalf of the barefooted boys, and Senator Hipp moved that the bill be laid on the table. The Senate refused to table the bill by a vote of 15 to 17.
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Date
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February 15, 1903
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