furman owens, 12 years old. can't read. doesn't know...
TRANSCRIPT
Furman Owens, 12 Years Old. Can't Read. Doesn't Know His
A,b,C's. Said, "Yes I Want to Learn but Can't When I Work All
the Time." Been workin’ in the Mills 4 Years, 3 Years in the
Olympia Mill. Columbia, S.C.
A moments glimpse of the outer world. She said she
was 11 years old. Been working over a year. Rhodes
Mfg. Co. Lincolnton, N.C.
Some boys and girls were so small they had to climb
up on to the spinning frame to mend broken threads
and to put back the empty bobbins. Bibb Mill No. 1.
Macon, Ga.
One of the spinners in Whitnel Cotton Mill. She was 51 inches high. Has been in the
mill one year. Sometimes works at night. She makes 48 cents a day. When asked how
old she was, she hesitated, then said, "I don't remember," then added confidentially,
"I'm not old enough to work, but do just the same." Out of 50
employees, there were ten children about her size. Whitnel, N.C.
A group of newsies selling on Capitol steps. Tony,
age 8, Dan, 9, Joseph, 10, and John, age 11.
Washington, D.C.
Tony Casale, age 11, been selling 4 years. Sells sometimes
until 10 p.m. His paper told me the boy had shown him the
marks on his arm where his father had bitten him for not
selling more papers. He (the boy) said, "Drunken men say
bad words to us." Hartford, Conn.
Out after midnight selling extras. There were many young boys selling
very late. Youngest boy in the group is 9 years old. Harry, age 11,
Eugene and the rest were a little older. Washington, D.C.
Michael McNelis, age 8, a newsboy [with
photographer Hine]. This boy has just recovered from
his second attack of pneumonia. Was found selling
papers in a big rain storm. Philadelphia, Pa.
Francis Lance, 5 years old, 41 inches high. He
jumps on and off moving trolley cars at the
risk of his life. St. Louis, Mo.
At the close of day at a local coal mine. Waiting for the cage
to go up. The cage is entirely open on two sides and not very
well protected on the other two, and is usually crowded like
this. The small boy in front is Jo Puma. S. Pittston, Pa.
View of the Ewen Breaker of the Pa. Coal Co. The dust was so
dense at times as to obscure the view. This dust penetrated the
utmost recesses of the boys' lungs. A kind of slave-driver
sometimes stands over the boys, prodding or kicking them into
obedience. S. Pittston, Pa.
Harley Bruce, a young coupling-boy at Indian Mine. He
appears to be 12 or 14 years old and says he has been working
there about a year. It is hard work and dangerous. Near Jellico,
Tenn.
Breaker boys, Hughestown Borough Pa. Coal Co. One
of these is James Leonard, another is Stanley Rasmus.
Pittston, Pa.
A young driver in
the Brown mine.
Has been driving
one year. Works
7 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. daily. Brown
W. Va.
Day scene. Wheaton Glass Works. Boy is Howard
Lee. His mother showed me the family record in Bible
which gave his birth as July 15, 1894. 15 years old
now, but has been in glass works two years and some
nights. Millville, N.J.
Manuel the young shrimp picker, age 5, and a
mountain of child labor oyster shells behind
him. He worked last year. Understands not a
word of English. Biloxi, Miss.
Camille Carmo, age 7, and Justine, age 9.
The older girl picks about 4 pails a day.
Rochester, Mass.
Mrs. Battaglia with Tessie, age 12, and Tony, age 7. Mrs.
Battaglia works in a garment shop except on Saturdays, when
the children sew with her at home. Get 2 or 3 cents a pair
finishing men's pants. Said they earn $1 to $1.50 on Saturday.
Father disabled and can earn very little. New York City.
Picking nuts in dirty basement. The dirtiest imaginable
children were pawing over the nuts eating lunch on the table.
Mother had a cold and blew her nose frequently (without
washing her hands) and the dirty handkerchiefs reposed
comfortably on table close to the nuts and nut meats. The
father picks now. New York City.
Fish cutters at a Canning Co in Maine. Ages range from 7 to 12. They live near the
factory. The 7 year old boy in front, Byron Hamilton, has a badly cut finger but helps
his brother regularly. Behind him is his brother George, age 11, who cut his finger half
off while working. Ralph, on the left, displays his knife and also a badly cut finger.
They and many youngsters said they were always cutting themselves. George earns a
$1 some days usually 75 cents. Some of the others say they earn a $1 when they work
all day. At times they start at 7 a.m. and work all day until midnight.
Child Labor Laws In 1904 the National Child Labor Committee
was formed to start working on laws to
protect children.
In 1938 the Fair Labor Standards Act was
passed providing free, compulsory education
for all children and set federal standards for
child labor. A minimum age for employment
and hours of work for children are regulated
by the Federal Government.
What about today??
• Do some research to find out about child labor
laws in 2017. You can visit online websites or
even ask your family members.
• Things to look for: At what age can a child
legally work (a REAL job)? How many hours
a day or week can a child work? At what age
can a child quit school? What happens if laws
are not followed?
• Find at least 2 laws and write them on p. 13.
• Due tomorrow!!