Child Labor Resources at the Catherwood Library and the Kheel Center: Reform Efforts

"Why can't the states regulate child labor?  Because many states won't.   For more than a century we have relied upon state legislation. State legislation has failed.  […]  The great divergence in state standards results in unfair competition for employers in states with high standards."

From:  The Child Labor Amendment  (National Child Labor Committee, [n.d.]).  In:  National Child Labor Committee Publications, 1907-1967.  #5242, Box 1, Folder: "National Committee on Child Labor, The Child Labor Amendment."

"Entirely aside from the humanitarian aspects of the problem, a return to child labor will have two deplorable results:  1) Children will compete with adults in the labor market, and, because they can be hired for cheaper wages, they will be given jobs that otherwise would go to adults. 2) The low wage paid children will force down wage rates of adults who must compete with them, thus decreasing the purchasing power of the wage-earning group."

From:  The Child Labor Amendment  (National Child Labor Committee, [n.d.]).  In:  National Child Labor Committee Publications, 1907-1967.  #5242, Box 1, Folder: "National Committee on Child Labor, The Child Labor Amendment."

Members of the Young Workers League protesting child labor. Photographer unknown. The Young Workers League was the publicly-recognized branch of the Young Communist League of America. Organized in 1922, members campaigned against child labor, organized young workers into trade unions and supported a variety of other political causes. [Source: International Ladies Garment Workers Union Photographs. Collection 5780 P N45 box 8 folder 1210]