Copyrighted, 1909, By the AMERICAN ACADEMY OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE. All rights reserved. The papers in this volume are reprinted from the March, 1909, Supple- Samuel McCume Lindsay CHILD LABOR IN THE OHIO VALLEY STATES.. PRACTICAL RESTRICTIONS ON CHILD LABOR IN TEXTILE INDUSTRIES; HIGHER EDUCATIONAL AND PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS. Howell Cheney HANDICAPS IN LATER YEARS FROM CHILD LABOR....William E. Harmon ACCIDENTS TO WORKING CHILDREN.. UNIFORM SYSTEMS OF CHILD LABOR STATISTICS. THE PRESENT SITUATION IN ILLINOIS... 95893 REPORTS FROM STATE AND LOCAL COMMITTEES, Continued: MARYLAND CHILD LABOR COMMITTEE, Joseph C. Judge, Secretary.... 182 MICHIGAN CHILD LABOR COMMITTEE, Frank T. Carlton, Secretary.. 183 INTER-CHURCH CHILD LABOR COMMITTEE, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., Mrs. H. Gaylord Holt, Chairman..... CHILDREN'S PROTECTIVE ALLIANCE OF MISSOURI, A. O. Lovejoy, NEBRASKA CHILD LABOR COMMITTEE, John J. Ryder, Secretary.. NEW YORK CHILD LABOR COMMITTEE, George A. Hall, Secretary... WISCONSIN CHILD LABOR COMMITTEE, Edward W. Frost, Chairman.. 199 REPORTS FROM SOUTHERN STATES, A. J. McKelway, Secretary for the NATIONAL CHILD LABOR COMMITTEE, Fourth Annual Report of the Gen- eral Secretary and Treasurer.. PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON CHILD LABOR: Program and Proceedings, and brief addresses by A. C. Bart- lett, Edward W. Frost, Mrs. H. M. Van Der Vaart, Mrs. Florence Kelley, George A. Hall, Samuel McCune Lindsay, Dr. Frank Billings, Dr. Henry Baird Favill, Charles W. McGinnis, Miss Helen M. Todd, Julius F. Wengierski, Mrs. E. J. Bissell, Dr. John A. Ryan, John J. Ryder, James R. CHILDREN ENGAGED IN STREET TRADES, Proceedings of Section Meeting CONSERVING CHILDHOOD BY ANDREW S. DRAPER, LL. B., LL. D. Commissioner of Education of the State of New York, Albany, N. Y. It is yet to be proved that a wide-open democracy like ours can do some of the things which a well-ordered political society needs to have done, as well as more centralized forms of government do them with apparent ease. Indeed, it is yet to appear that we can make good the fundamental principle of our political creed and assure equality of right and opportunity to every one. Of course, there are compensations for the fact, but it is a fact. The door of opportunity opens wider here than in any other nation in the world. The passion of the United States is that every one shall have his chance. We provide primary, secondary and higher instruction practically free of cost to all. The teaching is efficient and the equipment is ample, often sumptuous. The spirit that supports it all is delightful. The school budget is the one tax of which no good American has the hardihood to complain. The road to and through and between the schools is a broad highway. It has no breaks and no very heavy grades. No sect, no party, no social set, no commercial interest, is allowed to obstruct it. So much is settled and everywhere accepted. It is more than settled and accepted. Wealth, society, business, religion and political sagacity find their security and their pleasure in continually enlarging and strengthening the educational ideal. The road to accomplishment and to fame is as open and as free as that to the schools. Education is not only the universal American passion, but hope, cheer, courage are the words which the most beautiful and brilliant flag in the world whispers in the ears of all, native born or adopted, who live where it casts its shadow. A national temperament which is being warmed by the intermingling of the blood, the experiences and the ideals of all the peoples of the world; which has been ennobled by the constantly enlarging opportunities and continually increasing influence of women; which has been incited by innumerable individual successes, and which has been made very confident, if not very vain, by the always |