Klamath Union High School - El Rodeo Yearbook (Klamath Falls, OR)

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22 . KLAMATH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BOOMER. corruptness. School is out of the question, and there is no hope; nay, no ambition for escape into a purer environment. What good 'do our educational systems do them? If the saying, tithe boy is the father of the manfi is true, what manner of men can we hope for in the future from such factors. Girls who should be trained to become the home makers of our country are becoming stinted morally and physically in the struggle for mere existence. Their,s is the more pitiable lot, for they are the weaker members of this system. We hear the argument that there are laws preventing the very young children from working, and unjust conditions of labor being imposed upon them. So there are; but flagrantly broken and dis- regarded. Parents swear to untrue statements regarding the childis age, and the employer is only too glad to overlook this and take the child into his factory. ' The younger children are in greater demand, for they are the more easily imposed upon. In- human demands upon their time and strength meet with no re- , sistance, and they never riot or organize strikes. Easily intimi- dated, they never ask for concessions, but gratefully take their pittance at the end of the week. The death rate of these children is appalling. The work in many cases is most dangerous. The unnatural labor saps their vitality, and close confinement weakens their systems and makes them an easy prey of tuberculosis. Over twenty per cent give up the struggle before they reach the age of sixteen. Who can say but that hopelessness plays its part in the early taking off of these un- fortunates. What a criminal loss of human life that a few greedy millionaires might live in every luxury. - And what is to be the end? Bereft of the protection of parents who should prevent this outrage and who through necessity or mere criminal indifference allow their children to lead this exist- ence, and preyed upon by the heartless money seekers who devised this barbarous system, they are entirely helpless. Unless the public in general and the law-makers of this land 0f ours take the matter up and improve their condition, their case is hopeless in- deed. You parents Who have loved little ones of your own, compare.

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m, m: gird to mm: :- 75: mm: wire: c me rut; mm 3.; un! bahtzth 211': I12: i . r r vrgrisr 6mm. u. mm, m: adaym . a OH'KZW Tu m, 52.7. us; L151! T495 1337' n.- n 01:an n: '-'313?5 r' :9 1-74! F' x351? .. i J i9 f I! ..l'. - if, :50 :Ier 1,; w.f:l iM-h uh ' l '2': n :.!C :mi i. .f 9 . I'J oi . . ?Niff-m . II ,' 2ft 'w..'v KLAMATH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BOOMER. 23 their lives with that of these little down-trodden toilers and think what your feelings would be if fate unkindly placed them in a like position. Christis commaad to suffer the little ones to come unto him did not mean the more fortunate children, but all. If we are in any way our brothers keeper, when will there ever be a more pressing need for us to exert our influence than in this case. These children are mutely crying for help, while we in apathy allow this outrage to continue. Let us abolish this evil which is dragging our fair civilization down and blotting our hitherto fair escutcheon with a deep and deadly sin. Can we allow this to re- main and leave its degrading impress upon the future generations of America? We must not lower our high standard, and let us not hesitate to denounce this evil influence.