"I would rather see children allowed to run in the streets than have them working in factories at a tender age. They would then be stronger physically and mentally, and I don't believe their morals would be injured as they are by confinement and toil in places where they see nothing of the better side of life."
Referring to night work among the children, Miss Addams said that this was jeopardizing the health, intelligence and welfare of future citizens of the State for a mere pittance. "In the [department] stores at Christmas time," said Miss Addams, "cash girls not only work all day, but far into the night -- mere school girls, with their hair hanging in braids. If the schools kept open even a single night in a year there would be a cry of protest from every part of the country."
Comments