PREVENTION.
Governor Vessey of South Dakota took “Prevention” for his theme, dealing with the topics of child labor, contact with hardened criminals, lack of practical education in the schools, and bad environment at home, principally brought about by the curse of alcoholic drink.
“Child labor,” he said, “is a traffic in human souls, backed, supported and sustained by an unjust greed for gold, and though financially it may be profitable to the employer, it is nevertheless a shameful sale of humanity for money, and that such a cruel condition, with all its concomitant evils, should be tolerated in this progressive age and in this fair land, exceeds my understanding.
“But we are awaking from our dream of false commercialism and the institution of child labor must pass.”