Page:Upbuilders by Lincoln Steffens.djvu/234

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

regard for men and women and children — I was a menace to business.”

“I warn you right now,” he said to the Judge, “that if this thing keeps up, we will shut down the mill, and you will have to share the consequences.”

And Judge Lindsey replied: “We are here to protect the children and to enforce the Law, and all I regret is that the penalty isn’t imprison- ment instead of a fine, so that I could be sure of preventing you from employing young chil- dren.”

And the Judge persisted, and the mill was closed down. Other causes contributed, but Lindsey never shirked his share of the respon- sibility.”

What is more, Judge Lindsey had the child- labour law made stricter. He can put “money” in prison now if it hurts children. He had to fight business and politics and the police to do it, but he did it; he and the kids and the men and women of Denver.

We have seen that the Judge set out to correct the evils of child life under the laws as they stood. He had been making notes, however, of legislation he wanted, all the while he was walking and talking and trying cases. For example, the Juvenile Court ex