Labor Unrest in Scranton by Azzarelli Margo L. & Azzarelli Marnie

Author:Azzarelli, Margo L. & Azzarelli, Marnie [Azzarelli, Margo L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Inc.
Published: 2016-05-09T04:00:00+00:00

Famous lawyer Clarence Darrow defended the laboring class during the 1902 Anthracite Strike hearings. While in Scranton, Mr. Darrow took up occupancy at the Hotel Jermyn.

The following is a portion of Clarence Darrow’s closing arguments on behalf of the United Mine Workers before the Anthracite Coal Commission on February 13, 1903:

If the work of this commission does not result in getting rid of this abominably, disgraceful evil of child labor in Pennsylvania, then I think the people may well say that it has been a failure. You may not get rid of it at once, but no man ever lived that could make an excuse for it. I do not think any man ever lived that would not blush because of the money he gets from it. I was surprised that my friend Reynolds in his zeal should defend it, defend the taking of a boy 12 years old, and setting him down to labor in this everlasting cloud, for 10 hours, or any hours—for what? That you may get gold. That is all. Can any man frame an honest defense for it? Where are your sons and your daughters? Let me say this, that until you, Mr. Railroad President, or you Mr. Lawyer, will take your child by the hand and lead him up the breaker stairs and sit him down to pick at that trough of moving coal, until you will take your pale girl to the silk mills, let me speak for the children of the poor. Is there any one who can defend it? This custom has grown up in the State of Pennsylvania because there is money in it, and the industries of Pennsylvania are dependent upon it. Shame upon the industries of Pennsylvania if this is true! If it is so, of little avail have we protected this great State for half a century, if the result of all of it is that men shall grow rich from the labor of these small children.

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