Suit filed against WGM for child labor

WORKING BOYS

Nine-Year-Old on "Graveyard"

Shift" Leads to Suit Against

Western Glass Works Co.

Agent Tuft of the state bureau of child protection has filed a complaint with the district attorney against the Western Glass Works Manufacturing company for employing child labor. The company has been employing a boy of 9 years. Ray­mond McAleer of 1518 West Alameda avenue. Agent Tuft found that the boy had been working nights, on "the grave­yard shift." from 5 p. m. until 2:30 a. m. His work was "sticking plugs," handling a pair of tongs with a coil of wire attached, and making glass insulators for telegraph poles. The lad carried a man's dinner bucket nearly as large as himself.

Mrs. McAleer says she does not want the boy to work, but he hangs around the glass works in Valverde, and they give him employment. His father, John Mc­Aleer, is in the state of Washington. He left several weeks ago, and the boy was at work before his departure.

Superintendent Pat Quinn stated to the officer that he supposed the boy was 14 years of age, but Agent Tuft replied that he knew better than that, is the little fel­low was scarcely more than an infant. The boy was at work when Mr. Tuft called. The officer states that there are other boys under 14 at work in the glass works, but that even the company does not know how many they have, as they have no system of record.

Papers will be made out by the district attorney against the Western Glass Man­ufacturing company as a corporation, and separate warrants for F. A. Ashley, presi­dent; J. R. Jones, vice president: Merritt W. Gano, general manager; J. H. Porter, secretary-treasurer, and Superintendent Pat Quinn. The action is brought under child labor law of 1887, section 413, which provides a penalty of from $5 to $50 fine for "taking, receiving, hiring and employing a child under 14 years."