Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/536

$22 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

It does not seem that the tendencies of the times as to the employment of women and children can be shown by a comparison of statistics which take no account of the increasing number of both women and children employed in department stores, and of children who earn a precarious living as bootblacks and peddlers of newspapers. Blacking boots seems as much a mechanical industry as painting houses. The painters have, however, been included as engaged in manufacturing and mechanical industries, while the bootblacks have not, and these statistics are quoted as proving "conclusively" that the very general impression as to the increased employment of women and children is erroneous.

In this contribution to the Chicago Record Colonel Wright further says:

It is perhaps true that a larger proportion of our people are employed in these industries than formerly but can this be conclusively proved by these statistics? Our census statistics seem also to show that a larger proportion of our people are employed in gainful pursuits than formerly. Is this also true, and if so, does it indicate harder conditions; that the head of the family is less able to alone support the family than formerly.

Colonel Wright again says: