1. Sandy Cash
Mailbox 108
The testimonies help to show the reality of child labor during the revolution in energy and
industry. The testimonies also show the effect of women working in the coal mines, and factories.
At the end of the testimonies, the Ashley Commission lists their arguments against the regulation
of female and child labor in the mines.
The testimonies of the working conditions that are forces on the children who work are horrible.
In Elizabeth Bentley’s testimony, she talks about how she worked 16 hours a day, in the busy
season of the flax mill, which was half a year. The other half of the year, she worked 13 hours a
day. She goes on to say that, they had 45 minutes at noon for food for the whole day. Not only
did she work long days and had no time or appetite for food, but also she had to walk two miles
to get to work, and another two miles to get home each day. These were just some of the realities
of child labor.
According to Mr. George Armitage, the effect of female labor is that it is impossible for girls to
remain modest. This is because they hear bad language from the men, and they do not learn
things that women should learn in order to be a good wife.
To summarize the Ashley Commission argument against the regulation of female and child labor
in mines is the fact that it is not right to single just this kind of child and female labor. Lastly, if
the employer has to provide schools it would be impossible because there are so many classes.
The testimonies help people realize the reality of the horrible conditions the children had to
endure. It also shows what effect this had on women, for example, how it is impossible for them
to stay modest and to learn the things that a good wife should know. Lastly, at the end of the
Testimonies the Ashley Commission explains the arguments against the regulation of female and
child labor in the mines.