William H. O'Connell Quotes
The child labor amendment would commit this country forever to the Communist system of the nationalization of her children ... It would certainly impose involuntary servitude.
The Supreme Court had ruled that the Constitution prohibited the Federal Government from regulating conditions of child labor. A Constitutional amendment was passed by Congress and submitted to the States for ratification. That amendment is still the legal basis for all the Federal involvement in child labor. However there were many opponents. The idea of telling an employer that he could not work an 8 year old child for 14 hours a day was actually considered Communistic by some right wing elements. This quotation is famous for two reasons: First, it illustrates the extreme view against any kind of regulation of business that a strong minority held at the time. Second, this was a statement by a Roman Catholic Cardinal. The Catholic has generally been one of the progressive forces for labor reform (with the exception of racial discrimination and slavery) in the United States. Most modern Catholics are very surprised that a Cardinal actually issued such a Pastoral Letter—especially since he had been progressive on other issues {627510}.
William H. O'Connell, 1859–1944, Roman Catholic Cardinal, Pastoral Letter, October 1924
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Stalin did not want any political opposition with its own militia. American gun control opponents often cite this quotation to show that in Russia, Stalin achieved dictatorial power by disarming the population in general and only allowing government officials to have guns. They argue that even Stalin could not have tyrannized the entire Soviet Union if every citizen had the right to bear arms as provided for by the Second Amendment.
The NRA issued regulations making many forms of child labor illegal. Many opposed to the idea, saw it as an attack on the freedom of a parent to decide whether a child would or could work and under what considerations. A father could send his son to work in a dangerous coal mine 12 hours a day and boys grew up never seeing the sun shine. This point of view and “right” of the parent, actually prevailed and the Supreme Court declared the NRA unconstitutional. It took a Constitutional Amendment that passed with overwhelming popularity to allow the government to regulate sweatshops, coal mines and other conditions of child labor. Like most things conservatives opposed, the association of a program or reform with communism traditionally stirred opposition, even to something as benign as child labor regulation.
As a result of the programs and philosophy he expounded, Leontiev joyously predicted:
- Born: December 8, 1859
- Died: April 22, 1944
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Clergyman
O'Connell was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Boston with right of succession and Titular Archbishop of Constantina on February 21, 1906. As coadjutor, he served as the designated successor of Archbishop John Williams, who was then in declining health. He later succeeded Williams as the second Archbishop of Boston upon the latter's death on August 30, 1907.
