[wagglebee]

IIRC, it was the SPCA that first used animal cruelty laws to attack the child labor conditions in sweatshops back in the late 19th or early 20th century.

[T'wit]

IIRC, it was the ILGWU that was the force behind child labor laws. In fact, I believe they are still crowing about it, complimenting themselves for their deep humanity but not mentioning that they competed with child labor and got higher wages by destroying the children's right to work. Neither did they mention why children should not be free to work. We hear of all the abuses, but not the other side, namely, that some of those kids needed to work to support themselves or their families. When that freedom was taken away from them they were put in orphanages or foster homes or such, and subject to more abuse than ever. They were turned into wards of the state.