Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-19
FURTHER REASONS FOR A LIBERAL
POLICY.

l. ne managing BOARD OF the Home Tor
Feeble-Minded Children are ladies and
gentlemen of philanthropic impulses.
They are above the suspicion of having
any selfish ends to conserve by reason of
their relation to the institution. Some of
them, being possessed of means, have
given great deal of money to the institu-
ton and have not paraded their benefac-
tions. These people, who are moved by
their sincere desire to help suffering
human beings and ameliorate the condi-
ton of an unfortunate class, know better
than any others what the absolute needs
of the Home are. They must be pre-
sumed to be asking only for such assistance
as is absolutely necessary. Yet we find
that their purpose has been misinterpreted
and the suspicion uttered that they are
asking for more than is needed, leaving
the implication that there is to be some
misuse of the alleged surplus.
Now the fact is that they are not asking
for enough. There are over 500 unfortu-
mates in the State whose claims for admis-
sion to the Home must in time be recog-
nized, and, as our population augments,
the number will increase The State
should build, therefore, not for the present,
but for the future. Wise economy dictates
such expenditure in the next two years as
will preclude the necessity for additions
and extensions for decade or more. The
sum asked for by the bill introduced will
not more than meet this requirement.
Moreover, it must be kept in view that
this institution is not to be wholly depend
ent. 1t is one into which industrial occu-
pations are already and will he largely
introduced, and the Home, if properly
equipped now, will certainly become, if
not wholly, very largely self-supporting.
The Home managers point out that at
is no longer question, Shall we put
these children to work, or are they Ca
pable of work ?" That is already settled
in the affirmative. The proper equip
ment of the institution for employment
Of the inmates of the Home is there
fore necessary. They must have work
shops and full compliments of
tools. The Superintendent points out
that in tailoring and dress and shoe-mak-
ing, and largely in wood work, the un-
fortunates with proper rooms and tools
can supply most of their own needs for
clothing and furniture, repairs, etc. They
can make brooms, brushes, mats, shoes,
mattresses, chairs, do sewing and wood
carving; pillow, dig, plant and reap, and
score of other things if they are given
competent instructors, room, tools and
well-directed effort. Because the idiotic
and Predetermined cannot direct their
own efforts to profitable and helpful ends
is the very reason they become the wards
of charity. But under training and di-
rection they can accomplish a great deal
of work, and their application to useful
duties in life be proportional to their
physical abilities. By such training they
come to understand the reason of things,
and their mis-shapen intellects gain bet
ter form, and more of strength and ca
pacity day by day, and this embraces
the very essence of the benevolence this
institution represents. Let the Legisla-
ture of California, in the light of the ex-
perience of Kansas, Connecticut, Ohio,
Kentucky, Massachusetts, Iowa, Illinois,
Indiana, and other States, not so limit
California's ability by narrow economy
as to cripple one of the most humane la
bors of its people or retard its full devel-
opment