The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-10
SECRET Of Child Saving
Edmund l.. Starr Addresses People in
Albright Library.
NTH STATE LAWS AND POWER
In Ontario. Canada, the Child Is the
states Subject in Law. Truth and FACT.
Soeiety's Officers Given Police
Power and Authority.

The members of the Associated |
Charities and large number of women |
prominent in city charitable work were |
addressed yesterday afternoon In the |
Albright library hall by Edmund l.. |
Starr, of Toronto, Can. Mr.. Starr is |
the general agent Of the Children's Aid |
society of that city and during his re-
marks rehearsed the work Of the or
ganization, explained its police power
under act of parliament and enlight-
ened the audience particularly on
Child Saving" which was the topic
of his address.
Mr.. Starr is in the city as a lecturer
for the Epworth league convention,
which for two days has been in session
on the West Side. He has made n
noble record in child saving work and
In his address placed the purpose and
methods of the Children's Aid society
OF Canada In new and interesting
light lie said;
Following the effort to establish our
society in Ontario, parliament appoint
I'd Prison Reform commission to in
quirc into the proper care of criminals
and investigate the best methods ofpre-
venting crime. This commission made
exhaustive research and their report
was received and fled This reference
simply illustrates the beginning of our
work and the death which often follows
red tape charity. Sentimentalism
charity is false. charity; 1t does Il little
good and a great deal OF evil; 1t brings
about no permanent good.
Prevents Older Criminality.
The whole matter of child saving
rests upon the proved condition that
children properly reared and nurtured
prevent crlmnality among older per-
sons. il follows then that the state
should be mother To the child In law.
fact and truth. The child Is the sub
ject Of the state, in fact; it is the sub
Ject Of the state before birth, Vet II Is
the common practice Of the authorities
10 neglect the young until 1t has de-
veloped viciousness or crime. The So
ciety represent Is really the parent Of
the child In truth under the laws Of the
state.
THE act Of parliament under which
the society operates gives us the right
10 assume control OF the young when
ever its surroundings or life warrant
the action; police power is given us.
These principles should not make 1t ap-
pear that ours Is a prosecuting society.
1t Is In all its intents and methods a
society 10 care for neglected children
under IA years Of age. The act clearly
describes q neglected child as one who
begs, steals. sleeps in the open air. wan.
ders. has no abode, has evil associates
or vicious parents. is idle or dissolute
or keeps bad company; it also specifies
that child is deserted whose parent
Is imprisoned Tor crime"
Does Not Encourage Evil.
The various classes Of neglected
children ana cases for illustration were
described by Mr.. Starr. who dwelt par
ticularly upon the society's endeavor to
teach parents that they must take
proper care of the child. He called at
tention to the fact that instead OF being
confined In Institutions. children are
sent to well ordered households and in
many cases Christian homes. 1t tends
~ ueGISaSt lHt LlllllbtI VI HllluleS VI
charitable homes and does not put
premium on the sin OF the parents, be-
cause. II not prosecuted, they are EN-
couraged to provide proper home for
their children, who are returned when
circumstances warrant
Wherever the society is organized in
cities over 10000 population shelter
or temporary home Is provided until
cases are Investigated or a home is
found for the child. Wherever the So
ciety sees fit to establish u branch the
law gives it the right to do so irrespec-
tive OF the wishes of town or city
councils, who are obliged to furnish the
shelter" Rather than being expen-
sive. the system is cheap and relieves
public institutions of inmates.
Mr.. Starr concluded by adapting the
old saw, Take care of the pence and
the pounds will take care of them
selves" To take care of the children
and the nation will take care of itself"
Win Scranton Organize.
In the discussion which followed and
IA which Colonel II. NJ. Boies, Rev.
Rogers Israel Mr.. Starr and others
participated, 1t appeared that Pennsyl-
cania has n law granting police power
TO properly organize childfen's aid So
cleties.
Mr.. Israel as secretary of the Asso-
ciated charities, stated that the work
of child saving had become woefully
necessary, but Is beyond the power of
the association. All the founding and
children's homes throughout the city
are crowded.
The National Child Saving society
was referred to by Colonel Boies as an
organization whose purpose is to find
homes for the children of other So
cieties. and which could be secured as
an agent If a Childrens Aid society ex-
listed IN Scranton. 1t also was stated
that instead of the expense of building
II Shelter" the Catholic and Protestant
institutions OF the city could probabl,
be used for such temporary purpose
and the number of their regular in.
mates decreased as rapidly as proper
homes are found for children indlvid
ually.
The discussion did not assume trent
directly toward organizing pollce-em
powered Children's Aid society undel
state laws In this city. Nevertheless
those who heard the lecture are peopl,
charitably inclined. and If the move
ment continues they will be better quail
iiied TO carry It to a successful issue.