New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-24
PROBLEM OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
A LARGE AUDIENCE HEARS 1T DISCUSSED
AT THE EVENING SESSION

There was larger audience in Association Hall
last evening than at any previous evening meet
inE Of this years conference The occasion was
general session az which the duty OF the State
TO dependent children discussed. W. r Stew
art. the president OF the conference. introduced
Mrs. Z. E williamson secretary OF the State
Charities Ala Association. OF New-Jersey, who
acted as the chairman OF the meeting.
IN an opening address on THE Street Arab"
Mrs. williamson said tina; the work OF those IN
terested in child saving had been a most notable
success at this conference There had been large
audiences all the meetings OF this section and
most important questions had been discussed The
boys o; the streets sometimes made the best
and noblest citizens
She Cthe speaker. had studied these boys during
the last few months and she had made up her
mind that they were only honest honorable
and Industrious. but also chivalrous. She had
studied them IN the streets. streetcars and parks
OF New-York and believed that there was no more
noble and generous work than 70 help them 10
become good others.
Mrs Williamson then gave number OF anec-
dotes OF boys whom she had met In New
York and other cities IN Illustration OF the opin-
ions she advocated.
MUNICIPAL INTERFERENCE
The Interference OF a Municipality IN Behalf o.
its Wards the little OF a paper read by
Ernest Bicknell. general superintendent o. the
Chicago Bureau Of Associated Charities. He said.
IN the course OF his remarks;
What century ago was considered as the IN
aiienable right o; every man - now recosnized IN
many cases. as being derOgatory 10 the iruesi IN
man TO liberty and happiness is now seen to be
advisable only when by obtaining that liberty and
OF others. OF al these questions that o. less.A-
ton on behalf OF children Is one O. ne mos IN
posed limiting those rights have Almost always
only passed after continual opposition but az
a wise and humane.
Where the greatest difficulty occurs IS IN hndins,
where the line should be drawn between interfef-
ence and non-interference u IL our OUT 80 70
ba sisri6-ior between what belongs 70 the duty
OF the Government and what is part OF the tuty
on the the .hoa5e o. the S overnmeni the duties nat
@ n5 i5 axes seq Sa, here IS e1 a to dg4
IN thus shifting the burden from those 10 whom
Thomas ~ Mulry. secretary o, the Superior coun-
ell OF the New-York Society OF 81 Vincent d. Pau.
was the next speaker In the course OF an able sd-
dress he said:
HOW FAR INTERFERENCE SHOULD GO.
How far State or municipality may interfere on
behalf OF its wards is OF the peculiar questions
which open so many fields % thought and inquiry
that the more We consider subject Jess likely
TO venture decided reply. On the one side
there the danger OF too much Interference and Of
drifting into sort OF pateTna.sm, and on the other
the possibility OF the state not taking sufficient IN
terest in It's wards protect and guard them prop
e!ly People have fairly gone crazy on these qles-
tons o., sociology. and many have evolved from
their consciousness theories mat they advo-
with the greatest vehemence-theories which. u
carried into practice would destroy the work Of
years and put back quarter OF a century In
the working OF the problems how best to care
Cor our dependent children.
believe mat when conditions allow, and under
proper direction. the children with 10 relations
should be adopted in families as scen as possible
that such children are placed IN homes OF Their own
religious faith But do not believe u vii De pos
Out system without grave danger q abuse. And
sure II Will be impossible to show as good resuIts
az IN well-uanaged institution In my experience q
twenty-sx years ! have seen some of the most DIS
sipated parents brought 70 their senses by naavnz
IL would De the refinement OF cruelty 10 refuse 20
return children 10 their parents after the latter
OF living and OF a desire and intention 10 do better
9 ean s eay woas b @a lost a to the Parent In not
having that inspira ton which the frequent sight u
p 9se cA more h %2ui q the nea
But this is no reason why we shoun STAND ld s ny
further need for them
MI Mulry closed by saying that In his opinion
the solution OF the great question OF the care OF de-
nendent children came under the scope OF the
churches than that OF the legislators He com
ulained that IN all the discussions OF the question
IN the Conference tho religious aspect had not been
touched upon and said that the best results had
been attained in Institutions where religion was the
groundwork OF the system.
After Mr.. Mulry's address general discussion OF
the subject was invited. In this discussion Messrs.
Uoagland and Sanborn took part.
Bolton Hall said that II was hard to tell where
the duty O. the State ended and Socialism began.
II they cared for dependent children. why not care
for dependent young women? lie said that he was
sorry that there had been no consideration In the
meetings OF the cultivation OF unoccuRled land py
,be rnenployed He thought that In that was the
true solution Of the problem. .
" lfossrs Wilson and Ietchworth also spoke. Mr..
c.,er II not possible 70 ef1dce crime,
but s. was possible 10 educate u OUT OF tAlsteHo
DR. Rosenau said that ne couq hoI aeit, WIN
aver,thing that Mr.. Mulry said. lie could not
mink that enormous institution on me c9nEree-
osfe plau was a proper place Tor the care or chill
S-.r They lost all opportunities for learning the
lessons OF home lie Tney did not even learn now
10 strike q match, because al me nfhtng III the
Institutions was done by the electric lighL -,
'', The discussion was closed by Homer Folks He
said that some OF the charities carried on oy me
slte Hore only nght respons biites. but the taking
If children from their parents carried WIN ~ an
enormous responsibility, ana IL was necessary 10 see
- II was carried through 20 proper conclusion
1Trv were now searching FOR tne system ihat wgula
ring the best results. MI folks added mar they
~ sHs n, rreseut i.Jw what they were doing. In
~, Vork they knew hardly anything OF what A.
,rward became OF the children cared for by the
philip c. Garrett moved resolutio1 that reply
ne sem az. de, OF the Conference thanking him for
on me s OF interest. and Offering him the
M ~ n, The Conference In his present difficult
~ ~ hoping that speedy lasting and hon
p-abic nesce might result. Inc resolution "hs clr
red uiahni' hose persons and Institutions which
nm, invited the members Of the conference TO IN
sPect sncr NJ shaner then opened discussion
Ut. - ic,re Of dcformed and crippled children
Or shaer. who Is me e eln,,d epsrm"nt Of Nv
pi1lkr I,nieersity gave history OF NE eslaDlsn-
rncnt Of insttut9ns for ppcdIcsI college ought 70
dren a'o o-tbooosAic laboratory attached TO IT,
N.Y. riaft OF Baltimore. ana others tooh part !"
the discussion >-
MAYOR NKTSSON HERE.