The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-09
Amos w. Buffers Address.

Amos W. Butler, in discussing Our City's
Outside Care of Neglected Children" said
in part:
II desire to call your attention to the
children who are in poor circumstances in
this State and are not cared for in the
State institutions. A man who is well
known in philanthropic work said TO me
the other cay that Indiana has made great
strides in charitable work. But want TO
call your particular attention to the sub
ject of prevention Of crime. That is the
keynote. We must care for the paupers,
epileptics, weak-minded, etc. The refOrma-
tory at Jeffersonville has taught us many
things. OF the inmates of that prison
10 per cent are unable to read or write.
50 per cent never went above the fourth
grade in common schools, and but 5 per cent
reached the high schools. There is but a
small per cent. that ever enjoyed parental
help. We get about twice as many in
mates from larger cities as from rural dis
tricts.
that has been recently brought about is
the curfew law. When'it was first enforced
there was a decrease of so per cent. in ar
rests Of children at the indianapolis police
station. The new chief of police says he
will enforce the law more strictly hereafter.
The next measure for prevention of crime
is the compulsory education law. In this
city and county there are six truant Of
ficers, five of whom are employed in the
city. They brought to the public schools
last year $500 children at a total cost, in
Guiding salaries, of s.. 500. We have no
means of telling how many others were in
duced to go to school because of the COM
pulsory law. That is a great step in the
prevention of crime, as children are kept in
school and not allowed to roam the streets.
1.-The child labor law is another great
preventive measure, and the labor commits
sioners have done good work in it's en-
forcement. Children are kept out of fac
tories and compelled to go 10 school. The
child-saving law is another measure that
helps in the prevention of crime. The State
qcSnmQS charge of all children who are
public charges and children who have been
placed in homes or under the care OF the
State. If they are not well treated an
other home is found for them.
Police Judge Stubs has done a great
thing by holding a children's court. He
has -inaugurated a plan of trying children
separately and away from the influence or
older men. The other day there was dis
charged from the county workhouse a boy
twelve years old. He was heard TO say on
the streets, while putting a cigarette and
talking with other boys on the corner, L
want to tell you that 1 am tough; L have
been in the workhouse.' Through the
agency Of the juvenile court we will stop
much of that. Children will be tried with
out publicity, and when possible they VIII
be placed under the care of some one who
will be interested in aiding them: If it is
keep them away from crime they will
then be sent to the Reform School: We
hope by the time the next Legislature
meets to know what we want in the way
of laws for the protection of children, and
will have them enacted. There is no cost
too great that we would not give to save
Governor Durbin showed his sympathy
for children, and when Mr.. Butler had con-
cluded he said:
eff you could spend a day or two in my
office and hear and read the plans of moth
ers for their children you would under
stand that child-saving is not a thing for
a few people, but for the masses. There
is now confined in the State Reformatory
a boy thirteen years old who was sentenced
for life Imprisonment for numbering an
other boy. Probably if the influences
keep him out Of crime he would now be a
free boy"
THE CLOSING ADDRESS.
The closing address was delivered by
the Rev. II. w. Kellogg, pastor of Central
avenue Methodist Church, on 1.-THE States
Outdoor Care of Dependent and Neglected
Children He said in part:
MY sympathy is with organized char
ity, scientific charity. | am in sympathy
in giving charity to children. There is no
question OF economics in this movement.
We know that Christianity is hand in hand
with charity. If we were living hundreds
of years in the past we would let children
take their course, but now we are living in
a different age and we will care for the
children. The little child we see playing
in the street may develop into a man who
may write great wisdom or philosophy. or
become a poet. You had better take off
your hat to every boy, no matter how
ragged, for some time he may be greater
than you. 1t Is the dependent child that
appeals to us tonight. There is no place
fit for a boy except the country. He needs
the whole country for his activity. When
1 see a little fellow shut up in a city lot it
reminds me of an eagle Gagged. Let the
boys out in the country where they can
breathe the fresh air and roam over the
fields.
IF we could take boys out of institutions
and place them in good homes in the coun-
try it would be the best thing for economy
and the future of the child. Many old
couples living on farms would be only too
glad TO welcome into their homes a bright
boy to comfort them and help them in their
older age. But boys should not be taken
away from their homes unless it is abso-
lutely necessary. 1t would be much better
to help the parents than to separate the
family. No home ought to be dissolved for
lack of means, for there is no love like a
mothers love. Better have a mother if
she is a poor mother than no mother at all.
When we reach the golden age the home
will be kept intact and there will be no
separation of children L would like to see
homes in the country open to dependent
children, for they would be made happy
The audience sang America" and the
benediction was pronounced by the Rev.
NJ. l.. HaineS.