New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-06
CONGRESS FOR BOYS.
SoCIoLoGISTS DISCUSS THE CHILD
WORKER AND HIS CHANCE IN LIFE.

That men are discussing how 70 run boys clubs,
and leaving to women the task OF securing all
legislation for the protection of child workers
the gst Of Mrs. Florence kelley's remarks at the
Congress for Boys"
The congress opened in the Charities Building last
evening with q paper by the president the Rev.
William Byron Forbush. on The Art Of Being a
Godfather" Mrs. Kelley's remarks occurred during
the discussion, which turned the sort of
ton best for boys employed at different occupa-
during the day. She said that II seemed tina
only the mothers working to eliminate the
working boy entirely; 20 transform him again. by
means Of child labor legislation, into schooboy.
which he should always have remained.
The General Federation of Women's Clubs has
made this its special task she said the Mothers
Congress is following suit. on the settlement
workers committee on child labor conditions We
have vainly endeavored TO secure a majority OF
men This legislative work is something for which
women are not fitted by training or circumstances
and it would seem more natural that it should be
assumed by men
Her remarks were greeted with laughter. the
more because Dr. Forbush had said in the course
If his paper that he commonly found the home OF
The sentimentanst 10 be the womans club.
The hope for humanity's future is in the era
de - said Dr. Forbush. "a godfather is any per-
son who tries 10 assist and supplement parents In
nurture Of children One class OF gooIathers
Re those who are such because OF the falling OF
the home like officers OF orphan asylums and
charitable institutions Another class ike school
teachers and settlement workers. supplement the
home. There should be third class. composed
ot students, who should make II their business to
acquire exact knowledge
Speaking OF the physical basis Of all things. he
rernarked that e man might be power IN Wall
street: his home street might tip up when he
walked down il; he might be a capitalist or a
plilanthropst; but II he could not look over his
breast button or walk without painting TO boy
he would be nothing but an old pod" One effort
~ ali workers among boys he thought should be
toward the manipulating OF boys work Schools
and libraries have extended their functions enor-
rnously Schools OFFER both gymnasium and social
privileges and some OFFER their buildings for boys
clubs in the evening. Libraries now cater to chill
ren providing special rooms. attendants and story
telling hours. In some cities Librarians 90 out into
the homes and organize groups Of juvenile readers
Workers for boys should further al such extension
It has been remarked" he continued. that the
science OF child study has noateo more RAGS thaIl
any other intellectual movement since the days OF
dist nds battening ground in work for boys Rusin
aid that true philanthropy must oegln WIN ne
any effort with boys that does not so begin Is apt
.nKholesorne and unclean faddist whom have met
IS the man OF woman who fancies himself or herself
would seem as If the movement were too new 70 be
Ep21ee 9y qu4G c5L ana sdr en3ng little fellow
IN rags OF oversIis. has contributed 10 the enrich
There some elementary schools that GO not
aola boys because they DO not aaapL sesed IN
perguading boys that they bringing education
close 70 life The placing Of manual training ~
schools has in many cases been the work OF boys
cluhs"
Dr. Forbush dwelt on the educational features
which have been probably introduced In boys
clubs and spoke interestingly OF that curious form
u social organization known as the gang. Inc
leader OF this gang. he SAID had an Immense IN
huence on his followers.
The King OF Boyville may be an embryo Shaftes-
bury or an embryo Jesse James" The weakness
of most work for boys Is in it's externalizins We
don't recognize sufficiently the importance OF tax
ing boys seriously" -. q,
the president had another paper the sodnotner-
She IS embraced by the godfather" renieo MI
Forbush soiernnly and the audience smiled. 49,,
We'll" SAID Mr Case. with conviction, the
thing think we need IN this country is somebody
teach parents how treat their boys with COM
mon oecency I've had women bring a twelve-year-
old boz TO me and say i want you 70 see what
YOU can DO with this boy He's got the upper
hand OF ne and I can't do anything with him
She's let the animal grow IN him for twelve years
ano then she wants the minister 10 chase II out
And i've started talking with the boy. and begun
10 gain his confidence and she'd cut in; Now,
that Amt So You're lying 20 him. Don't you be
heve word he SAYS And 20 do anything with
him I've had TO take her out and say: Now you
hold your peace. else 90 home' you're the worst
enemy that boy has got -, -,
Some one else followed with severe remarks
about parenfs and then some one else said he
didn't IKE 20 contemplate the elimination OF the
parent entirely as he parent himself where
- every smiled again.