The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-11
CITY NEWS
WANT new LAWS
FOR LITTLE FOLKS
Legislation in Behalf of Neg
lected and Truant Children
Discussed.

"The next Legislatures" that Amer
lean Brahma that's always going to
bring the perfect lift, and always
doesn't, was freely called upon last
night at the fifty-second parlor con-
ference of the Associated Charities.
The conference was held at the house
Of w. E. Howard, 255 Summit avenue.
Rev. Ambrose McNulty, pastor of st.
Luke's Catholic church, presided. Upon
the general subject, "Children"
children naughty or unhappy-speak-
ers agreed that new laws and more
laws would make the little folks both
good and happy.
Of Neglected Children" Rev. E. P.
Savage, of the ChiIdren's Home soci-
ETY., described various examples. One
was the twelve-year-o1 son of a
wealthy st. Paul woman. After he
had stayed four nights at the Bethel
hotel, the woman sent her coachman
to the hotel to ask whether they had
seen her little Charles; she had missed
him the night before. The other was
the son Of dissolute woman who
would not let him leave her. The first
woman regained, the second, lost her
child.
More effective Legislation was desir-
ed by Mr.. Savage. He feared, how
ever, that such laws would be opposed
by chose who champion the rights
and liberties of the people. There are
judges who seem to look at these cases
wholly from the standpoint of the
rights of parent, rather than those
of the child and Of society" even when
the child is living under 'fearfully de-
moralizing influences ,,ga.- ts
Must Care for 200 Children
George N. Gerlach, a director of st.
Joseph,s Catholic Orphan asylum, said
that 200 children, Temporarily home
less" must be cared for every year in
st. Paul during terms ranging from
several days to several months. The
temporary home, a distinct need, was
supplied at present by the orphan
asylums, which could use funds to a
considerable amount each year for that
special purpose.
Probation Officer A. L. Graves had
written a paper upon Delinquent Chill
dren" that was read by his daughter,
Miss Graves. Mr.. Graves suggested
that the legislature should authorize
the establishment of detention homes"
for children that were going wrong. The
homes should not be prisons, but sim
ply milder forms of the Red Wing state
training school.
The number of delinquent children,
commonly known as "bad boys" and
girls not altogether mice" was in
creased Mr.. Graves thought. by the
failure of school authorities to enforce
the truancy laws. Although some "em-
inent lawyer" had found the usual 'fa-
tai defect" in these laws, the matter
had never been pressed to a legal deci-
sion.
working Children according to E.
c.. Ives, of the Trades and Labor as
sembly, were very few in Minnesota,
compared with the number of adult
workers. Here the labor unions were
glad to assist the authorities in the
enforcement of laws compelling edu-
cation and forbidding child labor. Some
advantageous changes. nevertheless,
might be effected in the present laws.
Many Truants in Minneapolis.
The number of "truant children said
j. D. Bond, assistant superintendent of
the city schools, was $50 in Minneapolis
since the beginning of the school year;
in st. Paul they were less than half as
many. Lack of home discipline was
the chief cause of truancy; cigarettes,
the attractions Of the streets and the
desire of children to earn few dol
lars-a desire needlessly encouraged
by certain parents-were minor causes
of boys playing hockey"
New laws, Mr.. Bond added, should
be passed in accordance with recon-
mendations from the Minnesota Edu-
cational association. All truant Off
GERS, the association would probably
suggest, should be appointed by the
state.
The moment for general discussion
now arriving, d. r. Wellington, secre-
tary of the Child Saving association,
protested emphatically against state