The San Francisco call., 1904-10-03
Laws Relating to
Child Labor Are
Necessary.
BY LAURA BRIDE POWERS.

Should the California Club be sud-
denly hailed before st. Peter for an ac-
counting Of it's deeds-and dare l say
its misdeeds ?-the part it has played in
behalf of children would draw from the
astute guardian of the keys a benison.
For it was in the California Club that
the seeds of the juvenile court were
first sown, and that institution is prov
ing more effective in the saving of
erring or mismanaged children than all
the churches and Sabbath-schools in
the city. And this is no idle assertion,
but borne out by facts, many of which
are given publicity in a booklet COM
piled by DR.. Dorothea Moore, chairman
Of the California Club section of the
juvenile court commission.
Between May g. 1903, and June II,
1904, 1882 boy and girl offenders have
been under arrest. Under the old con-
diuons these erring children would have
been huddled into cells with adult Of
tenders marked by physical and moral
filth. Under the new law they were
placed apart and were visited by the
probation officers, who looked into the
conditions that led to their troubles
And it's not uninteresting to learn that
stepmothers stand at the head of the
list OF causes, with stepfathers a close
second. When the father is dead-phy-
sically or morally-and the mother the
Wage-earner, is another prolific cause
with drunkenness circling somewhere
about most cases.
Among the list of crimes charged to
these children are grand larceny, petty
larceny, battery, malicious mischief,
vagrancy, manslaughter drunkenness,
violation of s o'clock ordinance, build
ing fires in public places, burglary,
shooting craps. robbery, playing ball in
streets, truancy and obstructing street
cars.
Of these 1892 cases tried by Judge
Murasky-and blessings on him for his
humane carei-S43 were discharged Al
returned TO parents, 274 committed to
institutions and 122 placed on probation
the latter reporting to the Judge at
regular intervals and to the probation
officers, Miss Londa L. Stebbins and
William H. Hutton.
Now, this court for the salvation of
children needs the strict enforcement
Of the compulsory education law, with
its parental school and its detention
home as auXiliarjes.
1t needs stronger laws concerning
child labor, and the enforcement of
those now lying inert on the statute
books.
And. says DIR. Moore's booklet, "the
work stands in need of an enlightened
public opinion"
Men and women Of San Francisco,
are you willing to give this splendid
work your moral support? Men of
San Francisco, are you willing to sup
port measures at the polls for the
furtherance of this civic and Christian
duty?
At a decades end, the seeds sown in
the California Club three years ago
will bear golden fruit, and our city
will be cleaner, happier and infinitely
safer for you and me.
Those Claiming Auxiliary lectures
at the First Unitarian Church par
lorS by Mrs. Louise Benson promise
much TO the appreciated folk who Will
hear them-a privilege that every
able-bodied and able-minded woman
of leisure should accept-and forth
with.
The course comprises ten lectures.
and at a cost of 81 so, beginning
Wednesday morning at 1890 o'clock.
They will embrace live topics, with
which every intelligent member of
society should be on speaking terms
In the language of the announcement
they will embrace American and for
eign political changes, economic ques-
tions and social matters of moment
the proceedings of Congress, reports
on inventions and the discoveries of
science, reviews of notable books, run
ming comments of a literary character
and short selected readings, poems,
etc. 4 partial digest of some of these
affairs would give US something else
to talk about besides dress, diseases
and domestics.
Wednesday at 1920 a. m.-First
Unitarian parlors. The Forum Club.
Mrs. Frank F'redericks, president, host
or IS the hostess at a musicale
given by the Howe Club, last Wednes-
day afternoon. James Hamilton Howe,
one of the pioneer musicians of this
Western burg, both in technical
knowledge and experience, directed
the programme which proved to be a
source of joy.
Nine. Yda de Seminario sang Meyer
beers Prayer and barcarolle from
Star of the h'-dramatically clas-
sic, and well suited to Nine. Semina-
rios compass and quality. The follow
ing compositions were all Howe lyrics,
and were interpreted by the following
singers:
Give to the Winds Thy Fears"
Mrs. Marguerite BlaIsdell; He Is Thy
Lord" George r. Bird I'VE Bring No
Glittering Treasures" duet. Mrs. Blaisdell and
L. s. Roberts; Song of War" George r.
Bird; Serenade," Nine. Semnario; "A Night
Song Cviolin obligato). Mrs. Lillian Merrihew
Pearcc, assisted by Miss Isabel Seal
This closed the solo work and Nine.
SeminariO conluded the programme
with the "Stabat Mater" assisted by
chorus Of mixed voices. The Forum
Club, which holds high rank for intel
lectual activities, is as well a patron of
the artistry of life.
Tea brewed after the Forum formula
stimulated a busy chatter-your par
don, ladies-for a pleasant hour. On
Wednesday next Mrs. Charles GoodalI
will see that the ladies hear all about
the exposition-and undoubtedly the Sc
ductive, alluring Pike.
On Monday, October 10, the p. c. w.
Press Association-very much alive
after the terrific onslaughts of two
of its members and their legal
champion-will hold it's annual cleo
tion. And unless all signs fail the cleo
ton will call out the scribblers and
their friends in larger numbers than
for many years.
Then on Tuesday, at the California
Hotel, the annual breakfast will be held
Mrs. Abbie G. Krebs the toastnis-