New-York tribune., 1905-03-12
THE MOTHERS CONGRESS.
Mrs. Schof, the President, Speaks
on the Mormon Question.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.l

washington March 1.-THE National Congress Of
Mothers opened its session this morning with an
invocation pronounced by Mrs. Sarah d. La Fetra
Immediately afterward the officers and State presi-
dents of the congress presented their reports which
showed the organization TO be doing good work in
every direction.
The president Of the congress- Mrs. Frederic
scho OF Philadelphia, 81 her annual report cover
ing the last three years. plunged Directly INTO the
Mormon question. She said:
In June 1902 Mt the request OF members of the
salt Lake City. The situation there was difficult
and worked together in the Utah Congress Of Moth Moth
ers. which formed after the manlIesto py mnien
that the promises OF the Mormons to give up polyga
my and to obey the laws OF the state We're given
in good faith. had been willing to. associate and
work with them In @ 12 the 9enJie a sp pTao ol
tised and that old conditions were unchanged AT
the situation in Utah was seriously discussed. and
your president laid the facts before Senator Dubois
urging hts help checking the growth Of polygainy
affairs The election Of an apostle OF the Mormon
hierarchy was regarded as very serious, and they
tremhled for their homes and for their enllaTen, @
which tend 10 degrade womanhood and undern4lh,e MN,
ne purity eL the nome az az t5IS fosd . which en-
bodied in its constitution belief in homogeneous l
Congress in Utah. The Gentle women in Utah
gave your president many opportunities to what
the Mothers Congress In protecting thelF MONIES
and their children from conditions which had be-
be National Mothers
active part In securing investigation OF the Tlght OF
a Mormon apostle to q seat in the United States
ae Iled a ToVember sos With fu knowledge
Of the deporable conditions Affecting cRieh9od % ana ana
gress was compelled to lead the movement against
s sEeonTe KG board 8od 10 to issue
call to all womens organizations TO meet in WASH.
tngton on December c. 1903, TO take action against
the retention Of Reed smoot in the United States
tons Responded to this cali and determined unite
70 protect the home ana eo9httrg aea11lSI er a ~
condet the prosecntion and the diferent organiza-
tons rnited in assuming the expense Of this
Through the work Of the congress and the women's
and paid during the last year. The work of your
nsnSs on her time but if the Country is TO main
tain high and pure standards Of marriage. and il
hood are 70 be secured, the Mothers Congress can
not ignore conditions which degr2Ge womanh%ood %
end wifehood, and which give TO children false
ideas OF home and marriage.
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
The Mothers Congress has also taken active in
!erest in the effort to secure uniform and adequate
EST of everv State congress should be aroused to
cooperate with tbs interchurch movement to az
that underlying all laws governing this question IS
the instruction given to boys and girls the home
fathers and mothers. II they met it they should
ahdh n n6t Be e 6as Weh Is sd9es not 'h6 be
treated lightly and on which ,,S g9od wholesome
remedying the number Of marriages which are
easily. Your president would recommend that mar
rage should be Of the subjects for discussion
There are many cities in which there is no or
eanzafion has been hsmpsTed by lack Of means to
send officers into new territories Inc oieers @ & OF
respect Your president recommends that fund
3r % organZon %0TK 9e Iesa tS at b6a 6S ord is
ready for this matter Of wise work for children II
fet p1k p1 SO uraeticai SO vital in It's importance
"a extended
come from the congress will then be adequate Tor
Sushed M he Mahy as US to
TO them. and It is important that they should be
visited and work started this summer.
THE Club Woman" which was the official organ
Of the congress & for more than yesr Was GtS6en
done by your president until THE Club Wom-
out any officaI organ II seems to me that q bull
letn should be published which should be the
congress. There have been many demands from
have been supplied.
The growth Of the mothers clubs in connection
with the public schools has not been SO rapid as
we could wish in all States In it is the main
ads Gr me He to Know that the os frreaing re- chi re
suits secured through these parent associations
The interest Of educational organizations in the
practical work Of the congress in bringing about
the cooperation of home and school is steadily in
creasing. The president and secretary are con-
stanty receivng invitations to speak before teach.
lead &c many parents associations in the near
The Congress Of Mothers has been strong factor
IN extension Of the juvenile court and probation
system throughout the world Your president has
furnished reports of the probation work in Phila-
delphia for the Governor of New South Wales, for
Great Britain. Austria, and the international
Prison Commission. Explanatory literature con-
cernng the juvenile court and probation work has
been sent many States and the education of
public opinion to the value Of this system Of dealing
with unfortunate children has gone steadily
The President Of the United States has compiled
with request to give IL his Endorsement in his
message 10 Congress- and judge OF the Juvenile
Court Of Denver, has promised to take the chair
probation work in the National Congress of
Mothers. The value of this work Of the Mothers
Congress cannot be oYerestimated The thought of
mothers has been utterly lacking In legislative and
administrative matters concerning children, and in
telligent motherhood solve most of the diff
culties that confront the erring boys and girls
The child labor committee Of the National Con-
OF Mothers, under the charge of Mrs Flor
ence Kelley, has unified the movement, and is
curing uniform and suitable child labor laws
gresses have given active help IN this direction.
An exhibition of the literature of the Mothers
Congress made in the educational department
at st. Louis. The exhibition necessarily small
quiries 20 the work. and has extended the
knowledge Of It. The expenses for printing litera-
ture for postage and the convention consume the
income OF the congress, leaving nothing for the
extension Of the work
The International Congress for Child Protection
meets IN Belgium next September under the au-
spices OF the Belgian government. It is requested
that the Mothers Congress be represented there.
II Is the first international gathering in the in
terests OF children. II seems very important that
the congress should have a place the pro-
granme and this is expense which should be
met. The congress, as you know, has endow-
ment, yet II is doing work Of deepest value edu-