Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-10
BETTER HOME LIFE.
Reform Urged by the President
In American Families.
PRESENT STATE NOT IDEAL


His Family Club Idea Explained by
Secretary Loeb.
President Roosevelt, In khaki attire,
attended the garden party given on the
grounds of John Weekes, Jr., at Oyster
Bay, n. Y, the other afternoon for the
benefit of the Nassau hospital and dur
ing his stay remarked to a number of
men, women and children who had
congregated around him that he de-
plored the conditions existing in Amer
lean family life.
He had visited and enjoyed many
exhibits on the grounds and was then
escorted to a Swedish and Norwegian
weaving booth, decorated with red,
white and blue. He regarded the
weaved goods displayed there with in
tent
'Is. this still done in Sweden?" he
asked.
When told it was he remarked:
81 hope the Swedes who come here
to live will keep their work up. want
to see all the good customs of the old
countries transpanted and thriving
here. l want the Germans who come
here to keep up their clubs and soci-
cites, where the fathers, mothers and
children visit together. l have worked
to bring about a general observance of
such a system. 1t has been hard work,
however, but | still have hopes.
Here IN America" he went on.
raising his voice so all who had
grouped about the booth could hear,
our husbands and wives live too far
apart.
IF a man joins Il club or organi2u-
tlon his wife will have nothing to do
with 1t. If Il wife belongs to a society
nothing apparently will induce her
husband to have anything to do with
it. We must have better family life
here in America and learn lessons from
Sweden, Norway and Germany. These
countries give us some of our best cit
liens.
Look at prosperous Minnesota,
where men of Swedish and Norwegian
parentage are rival candidates for gov
we have more of It,"
When President Roosevelt was inter
viewed the next day he declined to
state directly what ideal club and
home conditions he is working for in
America as announced in his informal
talk at Mrs. John Weekes' garden
party.
Late in the evening, however, Secre-
tary Loeb stated that he had become
fully conversant with the presidents
wishes along the social line and be
lieved that it was one of the most
important pieces of work undertaken
by Mr.. Roosevelt.
BY stating that he had been working
for a social condition in which entire
families would belong to the same
clubs the presideot is said to have
meant that he had constantly advo
Gated such a condition and had shown
marked consideration to organizations
made up OF entire families.
The president believes that the grow
Ing divorce record and the constantly /
increasing extravaganza in America |
are due 10 growing Indifference to |
home life. He believes that men and |
their wives are being educated to have |
absolutely diverse lines of entertain. |
ment and that the condition can hc |
rcmedied 10y providing a society sys-
tom that will arrange better for their |
mutual interests.
'The splendid social systems in Ger |
many. for instance. or in Denmark or
Sweden, or the societies among the |
Jewish people" said Mr. Loeb. "are |
what the president hopes to see estah- |
lished here. He wishes to see It made /
popular for entire families to take
their evening entertainment together.
to see places provided where they can
meet other families amid enjoyable
surroundings.
''The president has worked hard |
along this line. He never has hesitatcd |
to go out of his way to address socie- |
ties made up of men and women both /
and help them plan to extend their
work. Often he has given such socie-
ties preference over much larger organ
lzations composed simply of men.
His present plans for farmers
commission has this point chiefly in
view. BY providing agreeable meet
ing places for the families in farming
districts, the president believes, the
boys and girls will grow up TO love
country life and not be so constantly
drawn to the cities"
The president. 1t was explained. be,
lieves that the farmers families of the
country should combine, much as they
have combined in Denmark, and pro
vide themselves with many benefits in
a social way never before thought of
What would be true of the farming
districts, the president believes. would
be true in the cities. He believes that
the majority Of men and women would
prefer to have their entertainment in
company If the proper system of so
cieties and clubs be arranged.
In the presidents next message TO
congress IT is intimated that he will
have a unique idea to advance along
this line.
Collecting Eskimo Data