Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-11
MOTHER The SUPREME
ASSET OF The NATION
President Roosevelt Delivers Char.
aGtGrIst|s Address to The
Mothers Congress-
IMMENSE VALUE OF GlOD MOTHER
The Woman Who shirks Her Duty as
wife and as !, Mother is TO be Alb
horred, Declares the President =
True Love is the Basis for Happy
Family Life.
tBy Associated PressJ


WASHINGTON. d. C.. March 10 -
The White House was the scene of
he formal opening OF the International
congress for the welfare OF the child,
which is being held under the aus
pieces Of the National Mothers Con-
Erehs.
The 200 delegates, representing all
+ Inc states and territories, and n dozen
or more of the lading countries OF the
world. Wee received at the White
House at 2;30 O'Clock this afternoon,
when President Roosevelt delivered
an address TO them in which he de-
cared that he placed the society
ahead of the civil war veterans. be-
cause. he said. in the final analysis 1t
Is Tho mother only who Is better
citizen than the soldier who fights
fer his country.
The successful mother. the mother
who does her part in rearing and
training Alright the boys and the girls
VINO are to be the men and the wo-
men OF The next generation, Is of great :
or use TO the community and occu-
pies, II She only would realize 1t. a
more honorable. as we'll as more
important position, than any success
ful person in it.
Nothing in this life that Is really
worth having comes save at the cost
OF effort No life of self Indulgence,
al mere vapid pleasure, can possibly
even IN the one point of pleasure IT.
SELF, Yield so ample reward as comes
To the mother at the cost OF self de-
NAL. OF effort, OF suffering childbirth.
and OF the long. slow. patience trying
work Of bringing up the children
Alright No scheme of education. no
social attitude. can be right unless IL
is based fundamentally upon the rec
osnition of seeing that the girl is
trained to understand the supreme
dignity. the supreme usefulness, OF
motherhood
Must Have Good Mothers.
Unless the average woman is a
good wife and good mother. unless
she bears a sufficient number of chill
cren so that the race shall increase.
and not decrease, unless she brings
up these children sound In soul. and
mind, and body. unless this Is true OF
the average woman. no brilliancy OF
genius. no material prosperity. no fri
umphs OF science and Industry. win
avail TO save the race from ruin and
death. The mother is the one supreme
asset of national life. she IS moro i'm
portant by far than the successful
statesman. or business man. or artist
or scientist
i abhor and condemn TIE man who
is brutal. thoughtless. careless sell
iish' with women. and especially with
the women of his own household. The
birth pnngs make all men the debtors
OF all women. abhor<nd condemn
tho man who fails 10 recognize all his
oDlisasions 10 the woman who does
her duty. But the woman who shirks
her duty as wife and mother is lust
ms heartily TO be condemned. We de-
sp!sc her as we despse and condemn
the soldier who il;nches In battle.
because We so admire the good
woman. the unseliish woman. the far
sighted woman we have scant ac-
anaintancc with her mwolthy sister
who fears to do her duty. exactly as
for the very reason that we rcspec:
man who does his duty honestly
and fairly.
"All honor to the man or woman
who does his or her duty. ana We can
only honor him or hcr IL the weight
of our condemnation is felt by those
who finch from their duty.
Il want to ask your assistance for
two or three matters that are not i'm
medlateiv connected with the life of
the family itself, but that are of vital
consequence to the children In the
first place. in the schools; see that
the school wo.k is made as practical
as possible. For the boys want to
see training provided that shall train
them toward and not away from
their life work. that will train them
toward farm or shop not away from
IT. With the girl see that it not made
matte OF mirth that the girl who
goes TO college comes out unprepared