The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-01-26


trated and symbolized in her work for
humanity, is going to be power for
the child that scarcely can be over
estimated.
There is Mrs. McLaurin, of the dis
tinguished Mississippi family, who is
one OF the most powerful and convinc-
ing speakers l have heard upon any
platform. Before the last Mississippi
legislature in remarkable address she
confounded the opponents OF child Ia
Dor laws and blunted every argument
of the opposition. And then there are
Miss Jean Jordan and Miss Kate Jor-
dan, of New Orleans. No amount of
misdirected chivalry will still their
voices against child labor and in ia
yor of Juvenile courts and detention
home schools In place of jails and
prisons.
In Oklahoma there is Miss Kate
Bernard, who was elected state COM
missioner of charities and correction
by a vote which exceeded by several
thousand that given the governor or
any other successful candidate upon
the winning ticket Miss Barnard, q:
her own expense, visited the juvenile
Louis, and she has outlined a unique
plan for taking to Guthrie this win
ter some OF the best known workers
and advocates in the United States in
the various departments of philanthro-
py She would have a course Of lee
lures delivered to the legislators and
others upon child labor, associated
charities, prison reform, almShouses,
insane asylums, juvenile courts, and
other matters within the field of her
department. Her proposal is as
unique as Oklahoma's brand new con-
stitution, which Mr.. Bryan declared
to be the most remarkable, service
able and able peoples document yet
devised.
Fight for Childhood.
1t is impossible in a brief report
to even refer to all of the women in
the south who are taking leading
parts in this fight for childhood. They
are doing what the women have al
ways done, taking up the burden OF
the child, determined to see that it
has fair play, square deal, and JUS
tice. Ask any politician down there,
especially among those who were re-
Gently run over in the fight against
the saloons, and they will tell you that
If the women have started out after
these laws, they are likely to come
just as suddenly and Unexpectedly as
the anti-saloon legislation came in
There is no longer any question that
the sentiment of the south is on the
right side in all OF these things.
Gentie Sob Taylor"
There is no intention to minimize
the work and sentiment among the
men OF the south in behalf of children.
Considering the difficulties and handi-
caps of that section, their interest and
activity have been keen. 1t was Gov
ernor Robert L. Taylor of Tennessee,
now United States senator, who
nearly twenty years ago, became pi-
oneer in the juvenile court moveme nt
by advocating reforms OF this kind.
He incurred severe criticism for his
prompt pardon to any boy under six
teen cnvicted of crime and sentenced
to the pnitentiary. 1t was not the gov
ernor's intention to encourage crime,
as some people said, but to empha-
size his contempt for such a method
OF Furnishing and degrading children
when the state had provided no means
for their protection. The effect has en-
phasized the necessity of more en-
lightened methods.
The writer recalls on a much earlier
trip through the south seeing fifteen
boys in one bull pen with adult
criminals. The boys had dog chains
to keep them from running away. |
told one Of them that if he could get
rid of those dog chains and had a
chance to run away. hoped he would
run. The state may become infinite
ly more criminal than the child in
failing to provide industrial schools
and wholesome environment for its
young citizens.
Vardaman in Forefront.
Governor Vardaman, of Mississippi,
journey with me from Vicksburg to
Jackson. He has pursued q policy up
on this entire question that in my
judgment is more advanced than that
of any other governor in this country
though it is little known and under
stood outside his own state. His mes
sages to the legislature upon prison
reform, embodying as they do an advo-
cacy of everything pertaining to the
juvenile court and probation system,
are equalled nowhere in all the liter
AZURE of the subject
Both candidates for governor of
Louisiana have publicly expressed
views similar to those of Governor
Vardaman-
Governor Haskell, of Oklahoma, ex-
pressed to me the kenest appreciation
of the entire subject. The system OF
courts in Oklahoma, especially In its
provision for a county court In each
county equipped with sufficient chan
Gerry and criminal jurisdiction to do
all the work Of the juvenile court both
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