Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-24


the utmost care shall be taken to exclude
all undesirable parties: that every precau-
ton shall be taken I'm the subsequent SUI
pervision of the children to prevent ne
elect, overwork. insufficient education or
inadequate moral and religious training
and that institutions shall be so carried
on as to secure the best physical. mental,
moral and religious training of each IN
dividual child. and to fit it for active and
creditable citizenship.
Problem is Acute.
1.-THE problem of the dependent child
is acute; it is large; it is national. We
believe that it is worthy of national con-
sideration. We earnestly hope, therefore,
that you will cooperate in an effort to
get this problem before the American
people.
eff a conference could be arranged.
under your auspices, in Washington some
time in January. to which leaders OF this
particular phase of child-caring work
could be invited. it would. i'm our judg-
dependent child. Such conference could
formulate plan for your consideration.
pointing out ways whereby you could
specifically help by recommending to con-
gress certain legislation and In other
ways
Hoping for your favorable consdera-
ton of this matter. We are,
Every respectfully,
HOMER FOLKS,
Secretary New York State Charities Aid
t'HAST1Ns H. HART.
Superintendent Illinois Children's Home
and Aid Society.
JOHN NJ GLENN.
Secretary and director Russell Sage
THOMAS NJ. MULRY.
President St Vincent de Paul Society of
the United States.
EDWARD 7. DEVINE,
Editor Charities and the Commons. gen
eral secretary Charity Organizing
Society, professor of social economy,
Columbia University.
JULIAN w. MACK.
Judge circuit court of Chicago. H.; ex-
president National Conference of
Jewish Charities.
CHARLES w BIRTWELL,
Secretary Boston Children's Aid Society.
THEODORE DRESSER.
''Editor of the Delineator.
JAMES f. WEST,
"Sec'y National Child-rescue League.
Propositions which the President will
lay before the conference for cOnSidera-
ton are the following:
Topics for Consideration.
Should there be established in one of the
federal departments national children
bureau. one of whose objects shall be the
collection and dissemination of accurate
in regard to chiid-caring work
and in regard to the needs of children
throughout the United States?
Should the state inspect the work of
all child-caring agencies, including both
institutions and hOme-f1nding societies?
Should the approval of the state board
of charities Tor other body exercising
similar powers) be necessary to the in
corporation of all child-caring agencies,
and to an amendment of the charter of an
existing benevolent corporation, if it is to
include child-caring work; and should the
care of children by other than incOrpor
ated agencies be forbidden?
Should Children of parents of worthy
character, but suffering from temporary
misfortune. and the children of widows OF
worthy character and reasonable eff
cheney, be kept with their paretns-aid be-
ing given to the parents to enable them to
maintain suitable homes for the rearing
of the children? Should the breaking OF
a home be permitted for reasons of pow
erty or only for reasons of inefhciency or
Should children normal in mind and
body. and not requiring special training.
who must be removed from their own
homes be cared for in families. wherever
practicable, rather than In institutions?
Mention of Cottage Plan.
So far as an institution may be neces-
sary, should they be conducted on the
cottage plan. and should the cottage unit
exceed twenty-five children?
Should the state educational authorities
exercise supervision over the educational
work of orphan asylums and kindred in
Should child-caring agencies aim to CO.
operate with each other and with other
agencies for social betterment for the
purpose of diminishing or removing alto
gether the causes of orphanage, of child
restitution and child delinquency
Would it be helpful and desirable II
some permanent committee Or organlza-
ton comparable to the National Associa-
ton for the Study and Prevention of Tu-
berculosis. the National Child Labor Com
mittee etc. could be established for the
purpose of carrying on an active propa-
ganda with view Of securing better laws
in relation to children, better organiza-
tons OF child-caring agencies, better
methods of relief and aid to any children
the United States?
Local Residents to Be Invited.
District people who will be invited to
attend the conference are the following:
Ernest P. Bicknell, president conference
charities and correction, 1909; secretary
National Red Cross Society. War Depart
ment, Washington. D. G.
DIR. Elmer f. Brown. commissioner of
education.
Judge William E. DeLacy. judge of
Juvenile Court.
John Joy Edison, president board of Dis
trict OF Columbia charities.
Mrs. II. r. F. mcfarland, member
board of children's guardians.
H. B. F. Mcfarland. president Board of
District of Columbia Commissioners.
D. Pickman Mann, president board OF
children's guardians.
James E West. secretary National
Child Rescue League.
George s. Wilson, secretary board OF
charities.
Mrs. s. W. Woodward, member board OF
Wa shinpton City Orphan Asylum.