The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-10

NA/ most eminent Southern au-
Wv thorites, the opinion by IN
expert that the chronic in
sane can be cured, and report on the
care and condition OF the insane in
Virginia. the general session OF the
National Conference of Charities and
Correction last night. though technical,
was perhaps the most able exposition
of humanitarian questions presented
since the body began its deliberations
here.
Though apparently of interest only
to the section on insane and epileptics.
the Importance of the subject was
recognized by all members of the con-
ference, the long and learned paper
by DR.. J. r. Searcy. superintendent of
the Alabama Hospital for the Insane.
being followed as closely as IL 1t had
been an essay on the world wide
topic of fashion or divorce. Being a
practical man. as he admitted with
some modesty, Dr. Searcy. said it would
be necessary to speak plainly. Occa-
sionally. he ran away from his text.
discussed race suicide, closing with the
statement that President Roosevelt
was right in his theory, ''as 10 was
right In several other instances"
Other Notable Addresses.
Invited here because of his wide cx-
perience and his remarkable store OF
knowledge, DIR. Albert Warren Ferris.
of Albany, president OF the New York
State Commission in Lunacy, appealed
earnestly for the chronic insane. de-
claring that 1, was possible to save
them, and citing cases where persons,
robbed OF their mental faculty for more
than ten years. had been restored TO
reason.
In describing conditions IN Virginia
Dr. William F. Drewry. superintendent
of the Central Hospital for the In
sane, at Petersburg. discussed the
subject of irsan!ty among negroes, the
increase in the number of victims. the
causes which contributed to the spread,
and the efforts OF this Commonwealth
to provide properly and adequately
for its dependent charges. DR.. Drew
rys address was full of interest. the
tone being optimistic, al least as 1T
dealt with the desire of the State TO
be generous and philanthropic.
Showing that the least percentage OF
Insanity is found in educated and ply
sicaily developed negroes. he pointed
out indirectly one of the means which
would contribute to the solution of a
problem.
Child Problem. Tonight
Tonight at St Paul's Episcopal
Churcn the topic will be Children at
Work" with an address by Miss Jane
Adams. of Hull House. Chicago, On
"Child Labor and Education the
feature. Some doubt as to the ability
of the structur< to accommodate the
crowds led to the suggestion yesterday
that an overflow meeting be arranged
with the same speakers officiating al
each but this was not regarded as
advisable.
Tomorrow the conference members
will abandon the sections sessions for q
trip down the James River. the on1
recreation event of the week. The
final session will be held on Wednes-
day night. Some OF the ablest speak
ers are yet to be heard. and the clos
ing days, prominent to be the mos
Interesting.
The Day Meetings.
bodybuilding by convicts and the
Importance of closer relations between
social workers and the press were the
main subjects of discussion at section
meetings Of the national conference
yesterday. Because of his untitnes:
for higher class labor. the negro, ac-
cording to Superintendent +. T. Nor
gan. OF the Virginia Penitenttary, i:
! best suited for work on the public
highways. a view which was attacked
by Mr.. w. II. Whitaker, superinten
dent of the Indiana Reformatory. =
frank and conservative discussion o
the race question was of interest t.
members far removed from the centr
of colored population.
The special session of the day wa!
devoted to Press and Publicity" tn
leading address being delivered by MI
Edgar D. Shaw, manager of the Wash
ington Times. Mr.. Charles +. Weller
executive secretary Of the President
Homes Commission, Washington; Mr..
w. McDougall, secretary of the Burea
of Associated Charities, Newark, n. j
and Mr.. Arthur P, kellogg, of New
York, read papers on the general sub
feet.
Mr.. McDougall urged social work b
the newspapers, saying that soclallza
ton of the press would operate TO IN
welfare Of humanity. Chairman 7
Writ Steele, of Baltimore. gave brietl
an outline of the committees repor
which will be submitted later,
Criticized Mountain Work.
In an address before the needy fam
4 lily section. Professor Bruce r. Payn
Of the University of Virginia, criticize
mountain settlement work pointtn
out lack of cooperation among az
nominations which have establishs
missions in the mountain regions.
e5 Miss katherine Petit of the w. Q.
U. Settlement, at FIindman, KY. d'
scribed social work in the isolate
mountain communities OF the South.
Mr. James Minnick, OF ProYdenc
r. l., general manager of the societ
for Organizing Charity, and Dr. Charl
Emerson, of Baltimore, spoke onNsoci
work at the Massachusetts and Il
Johns Hopkins Hospitals, dealing chic
~ with technical and scientific ma
ters,
Taking up the third stage of chill,
lcantinued on Seventh Page.A.