The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-10
The Congress Of Mothers
NY rnEDEMC ). HAsKIN.

by FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.
To-day. for the first time In the his
tory of tho world, representative wo-
men from many nations are holding n
meeting in the interest Of little chill
dren. This Is the occasion. as well, of
the eleventh annual meeting of the
National Congress OF Mothers and tho
representatives who have come for
this Washington meeting include ablel
women. not only from Continental
Europe, but from Siam, Persia and
Angola, Africa. The Governors of the
various States and Territories were
asked to appoint delegates to this In
ternational conference. and response
was made by Ohio. Oregon. New Jer-
soy, Louisiana, Mississippi. Connecti-
cut. Missouri Iowa. Montana. Wiscon
sin. Michigan. North Dakota. Colo
RADIO, New York, Alabama and Cali
fornia.
Why arc they meeting? Because
tho women Of this country, especially
the mothers, have awakened to the
consciousness that the world owes
more TO little children in the way of
health. happiness and education than
II has ever given. What can they do?
Many things. They have already ac-
complished much as individuals, and
more as an organization. While main
tanning no benevolent or educational
institution, tho society has thrown It's
influence toward every movement that
can be of help in furthering the well
fare of children. Homo life. cduca-
ton, sanitation. health. dietetlcs, re-
ligion, play, crime, each, and all have
been studied and are being more Wig
orously studied by the club members
with a view to increasing the good
things and minimizing the bad.
At this annual meeting, which Will
Hast for week. and which will draw
students. philanthropists. educators
and home-loving mothers alike from
all parts OF the world, there will be
many interesting discussions. The
President, who VIII open the Congress
with a reception at the White House
has offered great encouragement to
| the women. II take the heartiest In
terest," he recently said, "in your first
! international Congress to deal with
| the welfare of the children. What
can personally do TO help you Will. OF
| course. be done" AS further proof
of his interest, the President has APP
pointed the Hon. Elmer Ellsworth
Brown, Commissioner of Education. t,
1 represent the United States at thl,
conference.
a few years ago an editorial writeI
facetiously remarked that "the Con
Il gress OF Mothers seems to be a clpl
formed OF spnsters and the President
having judged by the names on thai
years program. Spinsters are not con
spicuous by their absence in this or
!. ganization as might be supposed. In fact
;. they contribute largely, to the goo
grist that Is ground from the mill a
, each meeting-and all through tn
year for that matter-and prove mos
: conclusively that there is some trut
in the supposed witticism that spins
tiers know more than many mother
about raising children. Many of then
do, for the unmarried women VIII
come to these annual conferences ar
women who have become specialist
in kindergarten work, in equippin
and conducting day nurseries. in car
ling for delinquents and detectives. !
conducting vacation schools and play
: grounds, and in practicins as phys
} clans in hospitals and homes for chi
! dren. They have made life work {
t such things, and are authorities wldel
recognized.
The great majority OF the member
however, are. of course. mothers, an
J. mothers OF the right kind. They al
e mothers who mean to do the best tn;
: can be done by their own and the
:, neighbors' children. who mean to pr'
y gress and broaden and grow then
}. selves. but never at the expense
: the home and all that 1T means. The
j. work for the agreater and better d
>. yelopment :of the home, and aim
t reach all branches of life through Il
= training of children and mothers. ell
# waiting each day the standard of healt
morality and education. A pretty D
i ambition for few thousand wome>
e Granted. But one that Is being ra
r. idly realized. 1t was because the sta
s, branch of the Congress of Mothe
~ worked so hard toward that end. til
. Pennsylvania now has good 1uVen1
~ court law. tits because of the Wo
OF other branches In other States IN
=, there are more free kindergartens, a
= nurseries, homes for blind babies.
"a terest in child labor legislation a
r laws that will give little criminals
a. better chance. The Congress
"a Mothers does not claim to have be
solely instrumental in things of q
kind, but largely so.
n, It is interesting to note the breao
2 OF work to be discussed at THIS lhte
national congress, In the nature
helps to parents viii. come dlscusslo
IN on child SUPPLEMENTAL, physical q
as spiritual and as before, stress VIII
laid on heredity, on the great respo
sibility of the mother In charac,
az formation, for as some great suuIa ,
~ has said, the training Of a cnlld :
~ gins centuries before IT is poll..
'n' dar education will come such topics
cor education. the school e,
It riculum. physical exercises man ma
on training, industrial schools 5. , an aad =
p- education. tof more Importance u
Tia al else the question Of parent-teacl
assoojations will be discussed this
ed me movement urging parent
nd, ~ -i------ 49,
nd powers and Mrs. A. L. Watkins C
J., template spending sometime at Mee
10 10 lenburg Hotel, Chase City.
est Senator and Mrs. John rRandol
NIX tucker, who have spent the winter
ka1Jl 1Iy{1l ra 1