The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1908-10-09
BETTER HOME LIFE,
Reform Urged by the President
In American Families.
PRESENT STATE NOT IDEAL.
Husbands, Wives and Children Live
Too Far Apart, He says-DeeIares
We Can Pattern From Foreoners.
His Family Club Idea Explained by
Secretary Loeb

Secretary Loeb
President Roosevelt In khaki attire
attended the garden party given on the
grounds Of John Wcckcs, Jr, mt oyster
Bay, y. Y, the other afternoon for the
benefit of the Nassau hospital and dur
Ing his stay remarked to number Of
men, women and children who had
congrcgated around him that he de-
plorcd the conditions existing In Amer
lean family life.
lie had visited and enjoyed many
exhibits ON the grounds and was then
escorted to n Swedish ana Norwegian
weaving booth, decorated with red,
white and blue. He regarded the
weaycd goods displayed there with In.
tent.
is this still done in Swcdcn?" he
asked
when told it was he rcmarkcd
II hope the Swcdcs who come here |
to I've will keep their work up want |
TO see all the good customs of the old |
countries transplantcd aud thriving |
here. / want the Germans who come |
hero to keep up their clubs ana soc-
cites, where the fathers mothers and
children visit together. | have worked
TO bring about II general observance Of
such Il system 1t has been hard work,
however, but still! have hopes.
Here in America he went on,
i,it, li1 NE.fE a Ntl "a
grouped about the booth could hear
"our husbands aud wives live too far
apart.
"If man joins n club or organaa-
ton his wife will have nothing TO dc
with it. If a wife belongs to society
nothing apparently will induce her
husband to have anything to do witb
it. We must have better family life
here In America ana learn lessons from
Sweden, Norway and Germany. These
countries give us some OF our best cit
liens.
Look ut prosperous Minnesota,
where men Of Swedish ana Norwegian
parcntagc are rival candidates for gov
cnor. It's gool-vcry good. hope
we have more Of It,"
When President Roosevelt was inter
viewed the next day he declined tc
state directly what ideal club anl
home conditions he is working for II
America as announced In his tniorma
talk mt Mrs. John Weekos garden
party.
Late In the evening, however, Secrc
tary Loeb stated that he had become
fully convcrsant with the president
wishes along the social line and he
levcd that it was one of the mos
imnortant pieces Of work undertaken
by Mr. Roosevelt.
BY stating that he had been WorNln
for a social condition in which cntir
families would belong to the sam
clubs the prcsidcot is said to nav
meant that he had constantly auN'
Gated such condition and had snow
marked consideration TO ORGANIZATION
made up Of entire families.
The president believes that the grow
ing divorce record and the CONSTANT
increasing extravaganza in Amerl'
are due to Il growing Indifference
homo life. He believes that men al
thcir wives are being educated to ha'
absolutely diverse lines of cntertal
meat and that the condition can
rcmcdicd by providing society SH
TOM that will arrange better Tor the
mutual interests
"Tbc splendid social systems in &c
many. for instance, or in Dehma'N
Sweden. or the societies among I
Jewish people" said Mr.. LoeO'
what the president hopes to see eSt'
ushcd here. Ilc.wiShcs to see 1t ma
nonulor for entire families to I'll
thcir evening entertainment togeth
TO see places provided where u''H =
meet other families amid 'hJoN"
surroundings.
"Thc president has worked Ia
oIonr this line. lie never has heslIa'
IN 90 ont of his way to address soc
tics made UP of men ana women p'
and help them plan to extend u
work. Often he has given such 500
+ins preference over much larger orS
}zatious composed simply OF men,
Ills present plans for iarnh'
commission has this point chiefly
view. BY providing agreeaOIe III
ing places for the families III '"I"'
districts, the president belleNcS'
BOYS and girls will grow up 10
country life and not be so conS'al
drawn to the cities
The president, it was explained,
,Iovcs that the farmers families of
country should combine, much as
have combined in Denmark, and
vide themselves with many benefit
n social way never before thought
What would be true of the farm
districts the president believes, W.
be true in the cities He believes
the majority of men and women w
prefer 70 have their entertainment
company if the proper system OF
cictics and clubs be arranged.