Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-02
BEGINNING WITH CHILDREN
Steps to Be Taken to Ameliorate
Conditions in Schools.
MATTERS NEGLECTED
Importance of Federal Action.
Profit to Be Gained From Expert
ence Of European Nations.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

e0C0 OF european NosAS'
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the chicago "ee''''
Herald.
Al tho ,ae+ meeting of the American AS
ISOLATION for the Advancement OF Science
q formidable movement was inaugurated
to promote the national health, and a CON-
m,ttee Of 100 was appointed to direct It.
The president of the committee Is Pro1.
Irving Fisher of Yale University, the Sec
cretary is Edward T. Devine, prominent
charity worker of New York. Dr. Lynlan
Abbott, Joseph H. Choate and Felix Adler
of New York Jane Adams OF Cnicaso.
President Angel of the university VI
Michigan, President Eliot OF HarVAfu'
Archbishop Ireland of st. Paul, Dr. FRANK
Billings, DR.. Henry B. Savili Prol y. n
Henderson, Prof. Edwin o. Jordan LIZ.
George H. Simmons Of Chicago, president
Woodward of the Carnegie institution
ex-senator Faulkner of West virginia
President Gallaudet of thu Deaf Mute Col
leee DIR. Edward Everett Hale. Mrs. John
B. Henderson of Washington, and similar
people throughout the country MAKE u?
the committee: An American Healtn
League has been formed. of which Mr.. j.
Pease Norton Of New Haven. Conn.,, Is
the secretary and all communications
may be addressed to him.
Endorsed by the President.
The movement has the Endorsement of
President Roosevelt. who, in letter to
Prof Fisher, says: sour national health
is physically our greatest national asset:
To prevent any possible deterioration OF
the American stock should be national
ambition. We cannot too strongly insist
on the necessity of proper Ideals Tor the
family, for simple living, and for those
habits and tastes which produce vigor and
make men capable of strenuous service to
their country. / can most cordially COM
mend the endeavors of your committee. to
bring these matters prominently before
At another time the President said: 81
hope there will be legislation increasing
the power of the national government to
deal with certain matters concerning the
federal authorities. for instance, should
Join with the state authorities in warning
against the dreadful scourge of tubercu-
losis.''
But this committee does not propose to
limit itself to tuberculosis. The general
purpose is to improve the breed Of men
and women in this country, just as we are
improving the breeds of animals fruits,
vegetables and grains, and increasing the
beauty and fragrance Of flowers.
Necessity for Action.
That the public generally are recognize
ing the necessity of some such movement
is indicated by a letter /; received the
other day from Mr. Joseph I. Granger of
Kankakee. Ill.,, who said:
1T strikes me that although large sums
are expended for navy and army on
grounds of protection to the nation. and
large amounts are spent at Washington
and at the states capitals for the preser-
walton CO forests. development of the agri-
cultural sciences. plants, animals, etc.,
there Is very little done to succor the
needs Of those interests that are most
neglected. For instance. are not children
more important than trees, farms and
domestic animals? And how little is done
to enlighten the public as to their rear
ing and training, and this especially in
the small towns and the neglected districts
OF the large towns. We have now made
considerable progress in finding out what
plants. insects and bugs. and in checking
diseases in hogs and other domestic ami
mails. Why could not the forces en-
ployed in that line be switched to the
study of our economic conditions, and
see how much the same can be improved?
Study the data that have made up our
leading and most ideal cities, large and
small. and see If we cannot plant that
same seed and cultivate 1t in the many
villages and cities such as are backward
and narrow in spiirt-where just a few en-
JOY life, and the rest are unable to do So"
The Immediate Program.
The immediate program of the COM
mittee of one hundred is to secure legis-
lation authorizing the President to re-
organize and consolidate the scientific and
hyg1enic bureaus of the federal govern
ment. The next step will be to increase
the appropriations and to enlarge the
powers of such bureaus so that they can
work more effectively and reach farther
for the benefit of the public health. In
the meantime. the committee will publish
a magazine and other literature for gen.
eral circulation among the fathers and
mothers and the homekeepers Of the land
This will supply specific Information that
The Department of Agriculture spends
seven millions of dollars every year to
improve the plants and animals. During
the last ten years 1t has disbursed over
forty-six millions for that purpose. but
Congress has never appropriated a cent
to improve the babies of the country
And. as Prof. Fisher says. Thousands Of
questions which anxious fathers and
mothers ask themselves go unanswered
simply because there Is no Office in Wash
ington equipped for that purpose. II
strawberries wilt In New Jersey or lambs
fall sick in Arizona. the Department of
Agriculture gives elaborate instructions
as to what shall be done, but two mil
lion human beings die every year. and a
large proportion Of them literally be-
cause they do not know how to live
Should Begin in the Country.
Prof. M. N. O'Shea of the University of
Wisconsin insists that the work should
begin in the country schoolhouses. and
that it should be directed by the federal
board of education at Washington.
I'm every progressive country today
the hygiene of school life seems to be
regarded as of paramount Importance"
he says. LAT the international congress
on school hygiene in London. August D.
10. 1907 there was an attendance of at
least five hundred delegates representing
the governments Of the world and So
cieties devoted to the advancement of