The Washington herald., 1908-03-18
END THEIR CONGRESS
Mothers Close Sessions by
Passing Resolutions.
THANKS GIVEN PRESIDENT
Recommend that Administration EX-
tend Day school system TO the In
dians, and that OphthaImia Be
Wiped Out, as IL Is Cause of Blind
ness Among the Little Children.

With the reading of resolutions. intro
duction of officers. and the singing Of
America" the first conference of the
International Congress Of Mothers was
brought TO a fitting close last night.
Following the invocation by Rev F. D.
Power, the report Of the committee on
resolutions was read. and the following
were adopted:
Indorsing the Humphrey bill, H. r. No.
1929, with the DoIliver amendment.
That the present administration extend
the day school system 10 the Indians. en-
abling them to return to their homes
at night.
Would Prevent Blindness.
Thai the health authorities OF the sew
eral States use every effort to wipe out
ophthslmia, as it is the cause OF blind
ness among children.
Extending thanks 20 the President and
Mrs Roosevelt for their kindness and
courtesies TO the congress
Extending thanks 10 the state Depart
ment for aid in extending invita- tons TO
foreign countries TO send delegates 70 the
congress
Expression OF appreciation 10 the Com
missioner OF Education. Elmer Ellsworth
Brown, for aie and cooperation in edu-
catiOnal work.
rendering thanks TO the Department OF
Agriculture for pamphlets on pure food
questions furnished the congress. and for
valuable information received from the
speech by DR.. Wiley.
Extending thanks to the commanding
officer OF the dispatch boat Dolphin for
the loan Of flags of all nations for decOra-
tive purposes.
Expression Of appreciation to the As
sociated Press and the local newspapers
for sending out and publication Of full
reports Of the different sessions that the
congress held
Extending thanks TO E F. Droop &
Sons for the use Of a piano.
Extending thanks 70 J. y. Small for
floral decorations for the reception at
Stonelelgh Court
Farewell Messages Received.
AT the close Of the reading Of the reso-
lutions. farewell messages were received
from the foreign and State delegates.
After the reading Of communications
from the French and Belgium govern
ments. there was a general introduction
Of the newly elected officers. after which
the entire audience sang America. The
curtain then dropped on one OF the great
est conventions ever held in the National
Capital
At the Morning Session.
AT the morning session the scope OF the
day nursery was the principal topic Mrs
Arthur NJ. Dodge. president Of the Fedora
ton Of Day Nurseries. OF New York. told
OF the good work being done in New
York by the day nurseries
Mrs. Dodge said there are $50 day nur-
series in the United States. and that
ucation Of the children al the nurseries
the home interests are affected. and
the mother and other members Of the
family are being improved by the in
fiuence exerted on the child She said
there are at least $500 children cared for
in the day nurseries OF the country.
Sonora Lopez, representative Of Presi-
dent Diaz. spoke on the day nurseries
of Mexico. One large Institution in
Mexico City cares for more than loo
children at the present tine. she said.
Efforts are being made to spread the
movement throughout the country. and
she said the time is coming when such
nurseries viii be established in the prin-
cipal cities and towns OF Mexico.
play for children" was the closing
topic OF the morning session. Miss Edith
Payne Parsons. OF Iowa was the speaker.
In the afternoon the session vas de-
voted 10 the blind Edward f. Allen, di-
rector Of the Perkins Institute for the
Blind, OF Boston, was in charge Of the
meeting +. P. Lewis. Of New York. read
paper on the Prevention OF blindness.
he said that If the board OF health hesi-
tates 10 insist that every case Of ophthal-
mia in babies be at once reported as an
acute. contagious disease. lest II should
be one more law disregarded, public
opinion must be strong enough to say.
Make the law and il viii be enforced. -
Opportunities for the Blind.
New opportunities for the blind was
discussed by John F. BleGsoe, superin-
tendent of the Maryland School for the
Blind. Baltimore; Miss Harriet Rees.
Missouri School for the Blind. ST. Louis:
olin II. Burritt. Pennsylvania Institution
for the Blind and Miss Winifred Holt
New York
The speakers asserted that almost every
path Of life is open TO the blind If they
be well instructed in their early years
II is difficult TO teach the blind II they
have not been instructed in their young
days, but If blind child is taught when
six years old, il should develop well its
faculties. Miss Holt said the hat she
wore was purchased and trimmed by
blind children in New York. She also
showed tools constructed by the sight
less.