The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-04-17


deserves, nothing demands such in.
telligent, thoughtful care as does a
baby. Whether he receives good OF
poor care, Mr. Baby is the only hope
of the human race. When | speak OF
Mr.. Baby / am not calling your at
tention to small number of persons
nor am | asking you to consider the
needs of few thousand individuals
Address by DIR. Virden.
DR.. Charles Virden, state agent fol
the visitation of children of Illinois
was appointed by Go. Deneen as a
delegate to the congress to represent
the governor. In addressing the con.
gress, he said:
II come by appointment of Gov
Deneen to bring you greetings from
the state of Illinois. Illinois Is a
wonderful state. It has been the
home of presidents and great men
When this church desired a great
preacher they came to Illinois, to Chi
cago and Rock River conference and
took from among us our brother, DR.
Bristol, and for years he has led this
flock in this splendid Capital city.
IT hold peculiar position in this
congress of mothers. A gentleman
remarked to me this afternoon that
/ would probably lead a lonely life
during these sessions, as I would
possibly be the only gentleman moth
er in the company. I assure you that
I feel perfectly at home among you
and that I do rejoice that am a CO.
laborer with you for the betterment
of the children of this and other
lands.
illinois is blessed with numerous
laws for the protection of the child
We have compulsory education law,
anti-cigarette law, factory inspection
law and numerous other laws of like
nature, any and all subject to amend
ment when in the wisdom of our leg
islature they may be made better to
accomplish the purposes for which
the laws have been created. We have
a splendid juvenile court law, not
perfect yet; but we are going on to
perfection Under the direction OF
wise and competent leadership the
juvenile court in Illinois is accom-
plishing a vast amount of good for
that class of unfortunates with whom
it has to deal. 1t is our purpose to
copy after the best to be found in
other states, and to so amend from
time to time until we have a law
surpassed by none. Under our juve-
nile court act children are brought
in under petition of dependency or
delinquency. If found dependent
they are committed to some institu-
ton for training and often for adop-
ton, and in many instances are
placed in family homes by the judge
of the court. The delinquents are
sent to one of our state schools for
special training or paroled to a pro-
baton officer and allowed to return
to their home for another chance
Delinquent Parents.
"My experience has led me to feel
that there are about as many delin-
quent parents as children and under
another revision of our law | think
many children, now declared delin-
quents, will be pronounced depend
ents, and the parents of the child
held as delinquents, which they GER
tainly are in many cases and they will
be dealt with accordingly.
'In my official capacity, as agent
for the state board of public charities,
| deal principally with that class of
children who have been committed to
and from there are placed
in family homes All institutions in
Illinois, of all creeds, who receive any
public funds for the support of the
child, together with all juvenile
courts, boards of supervisors, poor
masters or individuals who may re-
ceive public funds, who place chill
dren in family homes, must report to
the state board of public charities at
the end of each quarter the names
and location of children placed by
them. 1t is the duty of the depart
ment of visitation of children, of
which l am the superintendent, to see
that these children are kindly treat
ed. find that what most of these
need and want is mothering.
"The institution serves a good pur-
pose. Here many of these unfortu-
nate children get their first decent
peal, sleep in their first clean bed,
receive their first lessons in right
living.
with all it can do the institution