Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-24
FOR CH|LDREN'S GOOD
President Issues Invitations to
Conference.
CARE OF THE DEPENDENT
Meeting in This City Scheduled for
January IS and 26.
TOPICS FOR CONSIDERATION
Call for Meeting Issued After Visit
to White House by James
E. West.

President Roosevelt is today sending to
about one hundred prominent men and
women interested in the care of dependent
children invitations to meet in conference
in this city January - and 26 to consider
important questions relating to such class
of children. In the letter he is addressing
to those who are expected to be present
the President says:
Il have received letter of which l in
close a copy. together with statement of
the official positions of the persons who
signed it and a memorandum which is
suggested for consideration and action If
the conference which the letter suggests
be held. l am confident that you will be
impressed with the very great importance
OF the subject touched on in this letter,
and the desirability that there should be
the fullest discussion of the propositions,
a memorandum Of which I inc!ose.
Surely nothing ought to interest our
people more than the care of the children
who are destitute and neglected, but not
delinquent. Personally. l very earnestly
believe that the best way in which TO care
for dependent children is in the family
home.
Discontinues Orphan Asylums.
I'm Massachusetts many orphan asylums
have been discontinued and thousands of
the children who formerly have gone to
the orphan asylums are now kept in pri-
vate homes, either on board, with pay
ment from public or private treasuries, or
in adopted homes provided by the gener-
osity of foster parents. Many religious
bodies have within the past ten years
ID
Il am accordingly inviting a number Of
men and women. list Of whom will an
nounce, to q conference to be held in
Washington January % and 26. The con-
ference will open by my receiving the
members at the White House January %
please communicate with Mr.. James z.
West, 1913 Clifton street northwest,
Washington d. CO.
Basis of the Call.
The Presidents action in calling the
conference, which is expected to be far
reaching in it's influence. was reached
after a visit from James E. West of this
city. who has been working on the sub
ject for many months. Mr. West pre-
scented to the President the following
letter, signed by noted charity workers
throughout the country:
Dear Mr.. President:
I'm your message to Congress Decem-
Der g. 1904. urging the establishment OF
a juvenile court for the District Of Co
lumbia you said
No Christian and civilized community
can afford to show happy-go-lucky lack
of concern for the youth Of today; for.
if so. the community will have to pay
a terrible penalty of financial burden and
social degradation in the tomorrow
Congress promptly responded and en-
acted an excellent juvenile court law. The
wisdom of this step is proven by the
work of the court.
delinquent child has been we'll advanced
Juvenile courts have been established in
many of the states; considerable num-
Der of probation officers have been APP
pointed; many of the Juvenile reforma-
tories are progressing along well estab-
lished lines of modern thought and are
supported by generous contributions from
the public treasury; detention homes have
been opened in many cities TO keep chill
dren out of jail; parental schools are be-
ing established for the training of truants
and unruly school children
Unfortunate, Not Troublesome.
1.-The state has dealt generously with
her troublesome children; but what is she
doing for those who make trouble,
but are simply unfortunate? There are
large number of these children for whom
there is need of special activity and in
terest. Some are orphans or half orphans;
some are abandoned by heartless parents;
some are victims of cruelty or neglect.
They are not delinquents: they are ac-
cused of no fault: they are simply des-
titute or neglected.
Destitute children certainly deserve as
much consideration and help as those
who, by reason of some alleged delin-
quency, enforce the attention of the state
and become objects of its care: but only
a few states have defined responsibility
for this class of children Their care and
protection is left in many localities to the
fidelity Of voluntary agencies without re-
curing proper standards Of method or eff
ficiency and without definite responsible
lily to the state or the community
unfortunately, there has not been as
frequent Interchange of ideas and expert
enceS among the officials of orphan asy-
lums. with consequent progress as among
those who work for delinquents
Cared for in Different Ways.
These dependent children are cared for
in different ways. According to a speciaf
bulletin of the United States census there
were in orphan asylums and kindred in
situations, December 81, 1904, not less than
81 661 children. In addition to these there
were probably some $4,000 dependent chill
dren in family homes. under supervision.
I'm many states, however little or No
child-saving work Is done; and in MANY
states the organizations are greatly handi-
capped by the lack of appreciation and of
adequate financial support.
''It is of the highest importance to the
welfare Of this vast number of future cfti-
Zens that all child-saving work shall be