New-York tribune., 1908-12-15
MOTHERS AND BABIES
Rorbar0us Treatment 4CcOrded the
Poor, Says Robert BrUere.

I'VE talk about race suicide. and we talk about
Philanthropy said Robert Bruere. Of the Assocla-
tior for Improving the Condition Of the Poor at the
meeting Of the New York City Mothers Club at the
Hotel Martha WASHINGTON yesterday afternoon.
and thousands Of children die every year Of pre-
yeutable diseases-die, many Of them because ihe
mother was forced work before the childs birth
sc the injury Of the child We have no accurate
information as TO the number Of mothers who are
forced thus 20 handicap their unborn children
Germany is ahead OF US in this. Germany not only
knows but helps the mother who has child com
ing and no means Of support but her work
If we knew how many women are compelled to
expose their unborn children by charrlng IN the
great Office buildings up sometimes TO q few DAYS
before the chiId's hirth-going at in the morning
10 scrub cold marble floors for three or four hours
going again 81 night 10 scrub for four hours get
ting IS or 50 & week-if We knew, think We would
DO something about il If we knew how many
women are doing mems jobs in factories-6ecause
they can be hired cheaper-working until TWO days
before child's birth. and back at work again two
DAYS after-ye might DO something. 1 shant dis
cuss today why mothers forced 10 do that Ihe
question u the relation Of industrial condl-
lions 70 poverty and distress is TOO large We are
l,srba-ians today in the economic sense But some
dzv men won't put bread in their mouths without
asking themselves Am 1 ro5bing soma enc elseT
Some day mothers won't see children dying With
,lIt feeling as II their child had died
But meantime how can help children2 The
tine to help child is not when II is cross-eyed or
CefOrued IN the chlIdren court ll-t lliIe ~
help child Is at least several months before It's
birth
M Bruere described soma OF the work that IS
being done by the Association for Improving the
Condition Of the Poor IN educating mothers 70 care
for their babies and in helping the very poor
mothers The Summer Conference for the Care
of Babies Is now an al-the-year conference, ne
said When the idea Of having Board Of Health
nurses 10 prevent disease was first suggested Il
was called with some contempt socalistic ne said
But sentiment has changed We are getting 10
know that ignorance-and poverty-are the main
causes Of disease
Hospitals. Mr. BrUere said, are monuments to
our indifference In Pittsburg statistics show that
when there was least work there were fewest peo-
pie IN the hospitals When factories were running
I'm blast hospitals were full What does that
show? Why that the factories are turning out
manned and SICK TO fl the hospitals And what
law is there protect these injured men and
women None Many children in the hospitals to
dav are there with diseases that might have
l,een r-eveared. This Is system Of heathenlsnl,
o. paFanis-n. il shows lack Of religion
The adjustment Of industrial conditions 70 our
economic needs M Bruere said, would do more
70 purify the world than anything else He also
exuressed himself heartily in favor Of teaching girls
and bows what motherhood and fatherhood meant
such teaching he said would do more tc check
immortality than al the anti-vioe crusaders ever
undertaken