Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-26
Main Object Sought n Caring FOE
Dependent Children.
CONFERENCE At The WHITE HOUSE
President Roosevelt Delivers Lengthy
Address Upon Problem Of Orphans
and Little Ones Otherwise charita-
bio Subjects.

| of the home intact was the central
theme around which the discus sion
revolved at the conference on the care
of dependent children which formal
~ was opened by President Rcose-
| welt at the White House late today.
The subject under consideration
\ was should the breaking of the
home be permitted for reasons OF
| poverty or only for reasons OF met
fciency or immorality?'
1t was the utmost opinion of an
array of notable charity workers
and others who took part in the dis
| cussion that the child can best b"
| reared under the influence of the
hcme, and that il should be removed
| ON the family circle only when pro-
per supervision at home has become
| impossible. 1t also was the cOncen-
! sus of opinion that where poverty ex-
lists in the home, State aid should
be given.
The historic east room of the White
House was the scene of this notable
conference.
The President spoke in Part as fol-
lows:
All Under Obligations.
There can be no more import
ant subject from the standpoint Of
the nation than that with which you
| are to deal: because. when you take
care Of the children you arc taking
care of the nation of tomorrow: ami
it is incumbent upon everyone of Us
To DO all in his or her power to
| provide for the interests Of these
| children whom cruel misfortune has
handicapped at the very outset OF
| their lives.
! There are of course several diff
ferent types which you are trying
to meet. doubt not that all of US
| have come to the conclusion thai
where possible. the thing to be zone
for the child is to provide a home
for it. and that where possible We
| should make the conditions as near
| ly as possible like those which the
child would have in home.
Should be Real Home.
| There Is ample room for all exist
| ing institutions. but the work of ex-
| tension should go far as possible be
work OF extension In home placing;
and where that Is not possible to
make the conditions surrounding the
child that cannot be put in a home
/ As nearly as possible like those which
/ would obtain were the child in Il
home.
There are half a dozen different
types OF children for whom We need
to care There is first of all the
complete orphan. the child who has
los, both father and mother, for this
child We wish to make permanent
provision. My own belief is that the
best kind of permanent provision If
feasible. is to place that child in I
home We then have TO meet the
case-One Of the most distressing OF
cases-wherc the father has died
| where the bread-winner has gone.
| where the mother would like TO keep
the child. hut simply lacks the earn
ing capacity. Surely in such a case
the goal towards which We SHOULD
| strive is to help that mother SO thai
she can keep her own home and keep
the child in it: that is the best
thing possible to be done for that
child.
Still Another Type.
Then We come TO the case of The
| child ~. ho mucf tom trOra riI, hc talcp
away from the parent or parents. but
! where it Is not desirable that the
| separation should be permanent.
These children Offer cases for which
the institution Is peculiarly fitted.
; There are other problems. Of course.
tina, YOU will have 10 deal with-for
instance the crippled child. the child
| tha: can nc; be treated at home for
| disease. but We; can be completely
| cured in hospital and the characte'
| Of the child whose parents are hope
lessly vicious and bopclessly inoni-
cicnt. Here We must provide for
| exercising of the greatest wisdom oh
tainabie in knowing just where To-
draw the line: 80 As TO show jus;
| when II becomes necessary 10 say
that even the undcubtcd advantages
Of keeping the child in a pretty poor
home II that home is its own. ar
countcrbalaaced by the fact that the
home has become no; a source Of
1 beneft but a source q menace and
| danger TO the child You will have
TO consider a dozen such problems.
Al Must heip.
The government can do much But
| never forget tha; the govcrnmen, can.
not 10 everything: there mus. al.
ways he help by individually and a.
soCia'ions outside: that religious anc
L aysOriations CF MANY dideyeot kinds